Snow on Old Main hill at Utah State University. (Photo: USU)
LOGAN – Each U.S. state has its own regulations in dealing with the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) issues of college athletes. What’s allowed in one state may not be acceptable in another in how athletes may financially profit because of their status in college athletics.
Utah State University has lawyered up with counterparts at four other in-state schools to fight a recent order issued this week by the Utah State Records Committee that NIL contracts become public records under state law when they are shared with a university.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s interim policy on Name, Image and Likeness rules for student athletes includes this phrase: “…student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their their school.”
The records committee order was issued Monday, Nov. 27 and the universities have 30 days to appeal.
Earlier this year — under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) — the Deseret News requested that NIL contracts athletes had submitted to Utah State, Southern Utah, Utah Valley, Weber State and the University of Utah be made public. All initial requests and appeals that followed were denied.
It was following a mid-October hearing that the records committee granted the Deseret News appeal and Monday that decision was made public. At that time attorneys representing in-state schools argued that revealing the requested NIL information constitutes invading a college athlete’s privacy.
The NCAA instituted its interim NIL policy in June of 2021. Last year when ESPN requested 23 universities release NIL details, ESPN said the response was next to nothing.
Free News Delivery by Email
Would you like to have the day’s news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!