26
David Christoff
Cross Country
Noah Norton
Updates
How an alumnus earned his way into a unique role with the Oakland Raiders. Page 27
The cross country team brings home the SPC trophy. Page 28
A sophomore utilizes his tutorial to play a sport not offered on campus: boxing. Page 29
A quick look at the beginning of the winter seasons. Pages 30, 31
SPORTS THE REMARKER • DECEMBER 13, 2019
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Fair pay to play After years of backlash, the NCAA has embraced change, planning to implement new rules allowing student athletes to profit off their name, likeness and image by 2021.
I
t’s 5:30 a.m, his alarm clock sounds deserve,” Acho said. “Being –– it’s that same ring tone he’s become a student athlete is a full time extremely accustomed to hearing, and job and some, so I think this it means the same thing every time: team is a first step. There’s still workouts. As much as he may want to take a lot that needs to happen, the easy way out by hitting snooze, which still a lot that needs to occur. the average student might have the luxury I’ve been an advocate since of doing, he simply knows he can’t. 2013 –– a huge advocate –– He can’t waste the opportunity he’s just because I was a student been given as an All-American defensive athlete at a place where I lineman at the University of Texas, even would have earned a lot of with the extensive grind and full-time job money, and as a result I’m just that it is, as he embraces competing against like, ‘It’s time for us athletes the top college football talent in America. to be paid.’ Honestly, it’s long In the national spotlight of Big 12 overdue.” “It’s a crucial part because some crazy Conference Football, he knows there is a As a part of the low percentage of people go professionally certain expectation that if he doesn’t bring incoming 2024 recruiting class, senior to play any sport from college,” Laczkowski the same level of intensity to every lift and Andrew Laczkowski plans on profiting said. “You need that foundation, that rock practice, giving it all he’s got every time off his likeness if presented with the right of education and that’s the reason you go to out, he risks losing his starting position –– opportunity as a basketball player at the college –– to get an education. I didn’t go to but he also has grades to worry about at the University of Pennsylvania. UPenn thinking I was going to improve my same time. “In college, it’s difficult to find money NBA stock: I went because it’s one of the It’s 10 a.m. –– his day is just getting and if there’s ways to profit off yourself better schools in the world and I wanted to started as he still has to go to class. But and what you do, I think I’m definitely up further myself that way.” while his classmates are arriving to class for that and it’s something I’d definitely The shift in the NCAA’s fresh out of bed, fully energized and try to do,” Laczkowski said. decision to implement this ready to devote themselves to their course “Especially in Philadelphia, with change dates back to Sept. 30 loads, he has already put himself through how big college basketball is up with California’s passing of a gauntlet in the weight room to further there, if I’m doing well and a top Athletes will the Fair Pay to Play Act, which himself as an athlete. player on one of the better teams soon profit off would ultimately ban California In addition, he also has to ensure that in the city and my name could their likeness universities from denying their he doesn’t lose focus in the classroom. be used in advertisements, then student athletes the right to earn And for all of his sacrifice, hard work I’d definitely want to be able compensation for the use of their and dedication to being an athlete and a to make sure I have some extra names, images and likenesses. Furthermore, student, Emmanuel Acho ’08, currently spending money.” this created a complex issue for the NCAA an ESPN college football analyst, doesn’t The NCAA, realizing change must to solve, as California athletes would be receive any form of compensation in be embraced, had recently succumbed to violating the Association’s amateurism rules. addition to his athletic scholarship for extreme scrutiny from student athletes Subsequently, following in California’s his contributions to the University of alongside analysts and fans, much of which footsteps, nine other states expressed their Texas from 2008 to 2011, not even for the ultimately led to this vote. plans to implement a similar bill, and ridiculous amount of revenue he’s helped momentum was at an all-time high and the bring in for one of the sport’s wealthiest Many, including Laczkowski and Acho, possibility of a change occurring seemed and most storied programs. criticized the Association for refusing to more realistic than ever before. And now, after years of backlash, the compensate those at Power Five football “I don’t think it’s the NCAA athletes NCAA has finally yet unexpectedly decided and basketball conference programs it’s time to embrace change. especially, as these players are used to bring that led to as much change as it was people in voices of prominence –– Twitter reaction, Only