Gheorghe: The Endorsement Deals

Like a lot of change, the movement towards allowing collegiate athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL) happened at a glacial pace, right up until it accelerated to plaid. 

Haley and Hanna Cavinder have already signed deals with
Boost Mobile and Six Star Pro Nutrition

After literally decades of debate and litigation, the Supreme Court ruled ten days ago that the NCAA's rules limiting student-athletes'* educational compensation violated antitrust laws. From that ruling, it was a short sprint to the NCAA throwing the barn doors open and letting college athletes test their earning potential on the free market.

* - Ain't it nice to see that phrase, so redolent of antiquated legal trickeration, going the way of the dodo?

It is far to early to see how college athletes' newfound freedoms will change the competitive landscape. Some argue that the playing field will level, as kids at schools like Memphis and Wichita State - the only games in their towns - will find their limited supply causes their value to be bid up in comparison to other locales. Others think the rich will stay rich, as Alabama's national footprint leads Ford to outbid Chevy for the next Najee Harris's commercial appeal. Still others say that the massive influx of money and interest in a short period of time is a recipe for fraud, hucksterism, and burned collegiate athletes.

I think all three of those are possible and even likely, as are unintended consequences still just a twinkle in some Tallahassee bar owner or Nike Chairman's eye. For the moment, it's kinda cool to see Fresno State's Cavinder twins quickly figuring out how to monetize the 3.3 million followers they've amassed on TikTok. Or Arkansas Wide Receiver Trey Knox and his dog, Blue, inking a deal with PetSmart. 

Meanwhile, former collegiate stars lamented the timing of their births. J.J. Redick said on Twitter, "From 2004-2006, I would have made a bag 💰 on NIL endorsements.  Sadly- I would have blown it all on Natty Light and Lacoste polos (with the collars popped, of course)." Chris Webber said he'd have stayed in college for four years if he was getting paid (legally). Reggie Bush immediately agitated for the restoration of his Heisman. Not bloody likely, that - we've got a whole bunch of drug convictions to overturn, first.

With all that as prelude, let's get to the point. This post isn't a prediction. Rather, I come here with a very much intended consequence.

We're very pro-athlete around here. And we love the underdog, especially if she wears green and gold. I propose to you today, friends, our first sponsorship deal. If the executive committee ratifies it, we're going to offer $250 to the 12th man and woman on William & Mary's men's and women's basketball teams to be the official spokespeople of Gheorghe: The Blog. Additional promotional considerations are also on the table, including guest blogging privileges, free G:TB t-shirts, and naming rights to the next child born to a Gheorghie or his/her family.

Please provide your approval in the comments, as well as any other ideas for compensation for our spokesfolks.