JUST IN: Ted Cruz Leads Roundtable To Discuss Future Of Student-Athletes' NIL Rights

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) leads a roundtable to discuss the issue of NIL rights for student-athletes.
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[@fredkent6385]

Let Nick Sabin solve this mess.

[@jessetubbs2177]

We certainly don't need lawyers trying to fix it.

[@twisted-tenn1992]

BOOO WHOOOO Crying Saban is Big Mad because the playing field is Level now. Alabama had NIL before NIL was ever thought of.

[@DuckYcounTryGurl3879]

Good point. My good friend was on panel on this issue @twisted-tenn1992. He has been a sports lawyer for a long time and he met Ted Cruz anyway. Good valid point across on this.

[@monkeyattackedmyass5435]

Nick Saban goes to Washington D.C. 👏🏼 Let him in there to solve some problems!! God know that corrupt cesspool of Congress can't do it.

[@88jaspersimmons]

56:38 Nick Saban: "nobody takes a profit in college athletics" Also Nick Saban: $150 Million in career earnings

[@daredevil5072]

The competitive argument isn’t true if anything nil and the portal has created more parity in the sport because now you will never see a team like alabama or anyone dominate like they did ever again because of nil and the portal nick saban use to have talent stacked on his roster all the way to the 4th strings and now that is not a thing anymore so the competitive balance argument is irrelevant and lets not act like g5 schools dont got money seen a bunch of athletes transfer there… top recruits at that for nil and playing time look at tulane and boise state landing malachi nelson former 5 star recruit

[@fly4life103]

Is he complaining about pay for play? Wow! That's been the norm, but now it's legal, and with the portal, kids are free to go anywhere. Gone are the days when one team dominates every year. For them to cry about transparency says it all and only makes one wonder why they were so successful under the old rules and are so afraid of these new ones.

[@brianmorse769]

Amen!!

[@billyphillips231]

IF THEY GET PAID THEY SHOULD PAY TAXES!!!!

[@LionelLordOfTheThundercats]

They do pay taxes.

[@felipenunez2058]

Everyone pays taxes except churches. Even drug dealers have too file their gains.

[@michaelhughes7267]

You think its screwed now.....let the Federal Government get involved in it!

[@adamcordell7750]

In order for this to work, you HAVE to limit this from entering into the high school level. Georgia has already passed NIL for HS athletics, and I think it has either passed or is in vote in Alabama. That would definitely bring detriment to all of it, especially when this committee is talking about recruiting inducements.

[@wimwak]

It's already at the high school level, and soon to be at the middle school level. College coaches started to scout at the middle school level a few years ago. That means agents and money are starting to look at kids that young

[@felipenunez2058]

​@@wimwakyou don't understand NILs my guy. Scouts can't give you money. NIL is for athletes that company's use their name in order to make money it's a sponsor. Anyone that has a product to sell should make money of it. It's called capitalism are you against capitalism.

[@wimwak]

I understand NIL perfectly. It's a way where the athletes can sign deals for commercials and endorsement deals. The problem now is, and what was covered during the roundtable was these athletes are now wanting guaranteed money and playing time from the college before they set foot on a campus. Let alone proved themselves in practice. That is what is happening with the NIL now. @@felipenunez2058

[@victorharris4101]

Should have asked prime to come

[@user-wp3cy3fl2j]

If Ted Cruz is leading the round-table you know things are going nowhere.

[@dwightprewitt8363]

It's something fishy about these collectives... something just don't seem right.. they get something out the deal... they dont just do something for free...

[@sugarskulllyfe5890]

yea your probably not wrong. im sure there is evil at play on both sides. angents looking to take advantage and certain parties wanting to limit athletes. TBH at this point.... if football is this popular in america take it out of athletics.... this will not help other sport athletes. just let football make money on its own. not sure how to do that because powers above will try to limit such a thing

[@johnpruitt2516]

Let the NFL start a farm league like baseball and let the players who want to go to college and get a degree go to college and play college ball at that level.

[@joshuagoldman1916]

Hell no

[@kingfree3396]

If the colleges are getting paid the players who produce the wealth should be paid

[@johnpruitt2516]

They should be paid but it cant be the wild Wild West with no oversight. That formula will destroy college ball @@kingfree3396

[@johnpruitt2516]

Why? @@joshuagoldman1916

[@funfact8660]

Player's only love you when they're playin

[@hixfire23]

Paying

[@monkeyattackedmyass5435]

Say women, they will come and they will go When the rain washes you clean, you'll know... you will know

[@acoustic_soul03]

I've been afraid of changing cause I've built my life around u but time makes u colder even children get older & I'm getting older too...

