Following years of ongoing debates, the NCAA has taken note of public scrutiny and has allowed student-athletes to profit off their names. These new rules give the students a chance to sign endorsement deals and engage in other monetized activities like autographs, social media shout outs, and training camp features. The organization’s president has spoken on this new policy adoption and mentioned that it “is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities.” There are certain restrictions still in place, like a student-athlete having to reframe from alcohol brand partnerships if they’re in a specific state. This new policy will remain unless federal legislation or a NCAA mandate repeals it, but some critics have mentioned that it still doesn’t cover key topics related to college athletes. Sandra Jordan, chancellor at the University of South Carolina, has mentioned that student-athletes will still not be paid for their time. The NCAA also wants to remain standing by their key principals of fairness, which is why they’re also not allowing colleges to use financial incentives for recruiting purposes. While the recent decision is a crucial victory for young athletes who have been crushed by the realities of college sports, there will still need to be ongoing debates on other factors leading to athlete burnout. I reached out to Link Kabadyundi, the creator of the Unity Project and founder of Thr1ve Media, to discuss the ongoing implications of new sports rulings.
The US Anti-Doping Agency handed Sha’Carri Richardson a 30-day suspension after testing positive for THC. This ruling on July 2nd disqualifies the runner from the Olympic Games and forfeits any potential medals. What is your interpretation on the ruling and should THC be considered a performance enhancing drug?
I think there are plenty of studies showcasing what the effects of THC are and although running faster is not one of them, the current rules forbid athletes from intaking the substance. Knowing that, I believe that Sha’Carri should have refrained. I understand and deeply empathize with the grief she is going through, however the tough thing as athletes is that, in a sense, our job never stops. We must always be self-aware and abide by the rules in order to reap the rewards associated with them. There’s been a movement on the internet to #LetHerRun and I think the focus should not have been on Sha’Carri running at the Olympics, but rather at the Anti-Doping Agency to review their banned substances and make the appropriate changes, especially in times where marijuana is becoming legal in many states.
A post by College Sports Madness mentions the various reasons that student athletes should receive a salary for the time spent on the court. This post shows a 2006 survey from the University of North Carolina which states that student-athletes spent on average 45 hours per week towards athletics. Do you think college campuses could afford to pay a salary towards athletic teams and if so, how would salaries be decided?
Because it would be so hard to decide who gets what pay between teammates, I think we should not get players “salaried” but I think the NCAA and all its schools should work to increase the stipend check amount that every athlete receives, or at least in Division I sports (similar to the cost-of-attendance check). That way every athlete on the team receives the same amount. There should not be any restrictions on athletes deciding to work (a job) either, that way they can manage their time and opportunities in a more hands-on manner. With this new NIL rule, I think athletes are more empowered to reach lucrative deals with brands and that allows for their athletic efforts to be specifically awarded by the scholarship, which could be fair. As I mentioned above, I do think they deserve a bigger check, equal for all teammates.
Data by the National Collegiate Athletic Association shows that over half (52%) of Division 1 football players believe they will play professionally after college. How hard is the realization for college athletes when they have to move to a different career and was there anything you gained from athletics that helped your current roles?
The statistic mentioned above was an observation of mine in college and it pushed me to start a brand called Next Play, with a focus to teach student-athletes to be professionals in and out of sports and prepare for what’s next while still athletes. Depending on your level of preparation, the transition can be easier or harder. Mentally, several people struggle with parting ways with a big chunk of their identity. A quote by TIAA’s CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett stuck with me for these situations: “You rent your title, but you own your character.” So many athletes don’t realized that being a football or basketball player is a rented title. It does not define you. After college, you will give your student-athlete title back to the university. But your character is what you should be more in tune with and it is what can best guide you in life overall. Discipline is a trait athletics helped ingrain in me as well as networking. Talking to our fans after games, hosting various events with the basketball team, and even traveling have all helped me develop strong social skills which have been my best asset so far.
The NCAA board directing schools to ensure that no payments are used as recruiting inducements and states that anything counter to this is immoral. Have you seen or heard any wild stories due to recruiting and how common are unethical recruiting practices within your sport?
I’ve seen some wild stories about athletes getting what I consider huge payouts, through social media. I think there is a correlation between “immoral” deals in recruiting and athletes being historically taken advantage of when it comes to limiting their earning potential in the NCAA. As we move into this new era of athlete-influencers, instead of using illegal recruiting methods, schools and coaches could turn the focus on bettering their school and program’s brands so that in addition to all these institutions have to offer, the athletes feel that choosing the particular school can also positively impact their influencer business and attract deals, which can in turn make them greats sums of money legally. As time passes, we will further evaluate but this is just one potential solution that could be implemented.
