15 — Consecutive Kentucky Derby calls it will be for NBC announcer Larry Collmus when he calls the race on Saturday, the longest streak for any broadcaster on national television (USA TODAY, 4/30)
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The structure of college athletics is crumbling The Commonwealth Times
Kyler Gilliam, Staff Writer The debacle between the University of Tennessee Volunteers’ football program and its former starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, has dominated the conversation about the current structure of college athletics, this April. Collegiate player freedom is at an all-time high with the changes to rules allowing unlimited transfers and new financial opportunities through […]
Kyler Gilliam, Staff Writer
The debacle between the University of Tennessee Volunteers’ football program and its former starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, has dominated the conversation about the current structure of college athletics, this April.
Collegiate player freedom is at an all-time high with the changes to rules allowing unlimited transfers and new financial opportunities through Name, Image and Likeness and revenue sharing.
Compared to the past, where athletes would sacrifice years of eligibility to transfer and could not earn any money off of their athletic ability — even though the institutions were profiting billions of dollars — the system in today’s landscape is finally starting to favor the players.
However, this power shift and changes to the rules have severely damaged the structure of college athletics.
The NCAA tried for years to stop the movement to pay college athletes, but their legal defense of amateurism started to crumble in the federal and state courts. The organization was not proactive enough in setting up a foundation that would allow players to earn off their athletic ability, essentially establishing a free market that has been reaching a boiling point in recent years.
Iamaleava is a former five-star quarterback in the 2023 class out of California. During his recruitment process, more opportunities for college athletes through NIL started to open, leading him to sign a four-year $8 million deal with Tennessee before even taking a collegiate snap, according to Forbes.
This deal shocked the college athletics world. Some were happy that college athletes could earn that much money, while others were angry that their game was changing. But I saw that this system, as it’s currently structured, cannot last and it has to be fixed so everyone involved prospers.
Iamaleava helped lead Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff berth in program history. However, it was widely believed that he still underperformed in comparison to his college recruitment rating and price tag.
This next year should have been a breakout season for the 20-year-old QB, however, he decided to sit out of spring practice to acquire a new deal from the Vols, becoming the first college player to hold out for a new contract, signaling a major crack in the current system.
One of the main problems with dealing with the new landscape of NIL and collective groups is that deals happen behind closed doors. When an NFL or NBA player signs a legally binding contract, the public knows how much and how long the contract is, but in college, it is all speculation.
There is also no agent certification and registry for college athletics. Professional leagues require agents who represent talent to abide by certain regulations and must have certain qualifications to even be able to be on the registry. This process protects players from representatives who are either trying to make a disproportionate amount of money off of them or representatives who truly do not know what they are doing.
The college level does not have this level of protection, leading to players losing money, receiving bad advice and setting them back, both on the field and off.
Sadly, this is what happened to Iamaleava. He was set to make $2.4 million this year for Tennessee. But his representation believed he deserved more and thus led them to decide to hold Iamaleava out of spring practice to receive more money from the Vols.
This ultimately did not work for the young QB and he officially entered the transfer portal on April 16, according to On3 Sports.
Iamaleava found a home with the UCLA Bruins. The University of North Carolina Tar Heels and Tulane University Green Wave showed initial interest but sought out other options at the quarterback position, according to NBC Sports.
Iamaleava is on a worse team, is making less money and has a tarnished reputation. Sadly, the major blame does not fall on him, it falls on his representation that didn’t have to go through the same rigors as professional agents.
With the NCAA not establishing a true payment system for its athletes, it allows for private, behind the curtain deals instead and leaving the rest of the collegiate athletic world in the dark.
Additionally, the transfer portal expedited this crumbling of the college system, with tampering spreading like wildfire.
Coaches are in a tough place due to the NCAA’s incompetence and reluctance to change when it needed to, putting the whole collegiate athletic world at risk of crumbling within.
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Mountaineers Fall to Marshall in Charleston
Next Game: Texas Tech 5/2/2025 | 6:30 p.m. May. 02 (Fri) / 6:30 p.m. Texas Tech CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team fell to Marshall, 7-6, Wednesday evening at GoMart Ballpark. The Mountaineers drop to 37-6 while the Thundering Herd improve to 24-22. Senior […]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team fell to Marshall, 7-6, Wednesday evening at GoMart Ballpark. The Mountaineers drop to 37-6 while the Thundering Herd improve to 24-22.
Senior Kyle West went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI. Juniors Skylar King and Sam White each had two hits on the night as well.
The Mountaineers took an early lead with two runs in the first on a double from West and a Herd error. Marshall got one run back in the home half of the inning with a solo home run.
