The NCAA decided Tuesday to allow student athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. The move comes after California passed the "Fair Pay to Play Act" into law. Now, the 3 divisions within the group has to create rules between now and 2021.
The action taken Tuesday was based on a work group which included student athletes, university presidents and athletic directors, and administrators.
Marquette University Athletic Director Bill Scholl said that while all the rules have not been defined, he said the concept of "trying to enhance the student athlete experience and support them in anyway we can is a good one."
Scholl also said he is concerned by potential conflicts between student and school sponsors.
"I think that is exactly the kind of situation that we have to think our way through so it's a win win for everybody" Scholl said.
The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department released a statement Tuesday:
Wisconsin supports the efforts of the NCAA and the Conference to enhance support of student athletes that is tethered to education. We look forward to working with the Conference and the NCAA as appropriate rules for the use of name, image and likeness are developed.
Senator Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina tweeted: "If college athletes are going to make money off their likenesses while in school, their scholarships should be treated like income," he wrote. "I'll be introducing legislation that subjects scholarships given to athletes who choose to 'cash in' to income taxes."
The changes should take effect by 2021.
