First, I have not read this article. Second I hate NIL - because of what it has become. UK may do well with it - and I hope they do - but I still think the way it is a bad situation. I have a few ideas that I think would be fair and make everyone be more loyal to players, coaches and the fans. Here are some ideas I think would be better:I think a lot of people are feeling this way.
Why I Now Just Like — Not Love — College Football
Freddie Maggard on why the NCAA, not the players, has made him fall out of love with the sport of college football.www.on3.com
1. Change the scholarship rules to two years. Players, once committed to a school must stay two years - however, the same rules as to transfers in regard to coaching changes. If a player doesn't want to honor the second year - he sits out one year and then becomes eligible again. This would remove a lot of tampering and give the coaches and the player a chance to see where he "really" is with the program.
2. After the two years are up - then a player may transfer immediately or sign up for another two years - but again he must sign up for two years at the same or new school - unless he only has one year of eligibility left. Same transfer rules - if he chooses to transfer after one year- he can - but he must set out the next season. Again, this would keep more players in place and build better teams and more fan support.
NIL is going to be with us - so the players will get whatever the market will offer him. But schools will then know they are on the hook for two years - regardless of how the player performs. This plan would basically eliminate most players from playing for more than 2 programs, but 3 would still be possible.
3. The other thing is this - and I don't want to sound mean here - but all exceptions for additional years should be reduced to a maximum of 5 years to play 4 period! Red Shirt or medical exception be one year total. If a player still wants to play football or any other sport - its time for him to truly go pro after 5 years!
To me this is an easy and simple solution. The players still have NIL and schools and coaches have more stability. It also eliminates a lot of tampering and bad feelings towards players, coaches and other programs. A player and a coach should know the value of the team and the player to each team at the end of 2 years. Players should know if they like the school and the coaches and vice versa for the coaches.
Will this prevent players from making money - NO! Will it stop transfers of unhappy players - No! Will it create more stability in programs - Yes! Will the teams with unlimited funds have access to the better players - of course! However, coaches will have time to show the players that the program is committed to them - the players that are showing professional abilities will be evaluated fairly and hopefully understand that as an example $50,000 at one school could be worth more than $100,000 at another school. That would depend on where the player sees himself in the future. Professional or someone who wants to settle down where he is playing and appreciate the value of alumni and business contacts to that player for the rest of his life!
Go Big Blue!
