IndyStar reached out to the NCAA about Alford’s comments and received a statement from Michelle Brutlag Hosick, NCAA director of communications, which read in part.”But the way it is now is ridiculous. It’s utterly ridiculous. And it’s changed our game. And so you’ve got to adapt.””Five years ago, I wasn’t, you know, in conversations saying, […]
IndyStar reached out to the NCAA about Alford’s comments and received a statement from Michelle Brutlag Hosick, NCAA director of communications, which read in part.”But the way it is now is ridiculous. It’s utterly ridiculous. And it’s changed our game. And so you’ve got to adapt.””Five years ago, I wasn’t, you know, in conversations saying, ‘How much (do) you want to be paid?’ Never thought that would happen in college basketball,” Alford said Thursday night. “And I’ve always been a big proponent as the game and money has evolved and changed. I’ve never been one that said … student-athletes shouldn’t be paid.Alford disputes name, image, likeness as its portrayed.
At a press conference after Colorado State beat Nevada 67-59, Alford was asked if there is anything he and his staff need to do to help navigate the new landscape of college basketball. Alford went on a 3-minute, 18-second tirade bashing recent changes to the sport.
“The NCAA fully supports student-athletes benefiting financially from their name, image and likeness and believes change in college sports is long overdue. The association has implemented significant reforms, such as the expansion of core guaranteed benefits for student-athletes that include health insurance, scholarships, academic counseling, mental health support and career preparation.”Adapting to the climate…”Every handshake I have now before games, that’s brought up. Every game. Me and the opposing coach are going to talk about portal issues. And where’s academics at?” Alford said. “I’ve talked to my compliance guys. What’s APR anymore? You can’t control APR. It’s a (junior college).”The APR, or Academic Progress Rate, holds colleges and universities accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes. “You’re going to have to replace eight, nine guys to a roster every year,” Alford said. “It makes no sense for that to be our model, but that is our model. So … do we have to evolve as coaches? Yeah, we’ve got to evolve how we recruit.”Recruiting …”Like it used to be, ‘Hey, what’s my degree going to look like? What’s your facilities look like? What’s your relationship with the team look like? Are you there for all practices? Are you a coach that dives into relationships and you’re going to care for my child?'” Alford said. “You might as well throw all that stuff out because the only question they’re concerned about is what they’re getting paid in the portal.”
You should have to produce, then you receive
INDIANAPOLIS — After recording a mediocre 17-16 season and losing in the Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals, Nevada coach Steve Alford didn’t hold back on his thoughts on the current state of college basketball, NIL and the transfer portal.
“That’s not what it is. There’s not that many college players that have that eval(uation) as the name, image and likeness. Most of them are getting what they’re getting before they ever produce,” he said. “You should have to produce, then you receive. It’s a bad lesson. And we shouldn’t be sending kids off to college academically or in our profession to teach them bad models for when they’re 25 and 26.””Like I got five players now. NIL’s done in two months. What happens to them? Are they going to be able to handle the real world now after having NIL for a couple years at Nevada or wherever they’ve been?” Alford said. “Are they going to really be prepared to handle the things that, oh, ‘I’m not getting that money. I have to go earn that money?’ We’re not really teaching them that.”
‘I have to go earn that money?’
Money being the driving factor for college players “to me, that’s a terrible model for an 18-year-old because, truth be told then, a lot of 18- and 19-year-olds are raising family members now,” Alford said. “And that’s not what you go off to college for. That’s just not. And so that’s frustrating. Because I don’t like our model at all.”
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X:@DanaBenbow. Reach her via email:dbenbow@indystar.com.The NCAA’s statement to IndyStar acknowledged the model isn’t perfect.”The NCAA is also advancing a landmark settlement that will allow schools to deliver direct financial benefits to student-athletes. However, there are some issues the association cannot address alone, and the NCAA and its members look forward to working with Congress to make needed changes in the best interest of all student-athletes and college sports.”Alford ended his rant urging the NCAA to rethink the current model.”That’s something that people way above me have to really look at,” he said, “because the NCAA and collegiate athletics should be about teaching life lessons, period, through athletics.”
