“What if the next Caitlin Clark gets away from Iowa because our schools are handcuffed?” That question has motivated one Iowa state lawmaker to wade into the turbulent waters of college athletics recruiting.
The state of college athletics is often described as “the wild, wild West” since recent federal court outcomes cleared the way for student-athletes to profit from endorsement deals and transfer schools more freely.
The official policy from the NCAA — the national governing body of college athletics — is known as name, image and likeness. The policy, which has become known by the acronym NIL, recognizes student-athletes’ ability to be compensated by third parties for their personal brand.
Iowa Rep. Devon Wood, a Republican from New Market, said she wants to help ensure Iowa’s three public universities can remain competitive in the new college athletics landscape. So she has introduced legislation that she said was designed with that goal in mind.
Wood’s proposed bill would allow the state’s public universities — the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa — to facilitate endorsement deals between student-athletes, including high school recruits, and third parties.
Wood said Wednesday — after a legislative hearing on the proposal, held at the Iowa Capitol — that she has decided to put a pin in her bill for now. Wood said that while she believes in her intention, the bill needs more work before attempting to get it passed into law.
“In simplistic terms, let’s give our schools a way to compete with some of those bigger dollar — and not that our schools don’t have high dollar funding and wonderful donors — but let’s give them a way to have a leg up when competing in the atmosphere to attract those folks,” Wood said.
Wood’s bill, House File 628, would have prohibited the state’s universities from implementing any policies that would prevent student-athletes from benefiting from endorsement opportunities.
Wood said the legislation was drafted by taking ideas from bills introduced in other states, primarily Missouri.
“My overall goal with this is (for it) to be a tool (for the universities),” Wood said. “So I plan to work with and hope that my subcommittee members will join me in working with our regents and our other interested parties throughout the next couple of months and maybe throughout the interim.
“I do not want this to be pushed through before it’s ready, but I do want to have the conversation.”
Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, joined Wood on the subcommittee for Wednesday’s hearing. Scholten played college baseball at Morningside College in Iowa and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln before going on to play professionally.
Scholten said he acknowledges there are many issues with the current landscape of college athletics, but also expressed concern about the state getting involved. He said he believes the NCAA should address the issue.
“Overall, I think what’s happening is out of control and something needs to happen. But at the same time, if we did something here in the state, I also don’t want to hurt our programs, either,” Scholten said. “There might be scams also going on in this. I think that’s where we have a role to play, protecting to make sure that there’s not fraudulent stuff happening.”
Wood said she shared the desire to draft legislation that would not inadvertently make it more difficult for Iowa’s college sports teams to compete for recruits.
Scholten said he hopes to remain engaged in the discussion about the potential need for state laws in college athletics recruiting. He said he would like to engage the universities’ athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes.
www.thegazette.com
The state of college athletics is often described as “the wild, wild West” since recent federal court outcomes cleared the way for student-athletes to profit from endorsement deals and transfer schools more freely.
The official policy from the NCAA — the national governing body of college athletics — is known as name, image and likeness. The policy, which has become known by the acronym NIL, recognizes student-athletes’ ability to be compensated by third parties for their personal brand.
Iowa Rep. Devon Wood, a Republican from New Market, said she wants to help ensure Iowa’s three public universities can remain competitive in the new college athletics landscape. So she has introduced legislation that she said was designed with that goal in mind.
Wood’s proposed bill would allow the state’s public universities — the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa — to facilitate endorsement deals between student-athletes, including high school recruits, and third parties.
Wood said Wednesday — after a legislative hearing on the proposal, held at the Iowa Capitol — that she has decided to put a pin in her bill for now. Wood said that while she believes in her intention, the bill needs more work before attempting to get it passed into law.
“In simplistic terms, let’s give our schools a way to compete with some of those bigger dollar — and not that our schools don’t have high dollar funding and wonderful donors — but let’s give them a way to have a leg up when competing in the atmosphere to attract those folks,” Wood said.
Wood’s bill, House File 628, would have prohibited the state’s universities from implementing any policies that would prevent student-athletes from benefiting from endorsement opportunities.
Wood said the legislation was drafted by taking ideas from bills introduced in other states, primarily Missouri.
“My overall goal with this is (for it) to be a tool (for the universities),” Wood said. “So I plan to work with and hope that my subcommittee members will join me in working with our regents and our other interested parties throughout the next couple of months and maybe throughout the interim.
“I do not want this to be pushed through before it’s ready, but I do want to have the conversation.”
Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, joined Wood on the subcommittee for Wednesday’s hearing. Scholten played college baseball at Morningside College in Iowa and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln before going on to play professionally.
Scholten said he acknowledges there are many issues with the current landscape of college athletics, but also expressed concern about the state getting involved. He said he believes the NCAA should address the issue.
“Overall, I think what’s happening is out of control and something needs to happen. But at the same time, if we did something here in the state, I also don’t want to hurt our programs, either,” Scholten said. “There might be scams also going on in this. I think that’s where we have a role to play, protecting to make sure that there’s not fraudulent stuff happening.”
Wood said she shared the desire to draft legislation that would not inadvertently make it more difficult for Iowa’s college sports teams to compete for recruits.
Scholten said he hopes to remain engaged in the discussion about the potential need for state laws in college athletics recruiting. He said he would like to engage the universities’ athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes.
Iowa lawmakers don’t want to miss out on the next ‘Caitlin Clark’
“What if the next Caitlin Clark gets away from Iowa because our schools are handcuffed?” That question has motivated one Iowa state lawmaker to wade into the turbulent waters of college athletics recruiting.
www.thegazette.com
