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College athletes should be paid through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. These deals allow athletes to profit from their own brand and market value, providing financial support and professional development. Athletes argue they deserve a share of the profits generated by college athletics. NIL deals have given athletes more opportunities and changed their lives. However, the implementation of these policies must consider NCAA regulations and potential implications. Athletes like Bryce Young and Brownie James have already received significant NIL deals. Interviews with Max Boginski and Aiden Dentise highlight the benefits and challenges of NIL deals. Athletes learn how to manage money and promote themselves through social media. Caleb Williams and Caitlin Clark are examples of athletes who have benefited greatly from NIL deals, providing opportunities and changing the face of college sports. Welcome to an episode where two college students talk about commonly discussed topics. We are committed to bringing you accurate information while also making it an interesting and fun podcast to listen to. First, a little bit about us. I'm a freshman at the University of Iowa studying biology on the pre-PA track. And I'm a freshman as well at Iowa. I'm a business major hoping to go into finance in the future. Today we are talking about the controversial topic of why college athletes should be paid. We will be interviewing many college athletes on their opinions of this issue, including my good friend Aiden Dentise, who is a freshman at Holy Cross, who is on the track and field team and does throws. We will then be interviewing my cousin Max Boginski, who golfs at Carroll University. Now let's talk about what NIL means and how it has affected college sports and even high school sports. NIL means Name, Image, and Likeness, and they are deals for college athletes that have generated significant attention and support in recent years, especially in the United States. In July of 2021, states adopted the idea of this and made it part of their program soon after. NILs refer to the ability of college athletes to profit from their own name, image, and likeness through endorsement deals, sponsorships, and other commercial opportunities. The standards for NIL deals argue that they offer fairness and equity, empowering athletes to capitalize on their personal brand and market value. These opportunities not only provide much-needed financial support, especially for athletes from low-income backgrounds, but also offer valuable professional development experiences and foster innovation and competition within the marketplace. NIL deals can enhance recruitment and retention efforts for collegiate athletic programs and ensure compliance with evolving norms and expectations regarding athlete compensation. However, the implementation of the policies within NIL had to be taken under careful consideration of the NCAA regulations concerning compliance issues and a potential broader impact. The first major deal that caught many athletes' attention was Bryce Young. He was the starting quarterback at the University of Alabama in 2022 and then went on to be the first pick in the NFL draft in 2023. Before stepping on the field in college, he was given over $1 million in NIL deals. Secondly, Brownie James, who is the son of NBA legend LeBron James, has accumulated over $6 million in NIL revenue and is only a freshman in college, just like all of us. When athletes are given this money, they are motivated to perform at the highest level that they can, knowing that the better they play, the more money and more deals they will have in the future. Since NIL has been incorporated in college sports, it has given kids and families more opportunities than they would have had and has changed their lives forever. Many advocates for compensating college athletes do this significant time commitment they dedicate to their sports, as it is similar to a full-time job, alongside their academic responsibilities as well. Balancing rigorous training schedules such as games and travel can be extremely challenging, leaving athletes with limited time for free time. Furthermore, as primary contributors to this immense revenue generated by college athletics, particularly in high-profile sports like football and basketball, athletes argue they deserve to share the profits, highlighting concerns of taking advantage within the system. While universities, conferences, and the NCAA made millions of dollars from ticket sales, merchandise, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships, athletes often only receive scholarships, which may not cover the full cost of attending college. Financial hardship, injury risks, and injury risk also come into play more than we hope. Recognizing the fairness and equity in providing athletes with compensation allows for acknowledgment within principles of justice while also acknowledging their market value and potential educational benefits. Nevertheless, a shift toward paying college athletes must navigate the complexities such as unprofessionalism, recruiting practices, and the broader implications for college athletics. Now we're going to be moving on to our first interview of the day, Jake's cousin, Max Boginski. All right, the first question is, what is your name, age, and where do you play a sport at, and which college sport do you play? My name is Max Boginski, I'm 19 years old, and I go to Carroll University, and I play golf. Why did you decide to go to college for a sport? I loved golfing with my family, and my brother played golf at Illinois, so I went to his matches and loved watching it, so I kept playing. And what's that time commitment like? I think the majority of your day, you're always at the course or at the range practicing, so it takes a lot. And what NIL deals have you received? I received one from Barstool, I was a Barstool athlete, and then I received one with Robeck. Okay, so what is Robeck, and how have you made money off of that? Robeck is a clothing brand that is mainly sold online, and I get money from it for advertising on Instagram and Twitter, and then I also have a referral code that I get 20% of every dollar sale that's been made with my code. Nice. Okay, so if you did not receive any of these NIL deals, would the time commitment that you spend dedicated to this sport be worth it to you? Yes and no. I mean, you get a good amount of money from it, but it takes up a lot of your time, but... Nice. And overall, what have you learned through these NIL