NCAA President Mark Emmert Speaks Out On New California Law
A new law recently passed in the state of California that is set to take effect in 2023 has been buzzing around college sports since it was passed. Just this week Vanderbilt head football coach Derek Mason and head baseball coach Tim Corbin declinded to speak on the issue, citing a through enough understanding of its details to speak on the matter.
On Friday morning, Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star published an exclusive interview she conducted with NCAA President Mark Emmert.
In the interview, Emmert responded to questions concerning the California law and what impact it would have on college athletics throughout the country.
"They can choose to be a college athlete. Or they can choose to be a professional. There is no room for both or the waters turn murky and "for all intents and purposes, athletes become employees of the schools," Emmert said.
"This is just a new form of professionalism and a different way of converting students into employees," Emmert said. "(They may be) paid in a fashion different than a paycheck, but that doesn't make them not paid."
The Fair Pay To Play Act- as it is named in California would allow college athletes in that state to be paid for use of their name, image or likeness through endorsement deals, sponsorships, autograph signings or other opportunities.
The impact this, and a now similarly proposed bill here in Tennessee will have on college athletics are still unknown, but the debate will continue and grow as we move closer to its implementation in California, with other states possibly to follow.
The complete text of the 30-minute interview with Emmert is available at the link above, and below.
A 29 year veteran of radio in the Middle Tennessee area and 16 years in digital and internet media having covered the Tennessee Titans for Scout Media and TitanInsider.com before joining the Sports Illustrated family of networks.