if this modernization had taken in revenues of much greater value than Twitter outcry that led the government to place a decade ago, as many believe it their scholarships. act –– I really think that’s what did it,” Acho should have, Forbes says Acho would’ve “I’d always been on the side that said. “Student athletes only have so much made at least $500,000 as a Longhorn student athletes should make money and power, so I really think it was the national Football player. at least something off what they do because outcry that led to change. But it’s not about “It would have changed everything,” while you’re getting paid in the scholarship the athletes, it’s really that finally analysts Acho said, “just because I could have lived essentially, the revenue you bring in is so banded together, the public banded together a more free, monetary flowing life.” much more valuable than a scholarship, and said something has to change.” ••• that I feel like there needs to be some Ingram and Acho also feel this The NCAA Board of Governors compensation for that,” Laczkowski said. development could benefit the student voted unanimously Junior Harrison athlete who either might not make it at Oct. 29 to allow student Ingram, a five-star college the next level or who plays a non-major athletes to profit off basketball prospect who I KNEW TEXAS WAS GOING their name, likeness and currently holds offers from professional sport. TO USE ME FOR ALL I WAS “A lot of the kids that are coming right image, a development 21 Division I programs, out of athletics don’t have time to work, so that will seemingly WORTH AS AN ATHLETE, SO I complements the school you’re coming out with a flat zero line: no change the landscape of NEEDED TO USE THEM FOR and its level of intensity money,” Ingram said. “Most other kids can collegiate athletics for in developing his intense ALL THEY WERE WORTH get a job in college and have some money the foreseeable future, work ethic. Additionally, FROM AN EDUCATIONAL when they start.” considering college he emphasized the As far as how the NCAA’s decision will athletes have previously STANDPOINT, A RESOURCE dedication it has taken impact the balance of power in collegiate been unable to receive to excel around campus STANDPOINT AND A athletics, Acho believes everything will compensation for their academically while CONNECTION STANDPOINT. keeping at the same level largely remain the same, owing to the fact contributions to their — EMMANUEL ACHO ‘08 that the landscape of college athletics has respective universities’ of play as his peers on the already changed recently with the influx of athletic programs. court. money at major Division I programs. In regard to when the change will “There’s no time I’ll go sit down and “I think that people act like, ‘Oh, well take place, the NCAA stated its plans to watch Netflix,” Ingram said. “I’m going now that athletes can make money off their initiate the new rules by no later than Jan. to go to the gym, then I’m going to do likeness and image, the big time players 2021. According to Acho, the organization homework, some extra studying, then I are going to go to the big time programs certainly has much to sort through in go to the gym again –– then I go to sleep. because they’ll have the most money,’ well determining the framework of how There’s no procrastinating at all –– it the big time players already go to the big student athletes can be compensated for wouldn’t work.” time programs because they have the nicest their athletic ability while maintaining full Likewise, while Laczkowski believes facilities and everything else,” Acho said. amateurism, which the organization holds college athletes should be able to earn “Think about how crazy the facilities are, in the highest regard. money for their abilities, he ensures not to think about how much money coaches are “I think it’s the first step in a long forget the importance of being an athlete making now, it’s ludicrous.” road to athletes finally getting what they and a student.
new NCAA guidelines released by the NCAA Board of Governors
• Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to nonathlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate. • Maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for studentathlete success. • Ensure rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition. • Make clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities. • Make clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible. • Reaffirm that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university. • Enhance principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity.
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STORY William Aniol, Jack Davis ARTWORK Cooper Cole
2
percent of high school athletes go Division I
24
sports offered by the NCAA
2.9
billion in athletic scholarships given between all Division I and II schools SOURCE: NCAA
William Aniol photo
• Protect the recruiting environment and prohibit inducements to select, remain at, or transfer to a specific institution.
By the numbers
SIGNATURE Student athletes will now be able to make money off their name through the sales of their jersey and autographs.