New NCAA Ruling Doesn’t Benefit All FIU Athletes

Student-athletes at FIU have long since played without earning revenues from their games. Now, players have the chance to make some money from their work — unless they belong to a small sports program, that is.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the National Collegiate Athletic Association ruled to allow student-athletes to accept revenues from the licensing of their names, images and likenesses. Before this ruling, athletes weren’t compensated for their work or commercials and endorsements that featured them. It’s planned to go into effect “no later than January 2021,” according to the NCAA board.

While this ruling is a step in the right direction in terms of compensating players, it won’t help every athlete who attends FIU.

The University uses players’ likeness and image on posters, billboards and advertisements. Unlike larger universities, FIU doesn’t sell player-specific jerseys either, meaning athletes would only earn money from a few select channels.

This also means that those who aren’t in prominent sports like football and basketball wouldn’t be getting a piece of the pie. Women’s programs, which are often not as recognized compared to male counterparts, won’t see much of a difference in pay either.

Here in Miami, that money could mean a world of a difference when it comes to paying for rent, tuition and groceries.

FIU, as a younger university, also won’t benefit as much from the decision compared to larger schools such as University of South Carolina or University of Alabama. The ruling does little to ensure athletes at smaller schools are paid, which incentivizes them to transfer and go play at other institutions.

It’s not the athletes’ fault that their program isn’t as recognized as others in the University, nor is their fault that FIU’s age and its indebted Athletics program may prevent them from obtaining opportunities other schools seem to have. While the ruling is a great start to give players compensation for their work, it’s disappointing to know that its effects won’t be felt at our University, at least for quite some time.

More should be done to ensure all student-athletes are getting the money they deserve.

Featured photo from FIU Flickr.