[@ronaldluning4010]

Colleges should educate, not be the farm league for pro sports. If sports teams had to compensate their farm leagues the compensation for "elite" pro athletes might come down to something less insane than 40,000,000 a year.

[@tghostr720]

Coaches shouldn’t be making 12 million per year

[@KS-hi8vi]

Too late for that. Coaches & Universities making 100 of millions of $$$ off Sports. Now they 😡 they gotta share it with the Players. Saban had the corner on paying players now everyone is doing it & he couldn’t get the best players so he quit.

[@shadhastings6219]

Why not?@@tghostr720

[@mitchlawson1932]

Whom payed for the venues?

[@CleanMusicLover229]

Billions*​

[@genfari9522]

From a guy who got paid millions to coach football complains about players caring about money? Sure development is important for their future but so is money.

[@blakebaugh9085]

Tuberville should have been sitting in on this meeting

[@melroze]

You mean the same guy left a recruit in the middle of dinner to take another job. Naw.

[@acoustic_soul03]

He got jokes 🤣 😂🤪😂🤣

[@blakebaugh9085]

@@melroze saban helped him retire. I just thought it’d be a nice moment coming full circle

[@roberts3921]

I’ve never seen incompetence sit so close to competence.

[@rinceradio]

People in general need to have rights in regards to their image, likeness and voice in regards to AI. Why are you sitting on your hands about that?

[@LawChat101]

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[@nicholassnell8058]

wow the cavinders were there for quite literally no reason what so ever.

[@scottgood7888]

I find it interesting that now that the playing field has been leveled, Nick decides to fly the coup.

[@jcelldogs]

Because his 25k bag of money and dodge charger aren't swaying the top recruits when they can go somewhere else and start immediately.

[@scottgood7888]

@@jcelldogs The Dodge Charger was a nice touch. 😂

[@conniernordan]

Education and character development should be the focus, mainstay, and core when deciding on how to manage the damage of attempting to mix money with authenticity of team unity.

[@LionelLordOfTheThundercats]

Sports are a job, you don't think of any other job that way. McDonalds call their employee team members, do you think education and character development are their focus?

[@conniernordan]

@@LionelLordOfTheThundercats Many companies use linguistics and narratives to model as a team without management understanding what that means. What is your definition of a job. For many it is "just over broke," therefore, the dedication and character development is lacking in most facets of the people and organization. We have to expect more and that takes wisdom and wisdom takes time and experiences. The people and leadership are the job. A little League team will be led by less qualified, yet as we move towards adulthood we must be more advanced in our thinking and should develop as better people, more educated, with greater understanding of cultures and science. Otherwise we stay in a mindset that impedes expansion of capabilities. Your example of MacDonalds and pro sports, or sports with a money focus is why we don't expect more. If McDonald's is our model for character development, we will become less in most cases. Regarding money and sports, being less with money will not end well, and wisdom with age may never come to fruition. Just bc someone has a position that instructs or manages people and they use sports linguistics does not mean they know how to teach others to become more, or how to handle situations that arise on the job, or in life. Thus, this is why it is important to hire managers or supervisors or teachers, or anyone in an authoritative position that knows character development, or you never get tested to become more. You ultimately become a placeholder in life and just a pawn for what you call a job.

[@Juanro_7]

1:09:32 Federal performance based rewards across all states. You want to get paid…. Perform. Rankings matter. NIL separate from college sports. Want to be a what a burger spokesperson? Do it outside of school.

[@davidfloyd9134]

Cruz what about Texas schools like Texas Tech, Baylor & TCU? You didn’t fight for them

[@trickshotfamily]

The generation gap... imagine what congressional hearings will sound like in 20 years.

[@chadkrz6156]

Have a specific dollar amount per month for housing and living expenses with a team cap on it. The team could distribute it to their discretion. Also provide a pension plan for the student athletes that they could access at 62 years old. Each college would have a cap they could invest per year in the pension plan. They could distribute it how ever they want. Anything more, the student athletes could seek their own endorsement deals and those deals should be taxed.

