The Drake Group is maintaining a state-by-state database tracking all state legislative actions recognizing the rights of college athletes to monetize their own names, images, and likenesses (NILs) via employment and endorsements outside their collegiate institutions. Questions should be directed to Drake board member Julie Sommer at [email protected]. SEE QUICK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND FULL DATABASE … Read more
By Dr. Andrew Zimbalist and Dr. Donna A. Lopiano Originally published September 15, 2020 Thirty-four states have proposed or passed legislation to allow their college athletes to earn income from their names, images, and likenesses (NILs). Unfortunately, there is considerable variation in what these bills provide. It would be unworkable for colleges in the same … Read more
On August 3, 2020, U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, Christopher Murphy, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ron Wyden, Mazie Hirono, and Kamala Harris issued a “College Athletes Bill of Rights” statement that sought to advance justice and opportunity for college athletes and promised future legislation to realize their position. On August 13, they were joined by Senators … Read more
The Drake Group is encouraged that the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary reviewed issues related to integrity in intercollegiate athletics on July 22, 2020. While the hearing mostly focused on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights along with various state and federal NIL proposals, there were also important exchanges on COVID-19, concussions, racial disparities, … Read more
The Drake Group has fielded a number of questions from Congressional offices on NIL issues. There are three issues that appear to cause considerable confusion: (1) the meaning of “institutional revenue sharing with college athletes,” (2) group or joint licensing with the athlete’s institution, and (3) the extent to which Congress should grant a “limited … Read more
The Drake Group believes that several specific issues raised during the July 1, 2020, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on “Exploring a Compensation Framework for Intercollegiate Athletics” are misleading to both members of Congress and the general public. Three serious concerns regarding testimony pertaining to NIL compensation were detailed: Claims that NIL laws would perpetuate … Read more
College Athletes Should Give U.S. Senate NIL Bill a Failing Grade: Criticism of the Fairness in Collegiate Athletics Act The Drake Group shares observations critical of the Fairness in Collegiate Athletics Act, a federal bill intended to protect the employment rights of college athletes proposed by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. The Act gives … Read more
A Comparative Analysis of U.S. Senator Rubio’s Proposed Federal Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) Bill and the new Florida NIL Statute The Drake Group was asked to provide a comparative analysis of the first state name/image/likeness legislation that would go into effect during the summer of 2010, the Florida Intercollegiate Athlete Compensation and Rights (SB646) which was signed … Read more
Criticism of April 29, 2020, NCAA Board of Governors’ Guidelines for Future NCAA and Federal NIL Legislation On April 29, 2020, the NCAA issued a press release announcing its Board of Governors’ action responding to the comprehensive April 17, 2020, NCAA Federal and State Legislation Working Group Final Report regarding college athletes commercializing the use … Read more
Critical Analysis of Proposed Models of College Athlete Compensation The Drake Group believes that the current pressure on higher education institutions to pay college athletes well beyond the full cost of education has been created by root failures of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to: articulate and implement an educational sport system that allows … Read more