NCAA Punishes Antonio Pierce and Plans to Vote on Hockey Eligibility Rule, and Terrelle Pryor Joins Long List of Athletes Suing the NCAA | Newsletter #277
NCAA Punishes Antonio Pierce and Plans to Vote on Hockey Eligibility Rule, and Terrelle Pryor Joins Long List of Athletes Suing the NCAA | Newsletter #277
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for athletes, administrators, agencies and other sport professionals.
Today’s newsletter includes many updates across the NCAA
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters, and following us on Twitter!
This Monday Newsletter includes:
1. Raiders Head Coach punished for recruiting violations
2. NCAA to vote on Canadian Junior Hockey rule
3. What’s coming up in the world of NIL
4. Legal Updates: more House Settlement objections and more lawsuits
5. News/tips for administrators and student athletes
Major News
Raiders Head Coach, Antonio Pierce, Receives Show-Cause for Arizona State Violations
The NCAA announced an eight-year show-cause penalty against Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce for recruiting violations that occurred while he was at Arizona State - At the time of the violations, Pierce was the associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator for the school’s football program.
The NCAA said that Pierce conducted impermissible recruiting activities. In particular, NCAA said that the violations related to a scheme that saw Pierce and other staff members team up with a booster and arrange unofficial visits for the dead period during Covid-19.
Among the activities that occurred were tryouts, football facility tours, and entertainment for 35 prospects and their families; and, free meals, apparel, airfare, and/or lodging was provided for 27 prospects. In addition, they took a prospect’s parents to a gentleman’s club.
According to other Arizona State coaches, Antonio Pierce was the leader of the recruiting violations. He directed actions and made them fear that “not complying with Pierce’s directives would result in losing their jobs.”
CLICK HERE to learn more.
NCAA is Voting on Proposal to Allow Canadian Junior Players to be Immediately Eligible to Play College Hockey
The NCAA Division I Council is scheduled to discuss adopting an emergency legislation that would eliminate the prohibition on major junior players in NCAA hockey under the recommendation of a committee studying NCAA eligibility concepts.
Rylan Masterson, a 19-year-old Ontario hockey player, sued the NCAA and 10 universities in a New York federal court over a “boycott” of Canadian Hockey League players. The defenseman is ineligible to play NCAA D-I hockey because he played two exhibition games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires in 2022… making him a pro athlete in the eyes of the NCAA.
Masterson argues that the NCAA’s policy denies players of educational and athletic opportunities, and that it is hypocritical given that the NCAA permits former pro hockey players on European teams to play D-I hockey and allows college athletes to sign lucrative, pro sports-like NIL deals.
The NCAA is hoping that the change to their rules would solve the current legal challenges to NCAA rules that have taken away eligibility for players like Masterson who have appeared in major junior games.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Other Notable Stories to Follow
NIL deals helped convince women’s soccer star, Lexi Missimo, to stay in school - LINK
West Virginia and Syracuse’s Presidents are in support of the recently proposed “College Football Student League” - LINK
Noah Henderson explains why Judge Wilken is unlikely to approve of the House Settlement - LINK
Jimbo Fisher ripped cheating/tampering in college football and how NIL has made it way worse - LINK
What’s Coming Up Next For NIL
Tuesday-Wednesday | NCAA Hockey Vote
Coming Weeks | Judge Wilken’s House Settlement Decision
Next Month | Big Ten-SEC Meeting
Legal Updates
Terrelle Pryor Suing the NCAA Over Unpaid NIL
Pryor, a former Ohio State quarterback, filed a class action complaint Friday against the NCAA, Learfield, Ohio State and the Big Ten Conference on behalf of all former Ohio State athletes who competed before the NCAA allowed NIL in 2021.
Pryor’s legal arguments - which are extremely similar to those recently raised by Reggie Bush and four former Michigan players - state that the defendants violated antitrust laws by negotiating lucrative TV, merchandise, apparel and other contracts predicated on the high marketability of college stars. Meanwhile, the NCAA prohibited college players from earning money through their name, image and likeness.
Pryor was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008, led the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship in 2009, and was the MVP of the Rose Bowl a year later. Then, in 2011, the NCAA suspended Pryor and four teammates for obtaining free tattoos in exchange for signing autographs at a tattoo parlor - Pryor also sold memorabilia. The suspension likely had a major impact on Pryor’s NFL draft stock.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Ed O'Bannon’s Attorneys in O'Bannon v. NCAA Filed an Objection to the Amended House Settlement
Attorneys from Hausfeld LLP, the law firm that represented Ed O’Bannon in his successful antitrust case against the NCAA and EA Sports over the use of college athletes likenesses in video games, are opposing the motion for preliminary approval for the House settlement.
The objection lists out eight legal arguments that are intended to persuade U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken to deny preliminary approval of the settlement; and, if the settlement is approved, that could be used to convince the U.S. Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court to reject the settlement.
In addition to Hausfeld Attorney arguments, Wilken is also considering objections from attorneys representing crew athletes and other Division I athletes in Colorado. As a result, Judge Wilken could schedule a hearing to allow the objectors to make their case in court.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Optimum Sports Consulting is here to help.
For athletes looking for NIL insight and advisement, administrators and collectives looking for resources and facilitating a best-in class process, or agents looking to navigate the changing landscape, we’re here to help!
Message us now for a free consultation.
FOR ATHLETES
Notes for the Week
2026 recruit, Tyler Atkinson, inks deal with Adidas - LINK
Barstool’s Dave Portnoy and Dan “Big Cat” Katz confirm NIL plans for Wisconsin and Michigan - LINK
Tip of the Week: Understand your contractual obligations before leaving school
In the wake of Matthew Sluka’s decision to leave redshirt and transfer from UNLV, many college football players have decided to redshirt (before appearing in four games) and transfer to preserve their eligibility. However, make sure you have an understanding of your NIL deals to ensure that you can still receive your NIL money and/or that you do not have to give back anything you received.
FOR ADMINS
Notes for the Week
Ohio State announced that they are removing scholarships for their Men’s Gymnastics team - LINK
Inside Florida State’s plan to bridge the revenue gap between themselves, and SEC-Big Ten schools - LINK
Tip of the Week: Have Safeguards in Place When Making NIL Deals
See above tip. With so many players transferring before the season is over, make sure that your contracts have stipulations (such as finishing the season with the program) so that you are not obligated to pay someone that is not on the roster.
Thanks for Reading!
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