Michigan State Spartans head basketball coach Tom Izzo is one of the best basketball coaches to ever patrol a sideline. He has found more success than most coaches could ever hope to achieve and he has done it over a very long period of time.
As has been the case with many longtime college coaches, Izzo hasn’t been a big fan of the changes the NCAA has made. NIL deals are one of the big complaints, while the transfer portal has also been another popular complaint for many coaches.
Izzo has spoken especially about NIL and its impact both on the college sports side and how it can also affect a player’s life.
Recently, Izzo expressed his bold thoughts on NIL and what it means to both the players and the game. He didn’t have a very fond view of the way the NCAA is handling things.
Specifically, he addressed the pay-per-play aspect of NIL and the transfer portal merging at times.
“This happened very quickly and (sports director) Alan (Haller) is, and we, are trying to encompass it. It is a constantly moving problem that is changing. I mean, the NCAA is like the government sometimes. Sometimes I don’t know who’s running the ship and I’m on every board I can be on, almost every board I can be on, fighting. I just don’t want to say, ‘I’ll do what the rules say.’ “I think as leaders, part of our job is to help make the rules the best for the long term.”
Izzo clarified some of his thoughts. He’s all for players making money off their name, image and likeness, but he doesn’t like the idea that teams can pay to get players.
He also spoke out and seemed to oppose what NIL appears to be heading towards. Which would be for schools to pay players similar to the contract that professional players receive.
“And sometimes when you’re given too much at a young age, like we see with movie stars or music people, it’s never a great ending. And so finding the middle ground between doing what we can do for these student-athletes and at the same time realizing that there is a process to be successful. I know my wife has tried a lot to put me in the transfer portal, but I’m still there. You know, you can’t just transfer everything. And Robin is right. The combination of transfer portal and NIL and with the real version of NIL, like you are 100 percent in favor of the real version of NIL if the name, image and likeness can make you money. “I’m not interested in paying to play.”
Those are some strong words from one of the greatest college basketball head coaches of all time. His opinion certainly makes sense, even if many players and some other coaches disagree with him.
It’s certainly true that the NCAA needs to find a middle ground when it comes to players and money. They can’t afford to put too much money in the hands of young athletes. That could be a very dangerous path.
However, it would make sense to come up with something where the players are somehow paid a fair share of the money the school gets from them.
We are far from finding a perfect scenario when it comes to NIL. Coaches like Izzo have an important voice in helping determine where everything goes. But for now, we’re simply wondering what changes are coming and what they will mean for the world of college sports.
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