NIL has been a game-changer in college sports, especially in the NCAA. But how? The name, image, and likeness of these young athletes have enabled them to secure numerous lucrative sponsorship deals from large organizations. Indeed, the money that comes in is essential in these athletic careers, just like Olivia Dunne, who has been projected to earn around $4 million per year through such massive contracts, despite being a college gymnast.

But isn’t this good for the athletes who don’t have a fortune from the get-go? Absolutely, it is. However, a University of North Carolina sports business professor recently pointed out numerous flaws in these NIL deals, including their impact on a sportsperson’s performance throughout their career.

An overall outlook on the NIL that doesn’t sound good

NIL is reforming the sporting scene for sure, but how impactful is it really? These college athletes are earning millions, owing to all of these deals that they are receiving from major brands that are often associated with professional athletes in various sports. But is it really necessary? As always, this discussion also has two sides of perspective.

As reported by ABC4.com, Nels Popp, a sports business professor at the University of North Carolina, gave an insightful remark on NIL, stating, “At some point, I think people might have to understand that maybe college athletes don’t go to college anymore. Or maybe they don’t go to class during the season. There could be more radical changes, and as long as they’re wearing the right logo and the right colors, I’m not sure that fans really care.”

Indirectly, Popp made a stern remark on those athletes who have been rarely sighted in their colleges throughout the whole year. Indeed, they are occupied with their lives after signing these lucrative deals, but are they still considered students? That’s also a fact that’s bothering Popp, and this has been a whole spectrum of opinion when it comes to the community. Why so? College sports have undergone numerous changes over the years, and the arrival of NIL has presented numerous opportunities. However, this also obscured many other aspects that were present in an athlete before such contracts were signed.

Example? How about Olivia Dunne? Indeed, she has been seen on the mat various times, and whenever she has been, the gymnast has put up an excellent performance. However, in terms of statistics, Dunne has primarily been involved in behind-the-scenes work, particularly in sponsorship negotiations. Rarely has Olivia Dunne appeared in major events, and for which she has even been given the moniker of “bench warmer“ by the critics in the community.

So is he pointing out the people who are taking advantage of these deals to hide their real talent from the scene? Maybe? Sports are indeed about athletic abilities, but with many changes, they have also been surrounded by how much popularity an athlete can garner and how much revenue they can generate. Given the increasing focus on financial gain, this could raise significant concerns about the integrity of sports. How so? Because a similar claim was made by none other than Simone Biles’ coach.

A similar remark regarding NIL from Simone Biles’ former coach

Simone Biles’ former coach, Cecile Landi, has had a ton of gymnasts under her wing since her coaching career. She is well aware of the growing scene among college athletes, especially the NIL deals. So with experience, she unveiled her feelings towards these contracts during an interview with Bridget Sloan on YouTube, stating, “I mean, like social media, it’s a blessing and a curse. Uh, great things can happen for the athletes, but when it’s an added amount of pressure, I feel like it’s really unnecessary, but that’s part of it, I guess.” 

Landi acknowledged the helpfulness of these contracts, as they bring in a substantial amount of cash that can easily support an athlete’s career. However, is it worth it? She believes that absorbing so much pressure at such a young age, when an athlete should be exploring themselves, presents a complex challenge. She has trained one of the best out there, and she knows how harsh it is, stating, “So just try to enjoy that, but yeah, sometimes it can be a lot of pressure on the athletes, um, especially, you know, the best ones. So it’s great, but at the same time, they’re still struggling with themselves, you know?” 

Even the best can break under pressure, so Landi wants these collegiate athletes to enjoy their time on campus rather than fall into financial stress at such a young age. Indeed, money matters, but according to the coach, their career comes first. She has had many gymnasts under her wing, and she has nurtured many to the top step of the podium in many events. Landi knows what’s best for her students, and she doesn’t want them to go through so much.