[@justinthejuke5511]

They doing all this crying but i dare someone to go look how underfunded HBCUs in the same footprint are underfunded w state funds. Let alone worry about an NIL. This is mighty rich of them to have a whole hearing when they themselves are knowingly withholding funds. Shame on yall

[@Mexican_Marauder]

Not only do they need to stop paying olayers, but they also need to shut down the automatic eligibility when they transfer. You used to have to sit out a year if u transferred. And that year took away from your years of eligibility. The schools do need to step up and pay for more meals for these kids. Not a single student should go hungry. Everything else is provided.

[@lorimars0]

why should the taxpayers and students be burdened with paying for these players' meals? why shouldn't that responsibility fundamentally lie with the player and his/her parents? if taxpayers are funding these players, shouldn't the money they are or will generate be used to pay them back? from what i've seen, many of the students--like their parents--are overweight and/or obese and could use to miss a few meals. i know as a former student, part of my tuition was composed of a fee to support the college's athletic program. why should i and many other non-athletes have been burdened with this charge? if the athletic program cannot support itself, why have it?

[@Mexican_Marauder]

@@lorimars0 I'm talking about money from the sponsors and commercials they get from sports. Not the school or state.

[@lorimars0]

@@Mexican_Marauder of course you are; here are your own words pertaining to the schools/state: "The schools do need to step up and pay for more meals for these kids...everything else is provided." do you think that these meals, the upkeep of the facilities, travel expenses, etc are free? where do you think that some of the money for athletic scholarships are generated from? It's tuition fees and taxpayer monies. if they wanna play, then make them pay their own way.

[@TerryLBrad]

College coaches shouldn’t be making 10 to 12 million per year! Yes, some of the revenue is invested back into the athletes. But, not nearly enough based on the amount of revenue that is being generated by the athletes!

[@tghostr720]

Nick don’t wanna hear that

[@califleadog5657]

MAGA Saban showing his true colors just like Tubberville, Phill Jackson and George Karl.

[@blakebaugh9085]

There needs to be a separation of college football where the players only play for an education and then a league for 18-22 year olds that are allowed to do what they want and make as much money as possible. Pushing the two together is making a fruitcake of college athletics

[@davidj3239]

Your principles seem distorted. Revenue will continue to be made in all other aspects of the sport. The only place you express concern is when it comes to the players. Most colleges have 2 Sports producing all the revenue. Revenue sharing and Non Capitalist ideals sounds very left leaning for Republicans. Flash: The Idea of preserving some Innocence of Student Athletics was already eroded when the NCAA robbed and profitted while athletes got nothing tangible until now. Ask why the legislators care so much about this, we definitely have more pressing matters in this country.

[@yertter]

You are 100% right. The nation has a vested interest in football being spread to as many of our young men as possible. It’s literally a perfect allegory for warfare. It’s a national security issue.

[@wimwak]

One of the biggest problems is that out of all of the college athletes. There is only a small percentage that are getting NIL deals. The rest of the athletes have to rely on scholarships. As the Alabama AD pointed out to those who get NIL deals also receive scholarships and everything that goes with it. It is not a fair system. Those who score a NIL deal should not get scholarships. They should have to pay their own way. That frees up more money for scholarships for those who could not afford college. They also need to limit how many times a student athlete can transfer.

[@KS-hi8vi]

BAMA been paying Plauers buying them Cars getting them jobs. Now they don’t have an advantage & they 😡.

[@kingfree3396]

Lets penalize the players while the colleges continue to profit handsomely off their talents .Ya you done lost your mind .

[@wimwak]

That profit you talk about goes right back into the college or university. It goes to fund other sports that otherwise would not exist. Such as swimming, tennis, wrestling, gymnastics and others. That money goes to scholarships. That money also goes to the operations of the schools. If it were not for men's football and basketball. Colleges around the nation would not be able to fund all those sports programs, and forget about female sports. The WNBA is a perfect example. Without the NBA subsidizing the WNBA. The WNBA would not exist because every team in the league has lost money since it's creation. @@kingfree3396

[@yertter]

There’s no version of this that doesn’t single-out college football. All of the title IX complaints post NIL being enacted are completely legitimate. Only solution lies in Congress separating out college football not being applicable for NIL. To do that, Congress will have to declare that the nation has a vested interest in football being spread to as many of our young men as possible. They will have to address it as something like a national security issue. ‘No sport prepares young men for warfare like football. Therefore, the nation has vested interest in as many of our young men playing football as possible. So college football shouldn’t have NIL and that will encourage a minor leagues to naturally form in the vacuum.’ They could also set other standards since they would be reaching into that world. It’s probably unavoidable.

