There's a reason I said that California (and subsequently for reasons known only to idiots copied by the NCAA) did NIL in the worst possible way. It was specifically worded in such a way that you can't police it. It forbid interference of any kind, it basically said anyone, anywhere can pay a player NIL funds for any reasons.The intent is great, but I'm not sure it'll stand up in court.
How is it that conferences think they can enforce certain rules (including but not in any way limited to, pay for play), but the NCAA can't?
Pate briefly (like < 5 seconds) mentions a Congressional exemption from anti-trust laws. He also very briefly mentions a body of -- what? -- that will determine which NIL contracts are fair market value and which are simple pay-for-play.
And he mentions an appeals process whereby a body (?) will rule on disputes.
No mention of who specifically will do this. No mention of the legal basis beyond a passing comment on "Congressional" help....which, BTW, Congress has thus far shown exactly zero interest in granting.
No mention of who specifically will do "investigations" into rule breakers. No mention of whether those investigators will have subpoena power (if they don't, the whole idea might as well not exist). No mention of who specifically would determine appropriate punishments or under what specific authority they would be enforced.
This would require Congress not only to grant an exemption from anti-trust laws, but to bless an enforcement system including subpoena power and a court or court-like process to adjudicate disputes. Not to mention funding for all this -- guessing that would come from TV contracts, but Pate doesn't address any of that. Even if (big if) Congress is amenable, this will not be a quick or easy process.
Look, I agree with Pate's aims. I'd like to see the solution he describes come down from on high like Moses bearing the Ten Commandments.
But to call what he's saying "half-baked" would be incredibly charitable. He's treating the legalities like they're petty nuisances that only pointy-headed policy geeks care about. And he's treating a literal act of Congress like it's already agreed upon and the vote is a mere formality.
well, now that schools have the ability to directly pay the athletes in the new revenue sharing agreement, which is outside the old NIL (non)framework, they can have the athlete sign a contract to receive the funds from the school. Contracts can have terms, timeframes and buyout clauses. If the big conferences all agree that they will have a standard buyout clause, it can at least slow things down on the transfer at any time for any reason front.The intent is great, but I'm not sure it'll stand up in court.
How is it that conferences think they can enforce certain rules (including but not in any way limited to, pay for play), but the NCAA can't?
Pate briefly (like < 5 seconds) mentions a Congressional exemption from anti-trust laws. He also very briefly mentions a body of -- what? -- that will determine which NIL contracts are fair market value and which are simple pay-for-play.
And he mentions an appeals process whereby a body (?) will rule on disputes.
No mention of who specifically will do this. No mention of the legal basis beyond a passing comment on "Congressional" help....which, BTW, Congress has thus far shown exactly zero interest in granting.
No mention of who specifically will do "investigations" into rule breakers. No mention of whether those investigators will have subpoena power (if they don't, the whole idea might as well not exist). No mention of who specifically would determine appropriate punishments or under what specific authority they would be enforced.
This would require Congress not only to grant an exemption from anti-trust laws, but to bless an enforcement system including subpoena power and a court or court-like process to adjudicate disputes. Not to mention funding for all this -- guessing that would come from TV contracts, but Pate doesn't address any of that. Even if (big if) Congress is amenable, this will not be a quick or easy process.
Look, I agree with Pate's aims. I'd like to see the solution he describes come down from on high like Moses bearing the Ten Commandments.
But to call what he's saying "half-baked" would be incredibly charitable. He's treating the legalities like they're petty nuisances that only pointy-headed policy geeks care about. And he's treating a literal act of Congress like it's already agreed upon and the vote is a mere formality.
I agree. I just don't see how, under current law, that's not collusion and therefore a violation of anti-trust.well, now that schools have the ability to directly pay the athletes in the new revenue sharing agreement, which is outside the old NIL (non)framework, they can have the athlete sign a contract to receive the funds from the school. Contracts can have terms, timeframes and buyout clauses. If the big conferences all agree that they will have a standard buyout clause, it can at least slow things down on the transfer at any time for any reason front.