Trouble?
-
@BeddieKU23 I don’t see how Bill Self can go on the recruiting trail until the NCAA makes a ruling. Too many uncertainties. Hopefully, this doesn’t become a prolonged fight in the courts.
-
Anyone know case law precedent on a victim being tried as a perpetrator of the crime for which they were exonerated?
I understand that the NCAA is not a court and therefore not beholden to double jeopardy laws, etc. Just curious if there’s some place where this has happened.
Also - really curious about the definition of a booster. If what I’ve read is true – that the NCAA suggests that it is anyone who influences (payment or not) an athlete toward a school (or schools), then that seems unenforceable. And indeed, this goes on everywhere and has been going on forever.
-
bskeet said:
Anyone know case law precedent on a victim being tried as a perpetrator of the crime for which they were exonerated?
-
Marco said:
HighEliteMajor said:
I’m trying to be respectful here. But you don’t understand what qualifies as proof. You seem to think there has to be a video, or a document that “convicts.”
So the perspective is considered, folks go to jail based on eyewitness testimony. The go to jail based on circumstantial evidence. You need to get past the opinion that there is no evidence.
For example -
TJ Gassnola testified under oath in a federal trial that he provided money to Preston and SDS. Testimony under oath is “proof.” Maybe not what you feel sufficient, but certainly sufficient in a court of law (and the low end stuff like NCAA enforcement). His level of credibility is extremely high because 1) Federal prosecutors put him on the stand in a high profile case, and 2) they would have vetted his claims related to his plea deal. Not to mention that his testimony helped lead to convictions, and his own actions led to a plea. KU presumably says they had no knowledge of it. So KU can’t deny it. KU undeniably sought Adidas’ help and intervention with recruits. The texting demonstrates that on its on, but that part isn’t denied anyway. Thus those actors, whom KU solicited for help, broke NCAA rules assisting KU in recruiting.
You also seem to think that because others are corrupt, KU can’t be punished. Don’t you think others have tutors that do the work for players like MU did? Or that booster give money to recruits like happened with BYU? They got punished, right?
The NCAA, like law enforcement, can only act on the info they have. Meaning, sure, others may be smuggling drugs but they don’t defer punishing those they catch because others are doing the same thing and not getting caught.
If you refuse to acknowledge or understand the above, I can’t help you.
As we sit here, we don’t know what the NCAA will do. I hope you’re right on the punishment. I fear a bad result. But I hope other factors weigh here and the NCAA wimps out (selfishly). I’ve felt from the start that if we get hammered, we should “burn it down.” That is, give the NCAA all the info we know on other schools, etc. Who knows, that might be going on behind closed doors. I would certainly, if I were KU, consider that negotiating strategy in advance to get a slap on the wrist.
I hear your every point, and - whatever the case may be the MCAA needs to weap
You are preaching to the choir, my man. I haven’t been to confession in years, and really don’t want to go.
I’m glad you’re now part of the choir because you were quite clear in your thoughts that the NCAA had nothing, not a “shred” of proof, “hearsay and innuendo”, etc. Anyway, this sucks for all of us.
-
@Woodrow I hope it is an all out bloodbath.
If KU is “innocent”, then we need to fight to protect that. I see it playing out in court something like this:
NCAA Weasel: We use words like “honor,” “code,” “loyalty.” We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don’t give a DAMN what you think you’re entitled to!
KU Lawyers: Did you order the Code Red?
NCAA Weasel: I did the job –
KU Lawyers: – Did you order the Code Red?!
NCAA Weasel: YOU’RE GOD DAMN RIGHT I DID!!! (Borrowed and slightly altered from “A Few Good Men”)
Summary: KU and Self are cleared of the charges, but found guilty of “conduct unbecoming” and ordered to be dishonorably discharged. (Vacate a couple of exhibition games)
-
@nuleafjhawk I love this!!
-
jhawk7782 said:
Meanwhile, North Carolina landed a commitment from five-star center Walker Kessler on Sunday night.
NCAA: No Academic Violations at UNC Ruling comes despite university’s finding that many athletes were for years enrolled in and passed courses they did not attend and that were not taught by anyone.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/10/16/breaking-ncaa-finds-no-academic-fraud-unc
I don’t buy into the “everyone else is doing it” excuse either but doesn’t it seem that the NCAA has always had double standards? Some schools seem immune to NCAA violations.