[@RodZilla843]

It's not surprising to see a group dominated by White males debating the impact of allowing players, who are often from minority backgrounds, to rightfully earn a fair market value for their talents. This situation points to a broader issue of institutional exploitation and corruption, which thrives on the control and wealth accumulated by those in charge. When such institutions undergo significant changes, especially by adopting principles like free-market capitalism, free enterprise, and individual autonomy, it's predictable that those who previously benefited might resist. For example, the abolition of slavery undoubtedly had a profound economic impact, yet it was a necessary move towards upholding fundamental American values. Why, then, do we focus more on the implications of policy changes rather than their role in preserving core principles? Perhaps it's time to remove the massive financial incentives from organizations like the NCAA, aiming for a truly amateur model. Coaches could earn similar salaries to professors, and the focus could shift from athletic to academic achievements and future career prospects, preventing institutions from profiting from their players' personal brands.

[@KimberlyMoore-rm7to]

I dont think its right you pay a player a couple of hundred thousand, @ another player gets a couple of million. These are adult men and women whom should be interested 1st in getting their Education. They should 😂 not be able to jump into the transfer portal, and go to another school thats offering this particular student 1 million dollars when he was just paid a couple of hundred thousand at the school their at. They HAVE TO PUT A CAP ON THIS!

[@JJDC24]

Coaches can do it... These are adults like you said. If they drop out they would have to get a job. Why can't they maximize their income? This is a full time job for these adults, plus putting their body on the line. Ya'll just want to keep the status quo. Think of the families this money is changing

[@kingfree3396]

The colleges are getting big paid the players should rightfully get big paid.

[@dakotaemerick9671]

Can I allocate some of my tax dollars for a 1080p camera?

[@SLIMLEESCRATCHERS]

I do agree with Ted Cruz that other sports should be equally paid if that's what the leagues want to do. Like soccer, golf, tennis, wrestling etc. 👍

[@LionelLordOfTheThundercats]

But they aren't paid by the school.

[@Juanro_7]

Don’t forget to disclose and tax those gains in their respective tax brackets lol. Oh lawd 😂

[@travisb5922]

Lets just forget all this and go back to how it started and how it's supposed to be

[@KS-hi8vi]

Universities & Coaches making millions off the back of Players. NOPE

[@kingfree3396]

Nope

[@king_ltc_]

It’s like with every good thing. NIL was a way for players to advocate for themselves and the money they bring to their schools to be reimbursed to them. Now it’s being used to play politics on which school has the biggest payout available. I know that Power 5 schools will always get the top talent, but even then, pretty sketch.

[@staciecarter5361]

Nick Saban 2024!

[@user-pk9ut4ew1d]

It wouldn't surprise me. Anybody can get into American politics anymore.

[@theknowitall4090]

THe Cavender twins are a joke. If they didn't have NIL nobody would know who they were and they would not have made a dime. They actually said to the effect female athletes should be paid no matter how good they are. translation- My looks should count for something. Saban made a great point when he said Bryce Young had EARNED his NIL with a heisman trophy season. Sports Illustrated should pay you if you look hot in a bikini. Getting the "hottest" looking players to get clicks is not what collegiate sports should be about.

[@dennywood3347]

Here’s the thing,there are thousands of young men who would give anything to just have the opportunity to play college football. This is because they simply love the game, plus receive a free education. NIL HAS DESTROYED EVERY THING

[@jeffjohnson6709]

I actually agree with Marsha Blackburn on the investigations. They should be more transparent. Nick is not the guy to ask about that. He's been paying players since prior to the nil.

[@jeffjohnson6709]

I have to say. If you want to complain. Go to the conservative supreme court. Ask them why they allowed the players to be paid? If the NCAA had done what Sabban said the players wouldn't have done this. Don't try and rewind time because you screwed the players over so long.

[@raygrant9768]

😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂

[@donsmith3038]

NLS is the GOAT, period.

[@davidhemphill6308]

Everybody should get paid the same

[@lorimars0]

socialism

[@KS-hi8vi]

Stop paying coaches & Universities who make millions off these Players.

[@shadhastings6219]

The coaching market sets itself. Bring in a winning coach and your university and cities benefit economically. It's really simple economics if you think about it.

[@ultimatebeachfutbolleague5734]

Pay the players. Its that simple.

[@LC9842]

College isn’t a job. It’s a place to grow and become educated.

