9 hours ago The impact of Name, Image and Likeness on college sports is undeniable. The solution to unregulated NIL actions is not as clear. One “fix” that has been suggested is to make student-athletes employees. In theory, classifying college student-athletes as official employees of their universities would allow them to benefit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) through contracts and potential collective bargaining power. There are significant repercussions that could accompany that course, as Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne is quick to point out. “I would hope we can find something that doesn’t require them to be employees. We’re also a right to work state, right? Unionization in right to work states is a really challenging thing,” Byrne said. “I’m not an advocate for it. I’m hoping we can find a model that will allow us to have college athletics with a lot of kids participating and have an opportunity from a male and female side that will allow kids to go out and wearing the script A and compete for the University of Alabama.” Catch the full interview with Byrne on WVUA-23 on New Years Day, Wednesday Jan. 1 at 5:00 PM, and on Friday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 PM.

Alabama AD not in favor of NIL reform that would make college athletes more like employees

9 hours ago The impact of Name, Image and Likeness on college sports is undeniable. The solution to unregulated NIL actions is not as clear. One “fix” that has been suggested is to make student-athletes employees. In theory, classifying college student-athletes as official employees of their universities would allow them to benefit from their name, […]

9 hours ago

The impact of Name, Image and Likeness on college sports is undeniable.

The solution to unregulated NIL actions is not as clear. One “fix” that has been suggested is to make student-athletes employees.

In theory, classifying college student-athletes as official employees of their universities would allow them to benefit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) through contracts and potential collective bargaining power.

There are significant repercussions that could accompany that course, as Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne is quick to point out.

“I would hope we can find something that doesn’t require them to be employees. We’re also a right to work state, right? Unionization in right to work states is a really challenging thing,” Byrne said. “I’m not an advocate for it. I’m hoping we can find a model that will allow us to have college athletics with a lot of kids participating and have an opportunity from a male and female side that will allow kids to go out and wearing the script A and compete for the University of Alabama.”

Catch the full interview with Byrne on WVUA-23 on New Years Day, Wednesday Jan. 1 at 5:00 PM, and on Friday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 PM.