Voltopia
Score fast, score hard, no mercy.
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
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At one of my previous employers, I was essentially banned from making certain types of online videos or any appearance related to the industry that I worked in. The brand was very popular and widely known, and they had strict rules to prevent any appearance of endorsement or speaking on behalf of the company. If you did, and they didn't approve of it in advance, you could be reprimanded or terminated. Just the rules of employment there.
I suppose I would be fine with them earning money for the likeness thing so long as they don't make any appearance that references the school, their playing for the school, or any implication of endorsement from the school. That means no school colored apparel, no logos, no mention of "starting linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines." Their name and likeness must be their own, not their identity as a player for the team. If they can adhere to the rules for that, then I suppose it could be explored. I do wonder what people would do when Phil Knight signs every future Oregon commitment to a 50,000 dollar "name and likeness" program though. Or if someone gave the starting QB at Southern Cal 100,000 dollars to appear at a car dealership. I'm curious to know how people think that would impact college sports.
The irony of course is that if the kids weren't playing for the school their name and likeness would be worth as much as the next person's- at least to those fans who would pay for their name and likeness at the college level. That plucks at the very messy relationship between the schools and the players. It cannot be ignored that the schools have created the vehicle through which the players improve their own personal brand value. You may be a star wide receiver in high school and be worth something regionally (how many former high school stars end up in businesses trading on their name? A few I think), but it's catching 20 touchdowns for Alabama or running for 1500 yards in an Ohio State jersey that gets you into the big money. You tap into the fans of the program, built by the college, to earn a lot of that money. So. It's a curious relationship to dissect and quantify.
I suppose I would be fine with them earning money for the likeness thing so long as they don't make any appearance that references the school, their playing for the school, or any implication of endorsement from the school. That means no school colored apparel, no logos, no mention of "starting linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines." Their name and likeness must be their own, not their identity as a player for the team. If they can adhere to the rules for that, then I suppose it could be explored. I do wonder what people would do when Phil Knight signs every future Oregon commitment to a 50,000 dollar "name and likeness" program though. Or if someone gave the starting QB at Southern Cal 100,000 dollars to appear at a car dealership. I'm curious to know how people think that would impact college sports.
The irony of course is that if the kids weren't playing for the school their name and likeness would be worth as much as the next person's- at least to those fans who would pay for their name and likeness at the college level. That plucks at the very messy relationship between the schools and the players. It cannot be ignored that the schools have created the vehicle through which the players improve their own personal brand value. You may be a star wide receiver in high school and be worth something regionally (how many former high school stars end up in businesses trading on their name? A few I think), but it's catching 20 touchdowns for Alabama or running for 1500 yards in an Ohio State jersey that gets you into the big money. You tap into the fans of the program, built by the college, to earn a lot of that money. So. It's a curious relationship to dissect and quantify.