Many full moons ago this column properly addressed and undressed the uber-capitalistic and fascist ways and means of the NC2A, particularly its most recent big-brained ideas – the Portal and N.I.L. Now, here we are, a mere few years down the road from these inceptions, and graft is more prevalent than ever. That’s correct, corruption still runs amok in college athletics; but now, the script done flipped and, finally, it is the athletes who are doing most of the screwing.
The time has come to revisit this topic.
First up, the Portal – designed to combat Covid and knee-jerk decisions of teenagers, it offered student athletes a freer path to transfer between colleges; one that did not adversely affect their eligibility. But this road to freedom turned out to be chocked fulla potholes (who woulda thunk?) and has become a much rougher thoroughfare than originally intended. For instance, Big Braylen Russell, the bruising Razorback running back from Benton, Ark., entered and exited the Portal at least twice in 2025, alone, before deciding, once and for all, to stay home and play for the Hogs. WooPig!
Now onto the biggest and foulest gorilla in any and every room – N.I.L. (Name, Image, Likeness) What an ironic name for an all-out money grab.
Used to be that coaches were far and away the highest paid people on every campus in the good ol’ USA, but in the words of Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther Strikes Again, “not anymore.” Now, kids are paid million$ of dollar$ to play amateur athletics for state-funded universities and private colleges, alike. Take that, coach.
For instance, not too terribly long ago, I heard a tale from a coupla locals whose grandsons play/played college football for South Alabama. Specifically, that the University of North Carolina, a much larger institution, hailing from a Power 5 conference (ACC), lured a quarterback away from the Yellowhammer State with a tidy, bundled-up offer of $4 mil to come take snaps, call the signals and slang the pigskin for the Tar Heels – a basketball school at that.
And right here in our own Natural State, former freshman point guard, Boogie Fland, an integral part of Coach Cal’s inaugural Razorback recruiting class, recently flew the coop, jumped ship and is now a horse of different and more-garish colors – Florida Gator teal and orange. But the underlying hue of his transfer is unmistakably Benjamin green. According to all reports, the kid scooped up nearly $2 million to bolt from Fayetteville and land in Gainesville. Certainly, zero blame can befall Fland, as he is only trying to get his. But it’s like I said last year – providing teenagers/young adults with banks fulla barely-regulated loot is like playing with fire and scarecrows. Trouble will ensue somewhere, somehow, and in many instances, already has.
Take Shilo Sanders, for instance. As the son of Primetime Deion Sanders, (or Coach Prime as he is now affectionately known), Shilo is undoubtedly blessed with uber-athletic genetics. Since his pops was one of a tiny handful of humans to ever successfully compete in the NFL and MLB, it only makes sense that his offspring would have a leg up in the sporting arena. Indeed.
Shilo played at Colorado University for his dad and collected untold sums of cash through N.I.L. and regularly flossed this wealth on social media. His brother, Shedeur, drove around Boulder in his very own Rolls Royce during his time as the Buffaloes QB, for crying aloud. But poor, poor Shilo. He made some unwise financial decisions and was forced to file for bankruptcy. Tragic but true.
So somewhere between a Rolls and Chapter 7 lies fair, common and happy ground that can benefit all. But it is far from a reality.
Here’s to the NC2A figuring things out and cleaning up this filthy, legal practice of pay-for-play. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
One more thing – Simmons Liberty Stadium, aka, the lowly Liberty Bowl, is experiencing some renovations, so seats for the Memphis game will be limited. It is about time this dump was updated. Guess we’ll finally find out, once and for all, if it’s possible to turn chicken litter into chicken salad.
GoHogs!!