FILE – In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, a panel of witnesses, from left, Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, National Collegiate Athletic Association President Mark Emmert, University of Kansas Chancellor Dr. Douglas Girod, National College Players Association Executive Director Ramogi Huma and National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Chair Kendall Spencer, listen during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on intercollegiate athlete… Susan Walsh NIL NETWORK INSIGHT Recap: This article discusses shift to Democratic control in both Congress and the White house and the repercussions for NIL legislation. In 2020, the NCAA and Power Five conferences were hopeful for federal legislation that would be in favor of the NCAA, including limitations on athlete endorsements and antitrust protections. However, now that the federal government is more left leaning, any legislation that passes is likely to be more athlete-friendly, and potentially even extend beyond NIL to include health insurance and profit sharing for revenue generating sports. Observations: I imagine that the NCAA is upset that they dragged their feet for so long after California Governor Newsom passed the first state legislation regarding NIL in the fall of 2019. The new Democratically controlled Senate will not be as friendly to the NCAA and Power 5 Conferences. With states proposing and passing NIL bills right and left, and Florida’s set to go into effect on July 1, the need for intervention at the federal level is necessary to provide congruence and fairness across the country. By BEN NUCKOLS Associated Press The NCAA, the Power Five conferences and their $2 million platoon of lobbyists had a pretty good year on Capitol Hill in 2020. With Republicans controlling the Senate, the power brokers in college sports were on track to secure a way for athletes nationwide to earn money from endorsements while otherwise maintaining the status quo of amateurism. Now that Democrats control Congress and the White House, 2021 is shaping up to be a much bigger challenge for those who don’t want major changes in college sports. The bills now best positioned to advance would guarantee health care for college athletes and some form of revenue sharing, which critics describe as “pay for play.” Democrats pushing such legislation aren’t just motivated by giving athletes access to the free market through name, image and likeness (NIL) rights — a modest reform that has the full support of the NCAA and the Power Five. Instead, some Democrats see college sports reform as a racial and economic justice issue and are seeking to correct a system they consider exploitative of minorities. “I think the Power Five and NCAA proposals are dead in the water. They went to Congress and they lost,” said Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association. “At this point, all they can do is play defense, which is what we were doing at first. Now we’re playing offense.” That defensive posture for the Power Five comes after the conferences — the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-12 — collectively …
