U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says Congress can no longer sit on the sidelines as it needs to come up with legislation to regulate name, image and likeness deals in college athletics. Cassidy says legislation needs to be put in place to protect student-athletes who are signing NIL deals that result in agents receiving a 40% commission.
“And then the student athlete, after four years, may not graduate; but doesn’t go to the pros and ends up without a career in athletics, without loyalty to his school, which has been loyal to him, and without a pro contract,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy held a roundtable discussion that involved former LSU basketball player and current LSU board member Collis Temple Jr. and LSU deputy athletic director Julie Cromer. Cromer says with student athletes trying to cash in on NIL deals, the education component of being a student-athlete is going away and athletic departments need help.
“We provide an opportunity, for some organization or some entity, to clarify what the collegiate experience is, and to re-center that around education,” Cromer said.
Former Auburn football coach and current Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville was part of the discussion. Tuberville says he supports student-athletes getting paid, but believes the President Trump should issue an executive order to put some restrictions in place.
“If he would just put an executive order on ‘five to play for five’ and one-time transfer, and let’s see where it trickles down from there. Because if you can’t transfer, you can’t negotiate for more money,” Tuberville said.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy raised concerns about trying to restrict what students can receive through NIL deals.
“It’s hard to say that we’re going to constrain the wages of anybody, inside that system, when it is essentially a professional sport,” Murphy said.
Cassidy plans to hold additional hearings on the issue.
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