NCAA president Mark Emmert discusses paying players, letting athletes make money from endorsements
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The NCAA model of amateurism has come under fire in recent years, and it has reached a fever pitch after the FBI’s investigation into college basketball.
However, change isn’t likely to be coming anytime soon, despite NCAA president Mark Emmert saying the organization is considering several options.
In an Associated Press story, Emmert said he doesn’t think any sort of proposal that involves paying players will be passed:
“I haven’t heard any universities say that they want to change amateurism to move into a model where student-athletes are paid by universities and universities are negotiating with agents for their relationships with a school,” Emmert said. “I would be surprised if the commission came forward with that kind of recommendation.”
However, Emmert added that allowing players to receive money for endorsements and other outside methods could be something that passes in the near future:
“There’s a lot of discussion about the Olympic model and think it’s well deserving of serious consideration inside the context of college sports,” he said.
Until the NBA G-League or some other minor-league system becomes a more viable option, the NCAA won’t face much pressure to make major changes. However, pressure is still building on Emmert and his organization to be proactive.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
