By Bill Nestor
Recently the WVSSAC put into place an NIL policy. The combination of NIL and the transfer portal have been a major hurdle for college programs for a while now and it has carried over to the lower levels.
When you compare the concerns on the various levels, the biggest separator is frequency. In Division II sports and even more so at the Division I levels, there will be many more deals made. There is a bigger pot of funds that can be distributed throughout college football.
However, on the high school level there will be less superstars, but there are a handful of big time players that will garner the majority of the NIL cash. In West Virginia, this decision from the main governing body in the state not only includes high school players, as middle school athletes are also added to the equation.
The decision to move forward could not have been an easy one, but it was a necessary one based on the actions of the rest of the country. Currently, more than 40 states already have NIL policies in place and with our decline of population (roughly 93,000 people) from 2010 to 2023, we can’t afford to lose more, especially our youth. That is one of the most rational arguments that I have heard in favor of this move. Those in favor fear that our top notch athletes will head for the border for a possible paycheck.
There are several reasons why a young athlete would jump at the chance to make money while playing the sport they love. Greed is always the first thought when money is concerned, but validation and love are also possibilities. Athletes are always trying to measure themselves against others to see where they stack up. Sure, the pats on the back are nice from fans, but they do not compare to the Benjamins. Nothing says success like a pocket full of cash.
The last and most rational reason is love for family. Those players that come from a poor family would have an opportunity to bring money in to help pay the bills. It would be some way to contribute or to give back to the people that helped them along the way.
What is the caveat for these high school athletes? Students are prohibited from making any reference to their school and from wearing any uniform or clothing that has their school’s logo when engaging in any NIL activity. They in essence are relying primarily upon their name, image, and likeness.
If you break this down for the vast majority of athletes in the Mountain State, it could provide cash, but on a much lower level. There are a handful of players that could command higher amounts, but for the most part the numbers won’t be staggering. It could, however, eventually lead to some team stacking because schools, or brackets of schools in affluent areas could make offers that might lure talent to their team. For example, if Johnny Quarterback was offered a thousand dollars to travel across town to play for a rival school, he might be tempted to change uniforms.
This whole situation gives new meaning to the Jerry Maguire phrase “Show Me the Money.” One thing is for certain, it has brought a great deal of added conversation to preseason.
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!
