Joe Henderson: NCAA defeat is victory for college athletes

The iron-fisted NCAA conceded defeat and took a major step toward allowing athletes to control their individual image and brand. In other words, they’ll be able to make a buck off their name.

If you need a moment just now, it’s understandable. The NCAA never concedes until there is no other choice. Life, as we knew it with college sports, has ended.

Previously, the NCAA claimed ownership of an athlete’s name and likeness. That continued, by the way, after the athlete had left school or turned pro. The NCAA vigorously fought any attempt by current athletes to profit off their name, claiming something about the purity of college athletics.

Look, I love boola-boola sports too and frequently find them more interesting than the pros. I also understand, though, that college sports is a big business that made a lot of people extremely wealthy.

But that wealth often didn’t reach the pockets of the athletes that made it happen.

NCAA bosses would never have changed that if California lawmakers hadn’t decided to pick a fight. They passed a law saying athletes at its colleges and universities could have the same rights as anyone else to profit off their name.

That didn’t mean that the universities were on the hook for paychecks or anything beyond what an athlete normally receives. Books, board, tuition, and a stipend have been standard fare for an athletic scholarship.

But now, California said athletes could be paid for an endorsement while in school. They could cut their own deals, exclusive of the university. They could receive pay for signing autographs. Just imagine if Deion Sanders had been around FSU when this change occurred.

What followed was predictable bluster and wide-eyed predictions of doom from NCAA plutocrats. But then several other states, including Florida, picked up California’s banner, and the NCAA knew it was time to concede.

Michael V. Drake, chair of the Board of Governors and president of The Ohio State University, gave the “we surrender” quote.

“We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” Drake said. “Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education.

“This modernization for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including the full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships.”

Speaking of “The” Ohio State University, imagine how life would have been different if this new rule had been around eight years ago. That’s when a Category 5 scandal erupted because quarterback Terrell Pryor and four teammates were suspended for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards.

Let that sink in: It was against the rules to sell their own stuff!

Oh, they also received “impermissible benefits” from a Columbus tattoo parlor owner. And revered football coach Jim Tressel was forced out because he tried to cover it up. That led to former Florida Coach Urban Meyer coming to TOSU and, oh well … you know the story from there.

Say it again: They sold their own stuff. They bartered for some tattoos.

A lot of stuff like that has occurred in college sports, but hopefully, that’s over.

Yeah, you’ll probably see TV commercials featuring your favorite collegiate quarterback or point guard. For most everyone involved in college sports, the ruling won’t mean much. They’ll still compete, and we’ll still watch.

Oh, and there is this delicious coincidence. The NCAA crash of 2019 happened on the 90^th anniversary of the Wall Street meltdown that triggered the Great Depression.

The timing seems appropriate.