NCAA President Proposes Revolutionary Subdivision for Paying Athletes

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
06/12/2023 23h06

In a groundbreaking move, NCAA President Charlie Baker has unveiled a proposal to establish a new subdivision within Division I college sports that would allow highly resourced schools to directly pay athletes through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Baker believes that this proposal, which aims to proactively address the evolving landscape of college athletics, is just the beginning of a broader shift within the association.

During his appearance at the Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletic Forum, Baker emphasized the need for the NCAA to anticipate conversations and foster a common ground amongst its diverse 2,000-member committee. He expressed his desire to move away from a reactive approach that merely responds to others' agendas.

Baker's vision, outlined in a letter sent to over 350 Division I schools, calls for schools to pay athletes tens of thousands of dollars annually on top of their athletic scholarships in order to be part of the new subdivision. Moreover, he proposed that all Division I schools should handle NIL compensation for their athletes through group licensing deals and eliminate any restrictions on educational benefits provided to athletes. Additionally, schools would have the autonomy to establish their own rules regarding recruiting, transfers, roster size, and various other policies.

The proposal is a result of Baker's extensive conversations with administrators and athletes from across college sports. While some may argue that the proposal goes too far, others may contend that it does not go far enough. Baker anticipates that these opposing perspectives will shape the dialogue surrounding the proposal in the short term.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, unaware of Baker's letter until it was released, highlighted the various avenues through which college sports reform can be pursued, including the courts, Congress, state legislatures, conferences, and the NCAA itself.

Baker estimated that approximately 100 schools may consider opting into this new subdivision. With 133 schools in Division I football's top tier, the FBS, the proposal seems to specifically target the Power 5 conferences, which encompass around 65 schools. This move aims to address the historical conflicts arising from differing budget sizes across Division I, II, and III schools, granting more financial freedom to institutions capable of investing more in their athletes.

As the NCAA grapples with navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics, Baker's proposal marks a bold step toward ensuring that college athletes receive their fair share of compensation and benefits. With potential transformative effects on the NCAA structure, the proposal opens the door to widespread discussions and debates about the future of collegiate sports.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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