ST. LOUIS —
A major audible for the NCAA -- the group's top governing board voted Tuesday morning to allow college athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness.
For years, we've heard college athletes say playing on a team is like a full-time job, without enough time to find a paying one.
That's why SLU's star guard Fred Thatch loves the concept of pay for play.
"Being a D-1 athlete is hard, really hard," Thatch told reporters Tuesday. "Class, workouts, another workout, trying to get sleep."
After feeling pressure from state legislators like California who have already passed similar legislation, the NCAA followed suit, opening up the door for players across the country to be paid for their name, image and likeness.
In short, it's a game-changer.
The move could mean you see more college athletes appear in new places like billboards, TV commercials or even as themselves in popular video games.
"[Generation] Z, young consumers identify with these college athletes and are more likely to listen and follow, and that’s something that’s going to be attractive even if it’s a small deal," said Patrick Rishe.
Rishe specializes in sports economics at Washington University.
He argues while it might mean some for all, only a few elite athletes will likely get high dollar deals.
"The star field hockey player, the star volleyball player, they’re not going to make the same as the star football or men’s basketball, but at least they have the opportunity to earn something and I think those opportunities exist," Rishe said.
As you might expect, not everyone is giving this a standing ovation.
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) tweeted Tuesday that he will introduce a bill that would make athletic scholarships taxable.
Rishe disagrees with the move, but admits, the Senator has a point.
"The athletes that are on scholarship are receiving payment not just in terms of tuition, room and board, but also those athletes that earn a college degree, you have the opportunity to earn more throughout your life than someone who doesn’t go to college," says Rishe.
The details still have to be hammered out with the NCAA. In the meantime, Thatch says this feels like a small victory.
"That would actually be a great thing for student-athletes because I don’t think people realize how much we do go through," says Thatch.
The NCAA governing board says they hope to have the official policy in place to pay athletes for their appearances by January 2021.
