Sports

'LaPolitics'

On the same day that news broke about President Donald Trump launching a commission focused on college sports, the Louisiana Legislature took a step toward creating a task force of its own to look at some of the same issues. According to Wednesday’s Yahoo! Sports report by Ross Dellenger, who you may remember as a […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

According to Wednesday’s Yahoo! Sports report by Ross Dellenger, who you may remember as a former LSU football beat writer for The Advocate, the presidential commission may be “the first step in what could be a months-long endeavor for solutions to the issues ailing the [college sports] ecosystem.”

While there has been no official announcement yet, Dellenger’s sources expect former Alabama coach and LSU-coach-turned-nemesis Nick Saban to lead the commission, along with Texas billionaire businessman Cody Campbell.

Also on Wednesday, the House Education Committee advanced House Resolution 15 by Rep. Rashid Young, which would create a task force to study “name, image and likeness” issues for college athletes in Louisiana.

Commonly known as “NIL,” name, image and likeness deals allow private businesses, and privately funded collectives associated with universities, to openly pay college athletes. Ostensibly, these are endorsement deals, though many observers see it as pay-to-play by another name.

State lawmakers in Louisiana and elsewhere began legalizing NIL about four years ago, forcing the National Collegiate Athletic Association to end its ban on athlete endorsements. You can read Louisiana’s statute here.

But the NCAA’s rules around NIL change often and are loosely enforced at best. States have been tweaking their own laws, in hopes of giving their schools a competitive edge.

As amended Wednesday, Young would chair an NIL commission that would hold its first meeting by Aug. 1, with a report due in January. The group would include another House member appointed by Speaker Phillip DeVillier, another by Attorney General Liz Murrill, six university athletic directors, three student-athletes, three members from the private sector, and higher ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed or her designee.

Among other issues, Young says he wants the commission to consider “transparency” in the NIL marketplace. While it won’t look at individual contracts, he wants to help athletes understand their true value.

“There are just a number of things that come with contracts that we’re not sure that they completely understand,” Young adds. “They don’t understand the tax implications.”

Young also notes that the college athletics world is awaiting approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, which would distribute $2.8 billion in back pay to former athletes and allow direct payments from schools to athletes. Potential roster limits, which could cost thousands of athletes their spots, are the current major sticking point.

“Jurisprudence may potentially change the way our schools have to treat athletes,” Young says. “And so we want to make sure that we are supporting our schools and the kids and getting ahead of it.”

He also wants to discuss how to support the NIL efforts of schools that don’t have big-budget athletics programs, like Grambling and McNeese.

Young also has filed House Bill 168, which would authorize a state tax deduction for NIL income of up to $12,500. Rep. Dixon McMakin’s HB166 has a similar aim, though without the cap.

McMakin notes that LSU’s Southeastern Conference competitors in Texas, Tennessee and Florida don’t have an income tax, and Georgia and Alabama have considered legislation to enact NIL tax breaks. He doesn’t want Louisiana’s schools to fall behind their peers in the NIL arms race.

But both bills currently are parked in Ways and Means, and their chances for final passage may be dim.

“I think there is interest in doing it,” McMakin says. “Unfortunately, right now in the state we’re in with our insurance crisis and other tax issues, that interest may not rise to the level of getting through the process this year.”

Perhaps that could be another topic for Young’s task force to take on.

Other instruments filed this session involving college athletics include:

—HB 639 by Rep. Neil Riser, would more than double the state tax on sports betting from 15% to 32.5%, dedicating 25% of the proceeds to a fund to support “athletic departments at public universities that are members of conferences that compete in NCAA Division One athletics at the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision levels in La. for the benefit of student athletes.”

—SB 200, by Sen. Jeremy Stine, would limit the amount of athletics scholarships that schools could offer to foreign citizens to 25% of the total. It would be known as the “Make American Athletics Great Again Act.”

—HCR 13 by Rep. John Illg, asks the SE to schedule football games at LSU after 6 p.m. during September for health and safety reasons related to the heat during day games. The measure does not mention other schools or conferences.

Sports

Dunfermline Water Polo Club’s Rory Nesbitt in GB Euro qualifiers call

Rory Nesbitt, 22, is in their squad that will travel to Slovenia to compete in the European qualification tournament. He is the first senior male player from the club to be selected since 2014, having been part of a training squad for around six months, and, having not been selected for a fixture earlier in […]

Published

5 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Rory Nesbitt, 22, is in their squad that will travel to Slovenia to compete in the European qualification tournament.

He is the first senior male player from the club to be selected since 2014, having been part of a training squad for around six months, and, having not been selected for a fixture earlier in the year, he admitted it was a surprise.

Rory, who is a PE teacher, said: “To make the squad for me was a massive achievement, so I was happy with that at the start of the year, and then to get the call-up was massive.

“I’m absolutely buzzing. I got a heads-up from the assistant manager, who’s also Scottish, and he sent me a text saying, just a heads-up, calls are going out tomorrow.

“I didn’t know if he was saying that to everyone, but then I got the call from him. It was actually in between some of my classes, so it came as a big surprise when I was at school!