For the MILLIONTH time. The NCAA can not do ANYTHING about classes that a college accredits and offers to all students. UNC cheapened it’s university for sports, but not illegal.
-
jhawk7782 said:
Meanwhile, North Carolina landed a commitment from five-star center Walker Kessler on Sunday night.
NCAA: No Academic Violations at UNC Ruling comes despite university’s finding that many athletes were for years enrolled in and passed courses they did not attend and that were not taught by anyone.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/10/16/breaking-ncaa-finds-no-academic-fraud-unc
I don’t buy into the “everyone else is doing it” excuse either but doesn’t it seem that the NCAA has always had double standards? Some schools seem immune to NCAA violations.
Here is your case for lack of institutional control. Here is your case proving institutional involvement! And just because the class is offered to non-athletes doesn’t excuse the AD from staying on top of their athletes’ classes. They should have realized these courses were not legit.
-
jhawk7782 said:
@BeddieKU23 I don’t see how Bill Self can go on the recruiting trail until the NCAA makes a ruling. Too many uncertainties. Hopefully, this doesn’t become a prolonged fight in the courts.
I think he will continue to recruit as normal. He may go into situations knowing the result but I think you have to keep on it, especially with the future classes. Most programs have recovered quickly from the pits. Louisville and UNC are prime examples of that and their situations were a lot worse then this.
It will be interesting to see which route KU goes. How far does KU want to dig its feet into the sand and fight? To fight the booster designation placed on Gassnola it may require going to court.
Self will need legal counsel to fight the allegations against him separately since the penalties can result in a show-cause or termination.
-
I see where Georgia Tech was banned from the 2019/2020 post season for “impermissable benefits”. A booster (former friend of Josh Pastner) provided money to recruits at a Gentleman’s Club. Now, THAT’S a booster!
-
-
Duke did their investigation Hillary Clinton style
-
@rockchalkwyo Please, no.
-
The NCAA is so mad Wendell Carter went to dook they had to hammer Georgia Tech
-
Cry me a river, Emmert. Apparently just allowing student atheltes to profit off their likeness is a bigger threat to college sports than systematic coverups of sexual assault (even against kids), academic fraud, coaches going to prison for bribery, etc. etc. etc. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-prez-calls-name-image-and-likeness-rights-an-existential-threat-to-college-sports/
Too complex to manage? Give me a break. If it’s that difficult, maybe let someone else run the show.
-
The good ol boys club will never stop to amaze
-
FarmerJayhawk said:
Cry me a river, Emmert. Apparently just allowing student atheltes to profit off their likeness is a bigger threat to college sports than systematic coverups of sexual assault (even against kids), academic fraud, coaches going to prison for bribery, etc. etc. etc. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-prez-calls-name-image-and-likeness-rights-an-existential-threat-to-college-sports/
Too complex to manage? Give me a break. If it’s that difficult, maybe let someone else run the show.
Also though, according to his own words, only like one or two players each year would make any money.
-
He is so out of touch with reality he is the perfect sham for the job for them
-
Kcmatt7 said:
FarmerJayhawk said:
Cry me a river, Emmert. Apparently just allowing student atheltes to profit off their likeness is a bigger threat to college sports than systematic coverups of sexual assault (even against kids), academic fraud, coaches going to prison for bribery, etc. etc. etc. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-prez-calls-name-image-and-likeness-rights-an-existential-threat-to-college-sports/
Too complex to manage? Give me a break. If it’s that difficult, maybe let someone else run the show.
Also though, according to his own words, only like one or two players each year would make any money.
In his eyes only the NCAA can make money off college athletes. Oh, and himself. To the tune of $3 million last year. Money for me but not for thee.
-
If this doesn’t make you want to blow your brains out… Literally the only schools with notices so far are Adidas schools. With, and you can’t make this shit up, Auburn, Arizona and Oklahoma State (schools who had coaches convicted in this probe) not expected to see any allegations until 2020 at the earliest.
-
Sorry, but I think that we are going to get hit hard, the NCAA is trying to find a blue blood school that they can make an example out of, and we just happened to be the one. They will never go after one of the blue bloods that are sponsored by Nike ( North Carolina, Duke, or Kentucky ). Really sad…
-
By the way - this is all my fault. I made a snide remark a while back that we should 86 the basketball program and concentrate all our efforts on football. The NCAA is helping me accomplish that. Sorry.
