Will NIL Have an Impact on HBCU Baseball?

Now that the world of “amateurism” has been turned upside down thanks primarily to various states’ legislation and the subsequent NCAA resolution, will the new rules relating to the use of college athletes’ name, image and likeness (NIL) have any impact on HBCU baseball?

It’s a question we at Black College Nines have been tossing around since the NCAA announced its version of state rulings back in July… and frankly, we can’t come to a consensus of opinion. So, ultimately, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

NIL references a college athlete’s newly created ability to receive compensation for the use of his or her name, image and/or likeness. Compensation cannot be pay-for-play, nor can it be compensation for an achievement or performance, such as being selected the conference player of the week.

Student-athletes have already taken advantage of opportunities either by marketing themselves or contracting with an approved and regulated marketing firm. Schools can provide access to tools that teach its student-athletes such things as brand building, monetization, and financial literacy. But, by design, school administrators will not be involved in the contracting between the student-athlete and the entity looking to use that student-athlete’s name, image and/or likeness. As it stands now, the student-athlete must report the NIL contract to his or her college to make sure there are no compliance or conflicting contract issues.

Most of the contracts arrangements that have been posted on social media have been the very large seven-figure ones doled out to athletes who have already become social media stars or nationally accomplished athletes from nationally accomplished athletic programs. Many of the more locally reported contracts are for far less and may even be an exchange for goods and/or services.

Will opportunities primarily be available to athletic stars from a school’s most dominant sport? Spread out to athletes at more than one sport that traditionally produce strong teams? Will the size of the town where the school is based, have an impact on marketing opportunities?

Our Black College Nines internal debates have been focused on the fair market value of a college baseball player, especially where the school has strong football and basketball programs. Will those baseball playing student-athletes get their share of the pie? And how about those at HBCU baseball programs.

Some opportunities might be a better fit for a baseball player’s endorsement than by someone from another sport. And one would think that a good, charismatic HBCU baseball player can come up with plenty of tie-in opportunities for himself. The question then becomes, is the fair market value of the name, image and/or likeness of an HBCU baseball player going to make a real financial impact. That’s the point of contention we’re debating at BCN.

We agree here at the virtual offices of Black College Nines that we hope there are meaningful opportunities for HBCU baseball players, but there is little accord as to whether it will come to pass. What’s your opinion?

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!