deals? How to manage money and promote myself through social media. Nice. Thank you so much. Now we're going to move on to the second interview of the day. My good friend, Aiden Dentise. All right. What is your name, age, and where you play a college sport at, and which sport is it? My name is Aiden Dentise. I'm 19. I go to the College of the Holy Cross, and I do track and field. Okay, and then why did you decide to go to this college for a sport? I had a good, like, academic program, and I enjoyed my sport in high school. I wanted to continue in college, and I got scholarship money. So I think it was a good way to continue my academic and athletic career. Okay, and then what is the time commitment like for the sport? It's pretty much every day, like probably three to three and a half hours with, like, practice and lifts. Okay, and then what NIL deals have you received throughout your time in college? I have a deal with a company called Melco, which is a track, like, gear. I can – I post stuff on my Twitter, like, using the gear, and they can use, like, my promo code for 20% off at the store. Okay, and then if you do not receive this NIL deal, would the time commitment be worth it to you in your opinion? Yes and no. It definitely, like, has its benefits because you definitely make a decent amount of money from it. But, yeah, I think it would be worth it if I did it, though. I'm still, like, committed to my sport and my academics. Yeah, and then last question, what have you learned throughout – through this NIL deal throughout your time in college? I learned how to, like, promote myself as, like, an individual and how to, like, manage my money and, like, how to use my time wisely. Okay. I first wanted to highlight a story that really stood out to me about Caleb Williams, an athlete from the University of Southern California, who is a quarterback who gained a lot of fame throughout his time in college and is a projected number one draft pick in the NFL draft this year. He is said to have made over $3.2 million in NIL deals with deals from AT&T, Beats, and Dr. Pepper, which are all brands we've heard of and know very well. And Jake is going to read a quote from an article about his impact from NIL deals and how these have changed his life for himself and his following. I was in college the first year, and I didn't know anything with NIL, Williams said. And then the year after, we started, and that was when I got to USC, and I had the brand deals. I had all of that. When I got to USC, it kind of just opened up more doors within the brands and stuff like that. I was meeting different people, and with that being said, I was able to do certain cool things, like giving my teammates around 100 pairs of Beats and the coaches and stuff like that. Things like that, just being able to provide for my teammates and care for them, and things like that for maybe the people that are walk-ons or maybe people that aren't getting NIL deals. Being able to help provide and then also me being able to take care of myself fully and be on my own and be independent and not wave at my parents and say, hey, I need this. I'm able to take care of myself and do all the things I've always wanted to do. And this truly reflects on the real stories of very successful athletes who have benefited from these NIL deals. Overall, these deals have given athletes more opportunities, not just on the field, court, etc., but off as well. Athletes are able to start their own life through these deals and find real meaning of what it means to be a college athlete or athlete in the United States. Another example that I wanted to highlight was Kaitlyn Clark. As we all know, since attending the University of Iowa, and even for people across the country, her impact on women's college sports is insane. She has made over $3 million in NIL deals throughout her years at Iowa, and I'm sure we have all seen her commercials at State Farm showing the real community that comes with being a college athlete, especially in the women's side of sports. These deals don't only promote her and show her abilities, but also give her the platform to display these opportunities to the whole world, which she wouldn't have without these deals. She has also changed the face of women's sports, especially with her impact in the women's NCAA and now into the WNBA. I'm sure all of you want to know why this topic is so important to us. We were both athletes in high school and could have gone on to play college sports, but we truly have seen the impact of these deals on athletes and how promotions of the brand and companies have brought more attention than without. Jake is going to talk a little bit about his decision not to play football in college, but is also going to express how much NIL deals would have affected him if he would have chosen to play a college sport. I've played football as a quarterback since I was six years old, so for over ten years of my life, I've been surrounded by the athletic environment. For my whole life, my goal was to play college sports, so I went to many university programs to check out certain teams to find my perfect fit. When talking to the coaches, I was promised NIL deals once I joined the team. I was also able to talk to many of my potential teammates about their NIL deals, which was so eye-opening to see how many of these athletes use these deals to their advantage. I think that without these deals, there would be less attention to the athletes in college sports. I unfortunately didn't go on to play college sports due to excessive injury, but it was very influential to be able to see a point of view from someone who is within this system. In conclusion, the debate surrounding whether college athletes should be paid is looked at from many points of view, touching on the issues of fairness, financial equity, and the evolving of college athletics. Advocates argue that compensating athletes, whether through direct payments, NIL deals, or other means, is essential for recognizing their contributions, providing financial support, and enduring fairness within the system. While challenges and complexities exist, including concerns about maintaining compliance within the NCAA regulations, the pursuit of fair compensation for college athletes remains in the critical conversation. As the landscape continues to evolve, the societal attitude shifts while supporting the well-being and empowerment of student athletes. Ultimately, going forward requires thoughtful consideration, collaboration, and commitment to prioritizing the welfare and rights of athletes who enrich collegiate sports.