-
Kcmatt7 said:
FarmerJayhawk said:
Cry me a river, Emmert. Apparently just allowing student atheltes to profit off their likeness is a bigger threat to college sports than systematic coverups of sexual assault (even against kids), academic fraud, coaches going to prison for bribery, etc. etc. etc. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-prez-calls-name-image-and-likeness-rights-an-existential-threat-to-college-sports/
Too complex to manage? Give me a break. If it’s that difficult, maybe let someone else run the show.
Also though, according to his own words, only like one or two players each year would make any money.
By Emmert’s own admission, only a few players will actually make any significant money. So, I wonder what’s the NCAA’s big concern if almost every player makes insignificant money? They seem to downplay the importance of this while at the same time calling it an existential threat. Which is it?
But, if the NCAA is unable to manage in a world where states make their own legislation, then wouldn’t that mean the NCAA is lacking in requisite institutional oversight?
That sounds like a familiar tune.
-
Jeff Long already on the defense.
“I can really kind of repeat what we said in our statement,” Long began on the show. “You know, we simply disagree with the facts as the NCAA believes them to be. We see the facts that they have. We arrive at a very different conclusion then they do. We support coach [Bill] Self. We believe in the way he runs our program and the way our coaches conduct our program. So we now have our 90 days to provide a response to each one of those seven allegations. We are very well prepared to do that.”
“We will provide a very substantial response to those allegations, and I do think in the end that we will be successful in defending ourselves, defending our reputation and defending our actions,” Long said. “So our fans will have to be patient with us because we’re going to be in this period of time when we can’t talk about details. Bill Self is going to be asked at every press conference he’s at. Bill Self won’t be able to comment on those things. We’ve got to let the process play its way out. We’ve said what we can say and the NCAA actually has a rule against us speaking out publicly so if we’re not careful we could have another violation and we’re not going to do that. So be patient.”
“During this time, you know, people will be saying a lot of things about Kansas, but I hope our Kansas fans know we run our program with honesty and integrity and each and every one of you can be proud with how we conduct our program, the student athletes in our program,” Long said. “I assure you that if we’ve made mistakes, we’ll correct them and move on. But I guarantee you we’re running our program the right way.”
-
@BeddieKU23 The last two sentences were the most important.
-
“I assure you that if we’ve made mistakes, we’ll correct them and move on.” — This is the FIRST acknowledgment of any possible wrongdoing I have seen. Has anyone seen anything else? A KU official mentioning “mistakes.”
-
“But I guarantee you we’re running our program the right way." — This is present tense, not past tense. I think that is significant.
I also saw the words “honesty and integrity” used together again. Not sure we’ll ever know what he means by that. Except that he used the words “we” – that includes him (Long), and did not use past tense.
-
-
Out of curiosity would you (anyone) buy a product that a player is hocking out of a KU uniform? I assume they can’t show a Jayhawk in the advertisement, so how recognizable are they outside of the local market? Other than Jayhawks, I’d recognize the QB from Clemson out of uniform, but not many other kids. Am I the minority?
-
@dylans You wouldn’t recognize him if he got a haircut. Sunshine…
-
@dylans I don’t think you’re in the minority. I don’t think a player’s image without the uniform would be all that marketable so I’m not sure this would be that much of a windfall.
-
The ones that are marketable should go pro. “College” sports are done. Let them all go pro so in twenty years we can listen to the same media cry about all the ex-players with no money and no education.
-
@dylans @bcjayhawk Bingo. This is what I’ve been focused on (among other things) for quite some time. It is the jersey, the uniform, the school, the program, and everything that goes with it that makes CBB and CFB what it is. Otherwise, they’re A, AA and AAA baseball players (but for just a few). The colleges are the marketable product. THE PLAYERS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE AT THIS LEVEL.
But we know what will happen. If they do this “marketing of their image”, it will be so unfair that the players can’t use the colleges’ images (logo, etc). They’ll complain about that.
Of course, it creates yet another massive enforcement headache and will change the college sports, lurching college sports further away from what we love.
