CleanKonnect’s Post

💰 Industry shaping news happened over the past week, as the NCAA board of governors and the Power Five conferences have approved a historic settlement that, pending legal review and judge approval, will end “amateurism” as we know it and usher in a new era of college athletics where student athletes are paid by the schools. There are still way more questions than answers and a lot to figure out, but the one fundamental thing that has been agreed upon with this settlement: the notion of “amateurism,” the much maligned, 100+ year bedrock of the current college sports system that has long been guarded by the NCAA and other college administrators, is dead. In its place, there is a framework for $2.8 billion in backpay to former athletes for lost compensation plus a revenue sharing agreement on up to $20 million per year for future players. If approved, this new framework would be implemented by 2025. 🧠 My three takeaways from the deal: - This proposed system is a net positive, but it will only deepen the chasm between the “have’s and the “have not’s.” - The settlement doesn’t provide a real solution for NIL collectives, and they are unfortunately going to continue to operate mostly as is, for now. - Private Equity is going to fill the void for these schools in need of salary cap funding, and it likely paves the way for the privatization of athletic departments 🔥There is still much to be sorted out with this new system. I have three burning questions about the deal. Time will tell how these shake out. - Does this new world run afoul of Title IX? - Will student athletes keep going and push to be student athletes? - Will Congress finally step in and create a national standard? Interested in learning more? Check out this week's Sports Business Playbook 👇 https://lnkd.in/gESavwcc

Adding 2 related comments to this post: (1) my experience has been that high school administrators and coaches are reluctant to entertain the topic of #nil education for themselves and, more importantly, for their student-athletes. This needs to change! (2) all States must repeal enacted laws that in anyway interfere with a high school athlete's ability to negotiate NIL as part of the college recruiting process. #nameimagelikeness #collegesports #collegeathletics #highschoolsports

🚨🚨Florida Schools! A game changer for high school athletes! ⚽️🏀🏈⚾️🏐🏉 The FHSAA passed their proposed amendment to allow HS athletes to be compensated for their Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) in Florida (pending final approval from the DOE). Read more from my colleagues Brett Owens, Esq., MBA and Michael E. Bonner about the steps schools can take to prepare for this rule change. https://lnkd.in/esHhvcdS

As the landscape for college athletes’ Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights continues to evolve, let’s dive into the latest developments: -State Laws: 29 states have already passed legislation addressing NIL rights, allowing student-athletes to profit from their personal brands. These state laws play a crucial role in shaping the NIL landscape. -Federal Efforts: Several federal bills have been introduced, aiming to establish a unified framework for governing NIL rights. While some bills have gained traction, others are still in progress. Notable bills include: The College Athlete Economic Freedom Act: This bill prevents limitations on athletes’ marketing of their NIL. The College Athletes Compensation and Protection Act: Focused on safeguarding athletes’ rights. Let’s engage! Share your thoughts on #NIL legislation and its impact on college sports. 🏈📈

Great recitation of powerful actors in college athletics absolving themselves of any responsibility for the total and shameless commodification of a virtuous pursuit: human development through sports tethered closely to the mission of higher education. University presidents and chancellors, their hired mercenaries in greed (conference commissioners), athletic directors , and head coaches all own responsibility for the current mess of affairs in NCAA sports. Television networks aid and abet the powers that be by supplying insane amounts of money into their coffers, but that is not only expected, it is their duty as profit maximization corporations to do so. University presidents and chancellors are CEO's of nonprofit higher education institutions with a totally different and often public mission (public, land grant institutions). In reality there is no scarcity of resources in major college sports, only an abundance of greed. Only the independent Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics has been outspoken and proactive on course correction. The powers that be would be wise to heed the recommendations of the Knight Commission and to the timeless and pertinent wisdom of 19th century British politician Lord Acton: "All power tends to corrupt and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely." #knightcommission #NCAA #greedkills #putstudentathletesfirst #highereducationmatters #coursecorrectnow

"The ground shifted in 2021, when the US Supreme Court cast aside whatever remained of the imagined ideals of amateurism with a unanimous ruling that described the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body for sports at US universities, as a price-fixing monopoly." How does a ruling that draws a distinction between cash payments from SCHOOLS that are: "professional level" -- which the NCAA is allowed to prohibit (as the Ninth Circuit even ruled in O'Bannon as well) VS. "education-based" -- which the NCAA is allowed to cap at $5,980 annually cast aside whatever remained of the imagined ideals of amateurism? And how does it help the situation to continue spreading a narrative that the NCAA "is losing" and "will lose" in court? #ncaa #nil #antitrust https://lnkd.in/g2UbKKKK

What's happening in the Mountain!? The Mountain West Conference is in turmoil as San Diego State and four other schools prepare to join the revamped Pac-12, leaving behind a sense of betrayal and disappointment. Coaches and administrators express frustration over the lack of transparency in these decisions, which felt more like a "Game of Thrones" scenario than a collaborative effort. It'll be interesting to see how the latest saga involving the Pac-12 plays out. Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez had been working on strategies to keep the conference united, but the new developments have left her questioning the future. As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, the implications for teams, players, and fans are profound. One of the most important questions will also be: Who will really be at the helm of the Pac-12 and what will be different this time around? What’s next for college conferences? Can they work together to navigate this shifting terrain, or is fragmentation inevitable? #CollegeSports #ConferenceRealignment #MountainWest #Pac12

Check out this article on #NIL and reach out with any questions!

Hollywood's New Private School Arms Race The rules of the game are changing for Independent Schools; heads of schools are scrutinized, and schools are being pushed to greater extremes to compete. See the full article here: https://loom.ly/St4Y3GM #IndependentSchools #DiversityinEducation #DiversityinIndependentSchools

"The five autonomy conferences and the NCAA agreeing to settlement terms is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come" 😂 🙄 AND PROVIDE CLARITY: 1. Employees or not 2. Can the cap be circumevented 3. How does a newly imposed Salary Cap not violate Anti-Trust Laws 4. Will athletes opt in 5. How if at all does Title IX apply 6. Why are non-P4 programs paying 60% vs. P4 at 40% 7. Media rights valuations 8. What protections, if any, are provided for future lawsuits 9. Who was this collectively bargained with 10. Conflicts of Interests everywhere (university level, athlete level, conference levels, P4 vs. G5 vs. FCS) Anything but CLARITY!!!! #NIL #nameimagelikeness #ncaa #revenueshare #housesettlement https://lnkd.in/eW7wJUmW