“It’s the most competitive, highest-level I’ll probably ever play at in my life. I’ve worked really hard to try and get to this moment.

Rory Nesbitt will be hoping to help GB qualify for the European Championships. (Image: Courtesy of Rory Nesbitt.) “I remember there was an opportunity to go down and trial a couple of years ago. I put it off because I didn’t think I was ready, and then I always said that was going to be the next said.

“For the last three or four years, it’s been in my mind to try and make it into the GB squads and work hard, so I’m just really happy to finally achieve that, and see the results of hard work.”

Rory, who grew up in Kinross, first got involved with Dunfermline at the age of 10 or 11, and has gone on to represent Scotland.

He and his GB team-mates travelled to Slovakia for an invitational tournament, playing four matches, which saw Rory net a goal on his debut, in preparation for the Euro qualifiers.

They will face hosts Slovenia, the Netherlands, Poland and Czechia, over three days, with the top two progressing to next year’s finals.

“I think everyone’s really optimistic,” Rory continued.

“The games we had at the weekend were against really, really good teams. They’re regulars at European Championships, they’re regulars at World Cups, and other tournaments around Europe and the world.

“It’s a good experience to play against high-level opposition, and it’s helped us familiarise ourselves with the team, because obviously everyone’s coming from different clubs, and nobody plays that regularly with each other.

“It’s given us really good preparation going into the tournament.

“We’re trying to get in that top two finish to qualify for the Euros. We’re definitely aiming for that, and we’re not ruling it out, but it’ll be tough to get there.”

The qualifiers begin on Saturday and run until next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, also this Saturday, Dunfermline are in action at the Scottish Water Polo Cup finals.

Taking place at The Olympia, Dundee, their under-17 women’s side, and the senior men, will go for glory against Warrender and Portobello respectively.

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Sports

Head Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field in Hammond, IN for University of Purdue Northwest

Details Posted: 06-Jun-25 Location: Hammond, Indiana Type: Full-time Categories: Coaching Coaching – Cross Country Coaching – Track & Field Sector: Collegiate Sports Required Education: 4 Year Degree The Opportunity The Department of Athletics at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites applications for the Head Cross Country, Track & Field Coach. The Position The head coach […]

Published

13 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Details

Posted: 06-Jun-25

Location: Hammond, Indiana

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Coaching

Coaching – Cross Country

Coaching – Track & Field

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

Required Education:

4 Year Degree

The Opportunity The Department of Athletics at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites applications for the Head Cross Country, Track & Field Coach.

The Position The head coach is responsible for leading the cross country and track & field program, including, but not limited to the following duties:

Plan, organize and direct activities involved with NCAA DII Cross Country/Track & Field.

Coach the Cross Country/Track & Field teams in competition.

Direct daily practice during the prescribed season.

Provide instruction and development for individual/team improvement, teach overall team and individual player strategies, analyze athlete performance, prepare student-athletes for the highest possible levels of competition.

Recruit prospective student-athletes within the guidelines of PNW and NCAA academic admission standards.

Assist with the development and manage the team budget.

Coordinate team travel for away competition including team transportation, lodging, and meals.

Construct competition schedule with approval of the Director of Athletics.

Assist with the implementation of the strength and conditioning program for the team.

Adhere to NCAA rules and regulations for the sport.

Assist with academic monitoring of student-athletes to ensure academic success and compliance.

Adhere to the highest standards of student-athlete welfare.

Assist the Director of Athletics with public relations and fundraising activities.

Participate in departmental meetings / activities including serving on PNW, GLIAC, and NCAA DII committees.

Direct and manage summer camps.

Supervise Assistant Coach. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Required Qualification & Core Competencies

This position requires a bachelor’s degree, preferably in sports management, physical education,
education, or fitness. Two years of coaching experience in professional, college or high school is
required. The core competencies of the ideal candidate include, but are not limited to:

• Must have strong team building and management skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to coordinate collaborative efforts;
• Demonstrated experience in program development, management, and leadership;
• Ability to interact with members of the public and media;
• Ability to supervise regular and temporary staff;
• Ability to work across academic/administrative departments in a cooperative manner;
• Understanding of the student-athletes’ commitment to academics; and
• Knowledge of rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA and conference should be maintained, reviewed and practiced to ensure compliance relative to those applicable duties.

The position requires frequent lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds, and up to 20 pounds occasionally.

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit a confidential letter of application, resume, and contact information for three references in one PDF file to opportunity@mammothconsulted.com. For questions, nominations, or inquiries contact Dr. Kurt Patberg, Vice President, Mammoth Sports Consulting at kurt.patberg@mammothconsulted.com.

About University of Purdue Northwest

Part of the internationally respected Purdue University system, Purdue University Northwest offers world-class educational opportunities at an excellent value on two culturally diverse, student-centered campuses in Northwest Indiana and close proximity to Chicago. Purdue Northwest has approximately 8,900 students and offers more than 70 degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

PNW sits between Chicago’s skyscrapers and Lake Michigan’s shores. You can have all the perks of a world-class city just a short drive away or enjoy the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan just 15 miles away.