Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s Governor recently signed a bill into law. This bill would allow current college athletes in the state of South Carolina to be paid and to make money. The bill states they can earn income or other benefits from their own names and images.
This newly signed South Carolina bill sets out specific parameters for South Carolina college athletes to enter into profitable contracts. South Carolina’s colleges were supporting this bill. This bill signing makes South Carolina the eight state to agree to college athletes getting paid for various opportunities within the new law.
This does not mean that they would be paid to play their specific sport. The law which was signed Thursday only allows the South Carolina college athletes to be paid from outside organizations for events such as autograph sessions, guest appearances, sponsorships or other events that use their name, image or likeness.
One grand aspect of this new process is that these student athletes are banned from promoting tobacco, alcohol or other things banned by NCAA guidelines.
It was stressed that this bill does not allow athletes to be directly paid for playing their college sports. Also, they cannot use their own school’s logos, school uniforms or college facilities in their earning endeavors.
The law goes into effect in May 2022. This gives the NCAA time to create a uniform policy across the country for this new process.
The Governor’s office stated that, “The governor’s proud to have signed this bill into law to ensure that South Carolina’s colleges and universities are well-positioned to immediately take advantage of opportunities provided by either the NCAA or congressional action”.
South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster was not the only governor to sign a bill of this type this week. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also signed a bill for college athletes to be paid. Governor Kemp hopes this will attract better athletes to the state, since they can begin their earning potential before going pro. Others feel this may lure the wrong kind of athletes to their college programs.
The Head Coach of the University of Georgia Football program, “Kirby” Smart hopes this will attract players that will help the University of Georgia win a National Championship. The University of South Carolina’s football coach has not spoken out publicly yet on his stance, but is most likely in line with Coach Smart’s view.
Others states passing similar bills for student athletes to be paid are Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and the aforementioned Georgia.
The NCAA’s Board of Directors is stepping up and starting to address the new bill before many other states join in the almost pay to play process.
So endorsements are on the way for our college athletes. With a full college, practice and playing schedule one may wonder when these photo shoots and marketing efforts will take place. The coaches may change their mind on how this will affect their football seasons. The bills do contain aspects that address college athletes being barred from contracts that conflict their education or athletic scheduling. How this will be regulating has not been decided as of yet.
Coaches have been making big bucks for a long time to coach and sometimes not to coach. This is a different process that will take valuable time away from an athlete’s schedule during the peak season.
Many feel that this will keep college athletes in school longer, and not tempt them to head to the pros and drafts. Time will only tell.
One local politician speaking out is South Carolina Senator Chip Campsen of Charleston. He believes that the new bill would definitely be detrimental to higher learning programs, such as colleges. He feels this new bill to pay college athletes could ruin the amatuer nature of intercollegiate sports.
“The beauty of amateur athletics is you’re doing it for a season, a few seasons, you’re learning lessons in life,” South Carolina Senator Chip Campsen said. “You’re doing it for the principle and the passion, not for the money.”
Campsen said allowing athletes to seek out and get their own contracts could cause divisions on teams as the superstar players brought it more money than others.
“I think it's going to dramatically change the entire dynamics,” Campsen said.
College athletes are also able to obtain their “full cost of attendance”, which includes more than tuition. It can include cost of living expenses, since they are not supposed to have time for a part time job etc., as most other college students.
The president of the NCAA Mark Emmert has spoken come out against states creating a patchwork of laws, adding that he worries students will base their school choices on where they can get paid, ESPN reported. Florida’s and other states’ laws put pressure on the NCAA to quickly change their national regulations on player pay, ESPN reported.
So, what does an amatuer athlete mean these days?
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