-
The NCAA needs to set forth specific reasons and ways a player can earn extra money that may not have been permissable before. Letting a kid do an autograph signing somewhere and putting a cap on number of appearances, time, and price they can be there. Allowing players to auction off jersey’s and putting a cap on how much a player can make up front and putting the rest in a trust that can only be accessed once the player runs out of eligibility whether that’s because they turned pro or graduated. If they drop and do neither and have eligibility because of that, they can’t touch the money. Allowing EA Sports to make NCAA video games again and giving each player $500-1000 similar to a class action settlement. Make that moment be based off of projected sales.
Some of these ideas would need to be fleshed out more and given more specific details or tweaked, but these are simple ideas that cause a lot of issues for programs when they come to light that really should be changed by the NCAA.
-
@Texas-Hawk-10 If you’re going that route, you’re right. But everyone who supports this concept should really rethink it. More rules. More enforcement. Enforcement is much, much tougher as there are shades of grey – meaning as you move from nothing to something.
But really, the “why not” is easier than just more rules – the same folks that want this will always want more. Some simple, common sense rules as mentioned above won’t be good enough. It will never stop. WE KNOW THAT. The rules set by the NCAA will always be unjust to those with that mindset. “Look at what the NCAA brings in” will always be the mantra. Profiting off the athlete be continue to cause incessant whining (no matter how illogical). The revenue point will always be way too high for some, compared to what the athlete (student-athlete) receives.
Many folks want the CBB and CFB model destroyed. So it will never be enough.
The easiest and better thing to do is just say no. Nothing. Period. This is the gamble the NCAA needs to take. Nothing. Don’t come. Don’t play.
And guess what? They’ll still come. And they’ll still play.
-
The thing is, the market would be mostly local.
Other than Mahomes, Kelce and maybe a couple of others, how many Chiefs players would you recognize out of uniform? How many Royals other than Gordon, Perez and Merrifield? How many Sporting KC guys?
But there are pros in local ads all the time even though I guarantee most people wouldn’t recognize Sammy Watkins or Danny Duffy outside the KC area. This would allow them to advertise for the local car dealership or whatever. They could sign and sell autographs. That’s about it.
-
HighEliteMajor said:
@dylans @bcjayhawk Bingo. This is what I’ve been focused on (among other things) for quite some time. It is the jersey, the uniform, the school, the program, and everything that goes with it that makes CBB and CFB what it is. Otherwise, they’re A, AA and AAA baseball players (but for just a few). The colleges are the marketable product. THE PLAYERS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE AT THIS LEVEL.
But we know what will happen. If they do this “marketing of their image”, it will be so unfair that the players can’t use the colleges’ images (logo, etc). They’ll complain about that.
Of course, it creates yet another massive enforcement headache and will change the college sports, lurching college sports further away from what we love.
I’ll buy in to the point that the college has a brand, but I have to disagree with suggestion that the players are interchangeable. If they were interchangeable, then why do we get so worked up about recruits? I don’t think it’s a common belief that Zion was interchangeable nor unrecognizable.
There are plenty of players that fans would recognize in plain clothes when they were playing at KU – Frank Mason, Andrew Wiggins are the most obvious… and I think Doke would be pretty easy to recognize in pretty much any crowded room.
Also, I think every Iowa State fan could have recognized Elijah Johnson during his senior year.
-
@bskeet I think they are totally interchangeable. They have to be. Every 5 years it’s total turnover. Every year has a new 1 recruit. Every year has 40-50 guys getting drafted. Every year a kid gets hyped up. Every 5-10 years you get a Zion/Wiggins/LeBron level of hype. Every year KU has a nearly full roster after losing guys.
-
I don’t watch much sports avidly anymore, but quiz me on 90s baseball players and I’m ok. I don’t watch much NBA, but of the nearly 500 nba players I could recognize around 40 guys. Of the 4500 ncaa basketball players I’d be lucky to recognize 5 non-KU players. NFL guys are kinda screwed playing behind a helmet. Names sure, faces no way. Same for ncaa football. I’d recognize one guy this season (so far) - no KU players.
That’s another thing about ncaa basketball. The coaches are the most recognizable and stable things. Therefore the most marketable. I don’t think this creates much legit income (I may be wrong) but I do think it creates an oversight nightmare. It’s already pretty easy to pay recruits (unless you’re a dumbass adidas guy) this will be the Wild West. I’m kinda excited, KU is one of the big boys, it’s the little guys that will be absolutely screwed. I mean the competitive imbalance will be ridiculous. 14 in a row will be a short streak under those rules. Bring it!
