The decision by NCAA president Dr. Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors to appoint a working group to examine issues related to student-athlete name, image and likeness drew a sharp reaction from academicians.
“Where have they been for the last 10 years when this was constantly talked about in the media?” said Dr. Gerald Gurney, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma.
The working group will be chaired by Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman and Ohio State University athletic director Gene Smith. Members will include representatives of conferences and institutions (athletic directors, administration and students). Divisions I, II and III will be included. They will examine the NCAA’s position on name, image and likeness benefits and potentially propose rule modifications.
“They should have done this many years ago, but it’s about the money,” said Gurney. “Athletic programs and the NCAA in particular do not want to split this with the athletes. It has been absolutely unconscionable over the years.”
According to the NCAA, this working group will not consider anything that could be construed as payment for participation in college sports. Rather, it will look at current rules, policies and practices in terms of potentially allowing student-athletes to receive compensation for use of their names, images and likenesses, which is presently prohibited.
The Drake Group, an entity formed in 1999 with the mission of defending academic integrity in college sports, has advocated for this for years. Gurney, past president of The Drake Group, said as long as the athlete does not use the image of the institution, then the athlete should be absolutely free to market himself or herself, such as appearing in commercials and hosting sports camps.
Dr. Simon Pack, assistant professor in the Division of Sport Management at St. John’s University said that the details, in terms of precisely how student-athletes can market their name, image and likeness must be determined.
