Over the last half decade, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, and the intertwining of the two have been some of the biggest topics discussed in college football outside of the actual games, and sometimes even more so.
It’s a new era in college sports, and the current Presidential administration has taken steps to try to address the chaos. President Donald Trump recently signed an Executive Order establishing national standards surrounding NIL. Additionally, a bipartisan bill known as the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last month.
Now more so than ever, the federal government is trying to get a handle on things, and former Auburn Tigers head coach and current U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has spoken often on the subject.
Tuberville joined Lance Griffin on Sports Talk The Ball on FM 100.1 in Dothan to discuss a myriad of topics, including NIL. When asked for an update on the legislation, the senator revealed that while he is optimistic, it’s also an extremely complicated issue to tackle.
“We’re getting a little closer, but it’s almost impossible,” Tuberville said. “The President did a lot that he can do with his Executive Order, trying to put things into place…I visited with him quite a bit about it, and if there’s one thing I wish could be addressed, it’s the transfer portal.”
The lawmaker argued that the sport should go back to the former rule where players are allowed to transfer, but they must sit out a full season once they make the move.
“That would quit probably about 70 or 80 percent of the transfers because people aren’t gonna pay a kid to sit on the bench for a year…we have got to come to some sense of reality that education [comes] first, look out for the well-being of the player in terms of getting that degree, but also being fair. I’m for them making money, but this is getting ridiculous the way they’re transferring every year…the NCAA has no backbone…they have no sense of requirement or responsibility for these kids. They have to be accountable, players as well as coaches, and the schools.”
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Tuberville said he is continuing to work directly with Trump to analyze how the old rules of the transfer portal can be enforced. Whether or not any change becomes a reality remains to be seen, but the Senator is certainly correct in saying it would cut down on the total amount of transfers, something which most fans would be for.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