-
dylans said:
@bskeet I think they are totally interchangeable. They have to be. Every 5 years it’s total turnover. Every year has a new 1 recruit. Every year has 40-50 guys getting drafted. Every year a kid gets hyped up. Every 5-10 years you get a Zion/Wiggins/LeBron level of hype. Every year KU has a nearly full roster after losing guys.
Right. It’s proven already that the parts are interchangeable. That’s the system as it exists. Constant roster turnover.
@BSkeet I don’t suggest players are unrecognizable, just interchangeable. From Collins, to TT, to EJ, to Tharpe, to Mason, to Graham, to Dotson. 10 seasons, seven PGs. There are better players in the D-league. But no packed arenas, no massive team gear sales, no big TV contracts, no sports center highlights, etc.
-
Just popping in to say, yes, college bb players ARE interchangeable over a period of years. But they are individuals well recognized by their fan bases in the one to four years they attend their schools. Those are the years available.
Whether another athlete comes along to replace or even exceed them after they leave, is irrelevant to the years in which they could earn a little money.
-
@HighEliteMajor The issue at hand and why people are pushing for rules changes are because the NCAA either cannot or will not enforce their own rules fairly.
Having the NCAA meet with representatives from every level of member schools from P5, mid major conferences, FCS, D2, and D3 schools to come up with a system that the NCAA is capable of enforcing fairly across the board is something that needs to happen.
The fact is the current system is broken and your suggestion to do nothing doesn’t fix a broken system. It doesn’t have to be radical changes, but there do need to be changes made so the NCAA can enforce their rules.
-
Texas Hawk 10 said:
@HighEliteMajor The issue at hand and why people are pushing for rules changes are because the NCAA either cannot or will not enforce their own rules fairly.
Having the NCAA meet with representatives from every level of member schools from P5, mid major conferences, FCS, D2, and D3 schools to come up with a system that the NCAA is capable of enforcing fairly across the board is something that needs to happen.
The fact is the current system is broken and your suggestion to do nothing doesn’t fix a broken system. It doesn’t have to be radical changes, but there do need to be changes made so the NCAA can enforce their rules.
No, that’s not “why.” The reason why is some folks want athletes to be paid. That is the constant drum beat.
My suggestion to do nothing relates to the idiotic path of compensation and permitting players to market themselves. The players deserve nothing, zero, beyond their scholarship and related benefits. This is different than the issue of enforcement (other than it will create more of an enforcement nightmare).
You switched topics. Your first post, the one I replied to, was related to permitting players to market themselves. Your post said nothing about “enforcement.” You then, in your response to my reply here, get into the claim that the NCAA doesn’t enforce their rules fairly.
And of course we break the rules, lie about it, and we of course need to revamp enforcement (because we’re targeted). How about we run a clean program?
-
I couldn’t agree more then with California for what they are doing. - It’s about time, no one is saying paying these kids any kind of insane amount is what it’s about , but why shouldn’t they be paid SOMETHING? - No I don’t want to hear any lame excuse WELL they’re getting a free ride - -take that somewhere else, your not convincing me that a Scholarship comes even remotely close to what the Universities make off these kids - I call Bull shit on that. - so don’t go there
Why shouldn’t they be paid something? - I mean this is their future , this is a job to them just like all the upper crust zoot suits - -stuffed shirts - those get paid quite nicely for a job - - THIS is these kids future , they are playing for their future/possible job - -every time they step on the court - it’s an interview for possible future employment - -it’s not all just fun and games for these guys.
They go out they play hard -just like people or most work hard trying to make a living - -these guys are trying to make a living in the future - -Why shouldn’t they be paid as it says to earn a wage while they are in School that’s fair to the amount of profit that the Universities make of them - - -or again like it says this becomes and equality issue why can’t they get something - -some kind of money, Hell your Coach’s making their annual Salary and then on top of that goes out and does numerous endorsements and makes even MORE money on top of that - - but that’s ok right? - - bullshit - the hell it is. - -California - - - Good for you - -about time someone does something
-
-
This discussion (nationally) seems to be more emotional and political than logical.