[@ultimatebeachfutbolleague5734]

@logancompton7392 Pay Nick Saban $100,000,000. You paid for working on campus. When the black athletic brings in 85% of the dollars then it's a problem. Only in white America.

[@rickthomas422]

It's apparently not that simple. It just influenced the retirement of one the greatest college coaches of all time.

[@shutuplige6524]

they are being compensated with scholarships and other bennies that come with that luxury

[@dustindavis5397]

@@LC9842there should be nothing prevent by an individual from capitalizing on their own hard work and reputation. But that would come via true endorsements. Things that require time, focus, upholding reputations, continued excellence on the field etc. Not a collective farming up LLC’s to cut fat checks to the players they want to play at their Alma mater.

[@redrustler1]

Conservatism is supposed to be small government. Less intrusive government. And now we have a so-called conservative interjecting government into sports. This is the problem: Too many people don't have the first damn clue what being conservative means.

[@alanadiaz2078]

Players should get paid. The students work very hard. The government is already in education so what’a the issue?

[@redrustler1]

@@alanadiaz2078 Education and colleges are two different things. The Government is involved in grade school and high school education by setting certain standards schools must meet. The government is not in colleges. Colleges determine their own curriculum and standards. The government does not dictate to colleges what their requirements should be for a student obtaining a degree. The private organization known as the National Collegiate Athletics Organization governs college athletics. There is a little thing called the "free market." The consumers of college sports will tell us if they disapprove of the way the NCAA handles college athletics. They tell us through their wallets. What other private companies do you want government interjecting into because someone in the Senate does not like the way the company does business? Ford? Microsoft? Anheuser-Busch? This is the age when so-called conservatives love big government when it pursues their objectives.

[@blakebaugh9085]

@@redrustler1so you think the government gives money to colleges and expects nothing in return?

[@dustindavis5397]

I think the federal govt only has to come in because the individual states which create legislation for NIL can create “whatever they want”. Meaning, it can be far more beneficial to one school than the other. In addition to that larger schools have infinitely more resources than smaller schools. I agree with you on the govt not interfering with business; but we are not only talking about business, but also the spirit of fairness/competitiveness. I think it’s short sighted to suggest the govt meddling in an individual corporation vs college athletics as being comparable. Respect your sentiments though. But if you really think about it…. Take all the guardrails off, abolish the NCAA, don’t allow congress to act from a federal level, leave states to do as they please and you’ll have about 25-35 schools survive and basically have a mini NFL farm league not focused around college athletes AT ALL. And as much as I hate big govt… I hate the sound of Rice and Vandi not having the opportunity to win 1 game a year way worse. I’d miss the early bowl season where tiny schools give us some of the best games. I’d miss the junior college transfers that carve a path to the NFL via transfers to larger schools (because their junior colleges program is doomed to collapse in this environment. I guess if you are cool with the Big 10 and SEC adding a few more teams each and organizationally detaching from the schools then let’s leave congress out. Just my $0.02. Sorry it was so long. Crazy times for sure .

[@redrustler1]

@@dustindavis5397 And if one state creates tax laws which favor companies relative to another state, and those companies close up shop in one state and relocate to another state, leaving many people unemployed? Should the federal government intervene to create a level playing field between rival states? States offer incentives for professional sports teams to move from one location to another. Should the federal government become involved in leveling the playing field in professional sports? I think its unfair that my small market baseball team is forced to compete with the N.Y. Yankees or the L.A. Dodgers and their almost unlimited local television revenue. The USSC paved the way for NIL money in college athletics, effectively creating free agency in collegiate athletics. As I said above, too many so-called conservatives are happy using government to create fairness where they perceive unfairness. Or to legislate their agenda.

[@michaelatencio2917]

Thank you Ted Cruz & Nick Saban & committee for this. College football needs a Roger Goodell. Someone at the top to make decisions & set rules. Without College football there is no NFL.

[@hixfire23]

There will be more coaches retire. The term coach is not needed anymore.

[@jeffjohnson6709]

He liked college because he failed in the NFL

[@williamwyatt9325]

How many National Championship rings do you have?

[@jeffjohnson6709]

@@williamwyatt9325 Like that has some bearing on my opinion. I wish idiots would stop doing that.

[@RonTDB]

How did he fail in the NFL when he had a better record than Belichick and the same record as Reid their first two years? Please explain?

[@MrLoverboi129]

I’m not about racism but this is keeping money out of Africa America ball players. Which that being said Caucasians getting paid as well. Let them people eat for there family

[@LawChat101]

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