Lane Kiffin points out major NIL issue that must be addressed soon
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin pointed out a major issue with NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals that needs to be fixed ASAP. Kiffin, who was on the podium at SEC Media Days on Monday, noted that boosters pursuing recruits without speaking to coaches could be a major problem for several reasons. "If […]
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin pointed out a major issue with NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals that needs to be fixed ASAP.
Kiffin, who was on the podium at SEC Media Days on Monday, noted that boosters pursuing recruits without speaking to coaches could be a major problem for several reasons.
"If you have boosters deciding who they're going to pay to come play and the coach isn't involved in it, how does that work?" said Kiffin. "They just pick who they want and tell you who to play? And when they don't play, how is that going to work out?"
"I've said it for a long time — you've legalized cheating, so get ready for the people with the most money to get the best players," added Kiffin.
Kiffin is spot on when it comes to boosters.
The NCAA currently doesn't want collectives getting involved in recruiting. That's a problem.
NIL deals are here to stay. Not allowing the collectives to communicate with a coaching staff isn't going to do anything but create more problems for student-athletes. What happens when a booster promises a kid a NIL deal and then the school doesn't take him his commitment? There are all kinds of issues that can be solved by simply relaxing the rules and allowing for more transparency.
The NCAA needs to embrace NIL instead of tolerating it. Otherwise, the world of recruiting is going to continue to be driven by a black market that has no regulations. Paying players has always happened. The NCAA, however, now has the power to control how players get paid. I'm not sure the NCAA having control is a good thing, but they could at least help college football evolve by stopping the illusion of amateurism and figuring out a system that allows players to receive payments in a transparent manner.
It's a simple fix. But the NCAA, as always, is committed to living in the past.
Featured image via Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