So what’s that b-ball scholarship worth? - roughly 20k+ per year in tuition, books, room and board. - 5k+ in stipends - free apparel - free marketing of the player as well. What does the money generated go to? Not the b-ball players, but the minor sports - tennis, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, anything women’s sports. Every one of these loses money and is supported by football and basketball, not to mention the money losing women’s programs have to exist due to title 9 stuff; you can’t cut them. You’ve got to have 50+ women’s scholarships (and programs and associated expenses) to balance out the football scholarships.
Letting kids earn from their likeness will not increase school debt, but will be an oversight nightmare. It will widen the gap between the haves and the have nots. (I’m kinda ok with this unfair advantage, KU is in the have group). It’ll also make the disparity between men’s and women’s sports even more apparent.
-
I’m so through with all this political crap - I don’t even watch the news because I can’t stand politics (all bad), news (all bad), weather - 90% bad with a 50% chance of intermittent good (i know the math doesn’t work out - that’s true weather math) and now sports. Used to be you could watch sports and be entertained. See some great games, watch some incredible highlights - now it’s just all CRAP.
My boat and fishing poles will be getting a much greater workout in the years to come.
-
mayjay said:
Just popping in to say, yes, college bb players ARE interchangeable over a period of years. But they are individuals well recognized by their fan bases in the one to four years they attend their schools. Those are the years available.
Whether another athlete comes along to replace or even exceed them after they leave, is irrelevant to the years in which they could earn a little money.
Right- I go with this definition of interchangeable… You captured my thinking better than I did…
-
By that definition we are all special and unique like a snowflake. It also makes us all the same and completely interchangeable.
If none of the former KU players came to Kansas, I’d remember those who did in their place. The coaches make the programs not the players.
-
I’m no expert on the pros and cons of allowing students to profit from their image and likeness, but one of the more compelling arguments I’ve heard is that every citizen has this right, and that the NCAA’s rule is stripping a group of people from this basic right.
I’ve heard two very impassioned arguments about how this will 1) transform women athletes and bring much greater notoriety to them, and 2) destroy women’s athletics and undo title IX… Essentially completely opposite projections on the impact. My conclusion: No one can predict what the benefits and consequences of this will really be.
My other conclusion as to why the NCAA is really fighting this: Status quo and the ability to better control what is known.
-
Players are not interchangeable.
They do add value.
What they should be compensated is a scholarship that offers them the tools and platform to succeed. That is payment enough from the schools. I can agree to that.
I also believe they should have the ability to go profit off of their likeness.
Yes, the schools brand means a ton. But the brand is also effected by the players playing for that school. It is silly to think otherwise. How much goodwill did the VCU brand gain from going to the Final Four? How about George Mason? Wichita State? Wichita State is now in a new conference making significantly more money because of Baker, VanVleet and Early. Those guys were freaking rockstars in Wichita, KS. They would have made a pretty penny, and it would have only been a fraction of what they gifted to the university.
The 2007 Orange Bowl team, how much extra value did they create over a what used to be a somewhat typical 5-7 KU team? Millions I’d guess.
What happens to the endowment after KU makes a FF? What happens to the attendance? They increase. Which is adding value to the university.
The flip side of that is the cost of having a crappy team. Look how hard it was for KU to raise money for the football program. Look at Arkansas University attendance numbers now that they’ve sucked for so many years at football. What is the brand damage to Arkansas right now? KU Football’s brand has been demolished. Making it harder to get good players, players who would add value. How you can say players are interchangeable knowing the cost vs the gain of a good team?
Of course the players would not be marketable without the school’s brand giving them the platform to become marketable. I do understand this. But the school’s brand suffers as well without having quality players. It does work both ways. This is very, very evident.
This is why I believe that players should be allowed to profit off of their likeness. Those who would make money are the ones who add value over those who truly are “interchangeable.” Would you want their autograph if they played for the Kansas City Jay Birds? No. But you also wouldn’t be wasting your time watching if KU was consistently terrible. You wouldn’t be paying for Matt Kleinman’s autograph, but I literally have paid for a signed Brandon Rush basketball that is sitting right next to me as I type this.
Players simply are not interchangeable. I do agree that Coaches are very important. But Nick Saban is not going to a National Championship with KU’s roster. And Les Miles could probably get to the playoffs with a roster like Alabama’s. That gap in talent is player added value. That gap is worth tens of millions of dollars a season. That gap is what helps to create or destroy brand value.