White hit an RBI double in the third to push the lead to 3-1, but Marshall responded in the fourth with three runs to jump in front. West then hit a solo home run in the fifth to even up the game once again.
Senior Grant Hussey had an RBI single in the sixth to put WVU on top before senior Brodie Kresser drove in a run with a groundout. The lead did not last long as Marshall scored two in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at six after six.
Juniors Carson Estridge and Ben McDougal both posted scoreless outings on the mound to get to the ninth still tied. With two runners and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Marshall brought home the winning run on a Mountaineer error.
The Mountaineers return to Big 12 play this weekend against Texas Tech at Kendrick Family Ballpark. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Closing Bell
John Elway‘s former agent Jeff Sperbeck dies after fall…On3 acquires Rivals, partners with Yahoo Sports…NBC Sports to debut Milan Cortina promo at Derby. Jeff Sperbeck (r), the longtime friend, business partner and former agent of Pro Football HOFer John Elway, died Wednesday at age 62. Instagram: 7Cellars Jeff Sperbeck, the longtime friend, business partner and […]
John Elway‘s former agent Jeff Sperbeck dies after fall…On3 acquires Rivals, partners with Yahoo Sports…NBC Sports to debut Milan Cortina promo at Derby.
Jeff Sperbeck, the longtime friend, business partner and former agent of Pro Football HOFer John Elway, died Wednesday “from injuries suffered when he fell off a golf cart” reportedly being driven by Elway. Sperbeck was 62. Sperbeck “was injured Saturday night” in La Quinta, Calif., and was “declared dead early Wednesday at a Palm Springs hospital.” According to TMZ, Elway “was driving the golf cart when Sperbeck fell off and hit his head on asphalt.” A source said Sperbeck “had been sitting in the passenger seat.” TMZ also reported that he “had been on life support following the fall.” The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is “investigating the incident,” though TMZ reported that “there was no indication that Elway was driving negligently when Sperbeck fell” (ESPN.com, 4/30).
Sperbeck had been an NFL agent “to more than 100 players, coaches and executives,” and he “was the type of agent and marketing rep who stayed in touched with his clients long after the NFL careers ended.” That was evidenced especially with Elway, as the two had “varied businesses partnerships,” from 7Cellars wine to the Elway restaurants. Sperbeck has been Elway‘s marketing representative “since the latter’s prime” as Broncos QB in the early 1990s, “a relationship that grew into a close friendship” (9NEWS.com, 4/30).
Elway released the following statement: “I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck. There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others” (9NEWS.com, 4/30).
Here is a sampling of social media reaction to the news:
- WCPG co-founder & Partner Harrie Bakst: “On a somber note, I am devastated to hear about the passing of our friend and colleague Jeff Sperbeck. … Jeff was such an amazing person and an incredibly successful NFL agent, who treated everyone with such respect and grace no matter who you were. We will miss you my friend.”
- Sports writer Gary Myers: “So sad to hear about the death of Jeff Sperbeck after falling off the golf cart reportedly driven by John Elway. Jeff was well known in the NFL community representing players. He was the brother-in-law of former Jets QB Ken O’Brien, who is married to Jeff’s sister Stacey. RIP.”
- Broncos beat writer Zac Stevens: “Incredibly tragic. Thoughts to Sperbeck’s friends and family.”
- Sports communications professional Joe Favorito: “Such horrible news. Was lucky to have worked with Jeff on the Coach Knapp Stair Climb the last few yrs raising $$ for distracted driving in memory of longtime NFL coach Gregg Knapp who was killed by a distracted driver.”
The ownership group behind On3 has reached an agreement to acquire Rivals from Yahoo Sports. On3 and Rivals will create a network offering coverage of college and high school sports, recruiting, and the NIL landscape. On3 will maintain its focus on college sports coverage. Subscribers will gain access to content across both platforms. As part of the transaction, Yahoo Sports will take an ownership stake in the On3 parent company and have a seat on the On3 parent company board. The deal is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2025 (On3).
Comedians and actors Ray Romano and Sebastian Maniscalco chat about the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics in an NBC Sports promo. NBC Sports NBC Sports is again looking to celebrities to promote the Olympics and Paralympics, now with a 30-second spot featuring Ray Romano and Sebastian Maniscalco to debut during the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.The promo features the Italian actors and comedians atop the Italian Alps contemplating events in the Milan Cortina Games as they get interrupted by thoughts of Italian food.Shot in L.A. with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) — the same technology behind “The Mandalorian” — the spot captures the Dolomites and highlights downhill skiing, skeleton and curling.Clad in winter gear, Romano and Maniscalco hold snowboards as they discuss how to get down.Read More >>>
