For years and years, anytime there was an outcry concerning
college athletes and why they should be paid, the NCAA had a predictable
response. They don’t need money because they’re playing for the love of the
game, they would reply. Or, they are getting a scholarship, and you can’t put a
price on education, right?
After decades of clear exploitation, players finally broke
through the green barrier and were recently given name, image and likeness
(NIL) rights. This enabled them to do things like endorse products or sell
their own merchandise. Basically, they were allowed to do what pretty much
anybody else can do in our society.
But, because college sports programs seem to continually want to redefine the word “slimy,” it took about five minutes before they realized they could take advantage of NIL rules. While intended for athletes to be able to capitalize on their fame so they could make their own money, colleges can now essentially offer them a salary.
Not only that, they can use the allure of huge bankrolls to attract top players. For example, a big reason why men’s basketball coach John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas is because the Razorbacks have many “boosters” with deep pockets.
It’s no secret that schools have been paying players in some form or fashion for years, but now many are openly and unabashedly admitting it.
The worst culprit is Baylor. When head football coach Daven Aranda was asked on 365 Sports how the Bears have been able to have great success with recruiting lately, he didn’t beat around the bush.
“We’re playing players,” he said. Perhaps to
not seem so callous, he went on to say, “the balance is to be that and then not lose who you are and
to not lose the relationships, not lose the authenticity and being genuine, and
really caring. We talk about buying players, what you don’t want to do is make
it so it’s so transactional that that’s what it is. You’re buying and
discarding and off and on.”
To further put a fine point on it (and to perhaps act as an advertisement
for the school), at a recent practice, Aranda and the entire coaching staff all
wore shirts saying “We Pay Players.”
