This afternoon, the NCAA held its first meeting since California passed the Fair Pay to Play act, a state law allowing collegiate athletes to be compensated financially for their appearances.
Thirteen states, including Georgia, have considered passing similar laws.
Former Georgia players Todd Gurley and AJ Green certainly could’ve benefited from similar laws. The players were suspended by the NCAA for making money off of their signatures and game-worn apparel, respectively.
Especially in a game as dangerous as football, players have expressed their disgust in the NCAA being able to profit off of their likenesses in video games and the utilization of game footage in advertisements, for which players haven’t seen a penny.
If several states agree on allowing athletes to use their own brand and image to capitalize, the NCAA will assuredly have to internally re-organize how they govern collegiate athletics.
The implications for universities aren’t as great as they are for individual athletes, especially in the two most-televised college sports of football and basketball, but this could provide a shift in how college athletics operate on a wide scale.
