North Carolina Governor, Saban on NIL, Fox Sports + ICYMI & More | NIL Newsletter #224
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for athletes, administrators, agencies and other sports professionals.
Major News
NC Governor Ray Cooper Pulls Back NIL Regulation
Governor Cooper took executive action repealing state rules regulating NIL after the injunction issued in Tennessee v. NCAA.
Cooper argues that these rules are no longer necessary to ensure that state universities have the tools to compete at the highest level.
The initial rule passed in 2021, set a standard for individual institutions to provide a competitive NIL infrastructure for student-athletes.
Rescinding the regulation allows student-athletes in North Carolina to have the same opportunity to participate in NIL-related activities as those in other states.
Saban Claims NIL Impacted His Retirement Decision
Former Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban argues that the recruitment process has become predominantly transactional due to NIL.
Saban worries that all recruits care about is how much a school will pay them, rather than how that school will develop them.
He calls for a regulatory measure that will balance financial incentives and the traditional values of collegiate athletics.
Saban argues that without a controlled system that prioritizes the development and welfare of student-athletes, the foundation of college sports is at risk.
Fox Sports Nearly Offered Caitlin Clark an NIL Deal to Stay
According to a report from John Ourand, Fox executives considered offering Caitlin Clark an enticing NIL deal to encourage her to stay in school for another year.
Clark, who does not receive anything from the Iowa-focused collective, has many major national endorsement deals that will likely transfer with her as she heads to the WNBA.
Clark’s final regular-season game, in which she also became the all time leading collegiate scorer, averaged 3.39 million viewers, the most watched women’s collegiate basketball game on any network since 1999.
For Athletes
Deal of the Week
South Carolina freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley becomes Curry Brand’s first official collegiate athlete.
Fulwiley was named the SEC Tournament MVP and helped the top-rank Gamecocks finish the season at 32-0.
She will wear the company’s footwear for the rest of her South Carolina career.
ICYMI
Blades Brown, the 16-year-old golfer who was selected as the Tennessee Men’s and Junior Player of the Year, inks an NIL deal with Transcend Capital Advisors. LINK
USC QB commit Julian “JuJu” Lewis (Class of 2025) becomes an exclusive partner with Leaf Trading Cards. LINK
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is considering a proposal that would allow high school athletes to be paid for their name, image, and likeness. LINK
Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey calls for a national law to equalize the NIL playing field. LINK.
Have you checked out OSC’s website?
Head to www.OptimumSportsConsulting.com to find important resources and features relating to all things NIL. These resources include State by State Resources for Admins, Agents, and Athletes, including our initial “OSC Summaries” for over a dozen states coming soon.
More to come too, including links to helpful state information- agency laws and information about school policies, as well as seminar/congressional notes, worksheets, and much more!