Realizing this, I find it to be very, very clear that players are worth far more than just what their current “earnings” are. Allowing them to go cash in on some of that value, while they have it (and yes that is partially due to using the school’s brand), seems like the right thing to do in my eyes. Limiting their income in the name of “fairness” does not appear to be working, considering the results of Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Hockey, Track, Wrestling and basically all NCAA sports. There just simply are schools that have advantages already. Period. Whether it be geography, amenities, population, donors wealth etc.I look at how in almost every sport, 5-10 programs essentially dominate, and I just think that there is no way it can get any worse than it is now. We will see Bama and Clemson in the playoffs again against either OU, OSU, Notre Dame, Georgia, or Texas. Just like we basically have the past 20 years. The favorites to win the NCAA basketball Championship are KU, MSU, UK and Duke. Just like every other season.
If there was tangible proof that limiting players to just their scholarship created a level playing field, you could convince me. But there is absolutely no evidence of that being the case. Bigger or more prestigious schools just simply are more attractive than smaller ones. It has always been the case and it will continue to be the case. Even if you limited athletic department budgets and coach salaries, you’d still have schools that have an advantage.
Players add value, and I cannot find one major reason why we should keep them from capturing it.
-
@Kcmatt7 “…5-7 KU team…”
Ah, I feel misty-eyed when anyone brings up those good old days…
-
@Kcmatt7 You said, “Players add value, and I cannot find one major reason why we should keep them from capturing it.”
One MAJOR reason - The players don’t own the NCAA or the colleges. That’s about as major as it gets. The same reason I can’t come and sleep in your house – you OWN it. But that doesn’t matter to you or others. You ignore the obvious, most important consideration in our economy. OWNERS MAKE RULES ON PRODUCTS THEY OWN. It doesn’t matter that the players don’t OWN the product to you. Your mindset continues to be, take what others have created. It’s the same mindset of those wanting to pay McDonald’s employees $15 an hour when anyone can do the job (ignoring the market value of the services). But more importantly, you and others (on a certain side of the political isle) devalue ownership of business, risk, investment, creation of product, etc. It’s as if because it has been created, it should be shared. Why is this continually ignored by posters? Because it is an undeniable yet inconvenient truth. Or, more easy, because life is unfair.
The market value of the players’ services is evidenced by no market for the players’ services that is better than what the NCAA/Colleges own (other than what we see – overseas, sub-leagues, etc.).
Folks won’t pay for inferior products that EXCEPT because of the ties to the schools I’ve mentioned.
It’s pretty obvious. You use the Kleinmann example. Right. If I were an autograph seeker, and I’m not, but I’d rather have Sherron Collins than Klienmann. This position of yours and others is related to making a major shift in rules nearly exclusively for those top tier guys. And, further, ignoring all the other sports – golf, tennis, rowing, etc. No one wants anything from them. So it’s the top tier.
You point to Alabama vs. KU. Ok, great. You take the top Power 5 program vs. perhaps a bottom 5 program. But how many other schools pack their stadiums regardless of product? But the macro product is not what I’m focused on.
The interchangeability is related to that particular school. Sure, I agree. Bama’s overall group of players are better than KU’s. And they add value to Bama vs. KU. Conceded.
But my point is that regardless of the individual identity of the player in the helmet, folks support the team. Now, that player has to be good or comparable, but assuming that fact, as we’ve seen at KU, we support them regardless of their identity BECAUSE they are a Jayhawk. This is really undeniable. As mentioned, Collins, TT, Tharpe, EJ, etc. Didn’t matter. (Yes, even Tharpe). That’s different than the overall product you cite. I’m focusing on this individual value, individual likeness stuff.
Another irrefutable point – the players’ individual likeness has little value without the benefit of that university connection. This is in direct contrast to other minor leagues. Those teams don’t create marketing value for the player to any real extent.
*Of course, the free market argument can be used to claim that schools should just bid on players, that such an arrangement is truly “free market.” That’s an entirely different animal and different debate. That’s professional sports to a certain degree (though even leagues like MLB where it’s free bidding, no cap, there are major rules as to when a team’s control of a player would end). There are legal arguments that could be made (they have been tried). But the NCAA model stands. It is an entity that can make its own rules for participation – much like McDonalds. Professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) owners, as a group, can make their own rules. The NCAA, though slightly different, is in the same boat. The NCAA can make their own rules for participation.
