Modest Proposal: Ban shoe companies from sponsoring individual DI teams

[JerryDennard]

While this plan isn't perfect (because cash is cash, and relatives are relatives), couldn't the NCAA at least remove the undue influence of shoe companies by forbidding team affiliation and only, at most, allow shoe companies to sponsor whole conferences.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Absolutely they should be banned. But just like congress and Super PACs, money talks and is the decadence of our society.... But it sure would be nice if there was a way to take cash, collusion & corruption out of the picture! So, I guess, one can only dream.

I will just be grateful Iowa runs a clean, straight ship with Fran and Ferentz.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

It's a problem, but on the flipside, it won't impact this problem. The problem is at the grassroots level. It's the AAU teams with the shoe contracts that start the whole process, and it's been going on a long time.

The other side of this is, there are a lot more AAU opportunities for kids now because of these shoe contracts. A lot of these kids get to compete for very little cost to them because of the money flowing in on the contracts. Not everybody is a blue chip recruit and many of them get seen because they compete on these teams. It's definitely a problem, but I don't know how it can be solved and not hurt other kids in the process.

 

[nitewing]

to me its time the NCAA grows a pair and use the death penalty. use it on the blue bloods this will send a message loud and clear to stop the cheating. Shoe companies help pay for the expense that these kids in some cases can't afford.

one more thing stop treating these kids like super stars, with all the media attention.

 

[DanL53]

As long as NCAA College Basketball generates billions of dollars for multiple recipients, I don't see a complete cure.

And I don't see the NCAA throwing all that money away for the integrity of the game. I wish they would.

I'm just happy for the small victories (and this latest thing is still just a small victory) and I'll bet the cheaters lay low for maybe even a year or two before they figure out new ways to cheat.

 

[Ronman]

one more thing stop treating these kids like super stars, with all the media attention.

Says the guy who routinely posts here emphasizing how many stars a possible recruit has been assigned.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

The NCAA should just adopt NC$$ as their logo.

Money rules all and the so-called leaders of the ncaa would not do anything to negatively affect their financial bottom line.

 

[doughudd]

While this plan isn't perfect (because cash is cash, and relatives are relatives), couldn't the NCAA at least remove the undue influence of shoe companies by forbidding team affiliation and only, at most, allow shoe companies to sponsor whole conferences.

You do know that Nike's latest contact with Iowa pays them $12M which include all apparel? So fat chance of this happening.

 

[JerryDennard]

You do know that Nike's latest contact with Iowa pays them $12M which include all apparel? So fat chance of this happening.

University of Michigan has a Nike contract worth $170 million (thru 2031). I agree, it's a problem.

The only alternative is to legalize individual player endorsements (but put the endorsement money in a trust, available post-grad or after 4 years, so you don't have elite players driving around in Bentleys, to preserve the appearance of amateurism).

Otherwise, it will be this cycle of putting assistant coaches and handlers in federal prison for decades, and putting D-I schools on death penalty or probation. College basketball needs to change... fast.