I doubt the consequences are enough to dissuade him and others. We'll see, but I don't expect anything more than a hand slap.
The NIL/transfer portal thing is getting kind of crazy. The Duke quarterback, Mansa signed a 4 million dollar a year NIL deal for multiple years decided he changed his mind and go to Miami. He's not even a top quarterback. If players are making that kind of money, why even go to the NFL unless you are going in the top couple of rounds. I'm not against NIL and the transfer portal but I do think people should fulfill their contracts.
Agreed that the whole thing is stupid, but Mensah was 2nd in the nation in both passing yards and TDs. I think he's considered one of the top returning QBs out there. There should be some kind of enforcement mechanism on contracts - both for players and coaches. In the NFL, you can't just leave your coaching job for another one. College football should be the same - the school should control your rights. Same for a player who signs a contract.
College football is completely non-sensical at this point. Duke's season is essentially dead in the water.
The problem: There is no legit governing body that can make rules without intimidation and hold conferences, schools, athletes, agents, etc accountable to them. The only solution is for congress to step in and create a powerful governing body and an initial framework of rules. This seems very unlikely to happen for a lot of reasons. That's just the start.
Agreed. The courts have made a mess of this. Every reasonable rule the NCAA tries to implement gets killed by the courts. They tried a one-free-transfer then sit-out-a-year-the-2nd-time rule. It got killed. The Ole Miss QB is currently suing in state court in Mississippi to get an extra year of eligibility, etc. Alabama basketball player got a preliminary injunction to play college basketball after having a signed NBA contract. I know everyone craps on the NCAA, but they had rules - maybe problematic, but still rules. Everything just keeps getting voided by the courts, so I'm not sure how anyone can govern any of it. There's some player that is trying to Van Wilder the rules and just get 4 yr eligibility limits thrown out entirely so you could play in college forever.
The NCAA is such an easy whipping boy for the public and media. Problem is, most folks don't realize it's been a puppet for the major conferences for decades, who have used it as a convenient decoy that allowed them to escape criticism from actions (or lack thereof) they actually dictated. However, in recent years, the survival instinct kicked in and overrode all other fears. This is why the NCAA willingly let the fence down so many times without a fight. Each time the organization gets smacked in court, its relevance is chopped. Better to concede than risk losing in court yet again. As recently as a year ago, I thought things would settle down after 5-10 years into some sort of new world order. Instead, the whole mess is a runway train gaining speed because rules cannot be established and enforced. It's Congress or bust IMO.
Wasn’t there a thought that the SEC/BIG could break off from the NCAA and start their own league(s). That seems more likely than Congress stepping in?
That rumored threat has been out there for a few years, supposedly from the SEC. It rings hollow now since the two leagues jointly control things and their new entity would be hamstrung legally same as the NCAA.
You think? Seems like these leagues whether jointly or separately would have better standing than the NCAA ever had.
When it comes to defending against legal challenges on multiple fronts, how would a new "super league" be stronger than the NCAA?
For one, don't think any new leagues would try to put the genie back in the bottle. But if you are talking about forming your own 16 team league (maybe 32 if they combine) out of the 130+ teams that has their self-governing body regarding player contracts, transfer rules, etc...think they would have a much better shot against any anti-trust challenges vs the NCAA which like you said, have basically laid down. Why be bound by a governing body that has no power to actually govern? If kids don't like it, they can go play in the Big 12, ACC, or whatever schools remain under the NCAA. Conferences are already making their own tv deals, have their own set of in-conference transfer rules (which haven't been challeged from what I know), set their own schedule requirements, etc...
If this new league made athletes employees and collectively bargained the rules, they could definitely do as you say. End of story. I forgot about that option. This may well be the end result. However, I question if the cream of the crop league would be shielded from anti-trust because the revenue opportunities for individual athletes in their conference would 5-10x more lucrative than the alternatives. That might be enough dominance for anti-trust rules to still apply. Good discussion.
I live in Baton Rouge and we were discussing this the other day in regards to top college programs. I am an Alabama fan, but I care less about college football than any other sport I follow. The NIL Stuff has really made it a lot worse. I have no doubt that my idea has flaws, but I would like to see the following reforms. 1. There needs to be some sort of NIL Cap And it needs to be a very low number. 2. Players should be paid according to snaps played or % of snaps played relevant play (IE punter/kicker) 3. I would almost eliminate the current transfer portal and what it has become, and I would revert back to four years of eligibility with one red shirt year. Allow the red shirt year To be activated at any time as to allow for it to protect a player against in injury. If you have used your red shirt ear, and then you get injured, you are out of luck. 4. I really just think most of the players should be paid almost the same. Tuition should be free campus. Housing should be free and food as well. 5. The NCAA should begin to take a very very hard line against tampering and people that are trying to manipulate the system. And I mean, like the death penalty for a year type of hard line. no college player (at all) Should make more than $100,000 per year.
I don't love the current free for all, but at the same time, I believe in free market labor. No one should be limited to how much money they should be able to make. I believe in taxing the hell out of it if needed but no one should be limited. I would limit the transfer portal to the late spring or early summer just like how normal college kids transfer schools.
100% agree with you, there just has to be a stable end game where strict rules apply and penalties can be enforced.
