NCAA Removes Likeness Release Forms
The first step toward change in major college sports may have taken place as the NCAA decided to remove “Likeness Release Forms,” according to a USA Today report.
Prior to this, all athletes signed a release to let the NCAA or a third party use their likenesses for promoting their conferences or events or championships without the student-athletes being compensated. Stemming from the O’Bannon lawsuit, the NCAA seems to be distancing itself from legal entanglements.
“The NCAA has maintained that athletes were not required to sign the Student-Athlete Statement’s name-and-likeness release portion. During the trial, University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides testified that he did not view such forms as mandatory. The plaintiffs, however, submitted into evidence excerpts of 2013 depositions from Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford and then-Fresno State President John Welty in which they said they believed athletes would be ineligible to play if they did not sign the name-and-likeness release portion of the form.”
Our take: It seems apparent that the NCAA is losing this landmark court case and they are preparing for a world in which they have to share their revenue. I’m not completely sold on schools paying athletes directly, but I do believe the student athletes should be able to benefit from their likenesses, whether it be in profit sharing from video games, jersey sales, etc. I also believe that the athletes should be able to sell their autographs if anyone is willing to pay them for it.
A Huge Day In Texas
With the scheduled neutral site blockbuster at AT & T Stadium between the USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide, we are in for an epic day of football in the Lone Star State. Not only does September 3rd, 2016 feature a clash between those historic college football powerhouses, but Notre Dame also visits Texas in Austin, and UCLA takes on Texas A & M.
Our take: There has never been a slate of games this good in one state in one day. What a way to kick off the 2016 season! Kudos to each of these schools for great non-conference scheduling.
SEC Network Signs With Comcast
One of the last big announcements from SEC Media Days is that the new SEC Network has inked a deal with Comcast, one of the nation’s largest cable providers.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with ESPN to deliver the SEC Network to Xfinity TV customers on multiple platforms,” Matt Strauss, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Services, Comcast Cable said. “Whether in the home or on the go, Xfinity TV customers will be able to watch their favorite Southeastern Conference teams in more ways than ever before.”
The SEC Network will be in approximately 46 million homes and that’s before the impending announcement of a deal with DirecTV.
Our take: Most of us knew that the SEC Network would be a rousing success and this announcement reinforces it. This is great for college football and the college football viewer.
