BYU Responds To SCOTUS Ruling On Student-Athlete Compensation

PROVO, Utah – We are witnessing a massive change to the amateurism model this summer with the Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) unanimous decision on student-athlete compensation.

The Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday that the NCAA can't enforce rules limiting education-related benefits — like computers and paid internships — that colleges offer to student athletes.https://t.co/9lvUfAVB0s

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 21, 2021

SCOTUS issued a unanimous ruling that the NCAA preventing student-athletes from compensation violates federal antitrust law. Who knew the NCAA was what the country needed to bring bipartisan rulings?

Alston v. NCAA isn’t suddenly going to lead towards student-athletes receiving weekly paychecks from their universities. But it does create opportunities for student-athletes to now education-related benefits in the form of computers, paid internships, graduate education, and cash bonuses for high academic marks.

Tom Holmoe’s statement on Supreme Court decision

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe embraces the SCOTUS ruling and looks at it as another opportunity for his athletic department to shine.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is another element to help us adjust to the necessities of student-athlete compensation. BYU Athletics remains supportive of our student-athletes making as much money as they can in this new landscape,” Holmoe said in a statement upon request from KSL Sports. “We feel that our Built4Life program that we formally launched last week offers the holistic support necessary to help our student-athletes to do so, while receiving important career development that will benefit them beyond their time at BYU. No matter what the details of student-athlete compensation or NIL legislation will look like, we’re ready to fold it into our Built4Life program.”

 

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BYU rolled out the Built4Life program last week at their annual BYU Football Media Day. As Holmoe noted in his statement, Built4Life provides opportunities for Name, Image, and Likeness when that legislation passes, along with career opportunities as the athletic department partners with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and Silicon Slopes.

Name, Image, & Likeness not impacted, but decisions could come soon

The NCAA has yet to create national legislation for NIL. College sports’ governing body has been working with Congress this month, begging for assistance from Senators to help form a long-overdue plan.

Beginning July 1st, individual states such as California, Texas, and Georgia will have legislation in place that will allow student-athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. The state of Utah hasn’t signed any state legislation.

The SCOTUS ruling on student-athlete compensation and potential NIL legislation is creating historic change in college sports.#BYU QB Jaren Hall won't deny he's thought of the possibilities that could come with NIL.#BYUFootball @kslsports https://t.co/k2YMKhTs18 pic.twitter.com/0rYAUzFXwp

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) June 21, 2021

When NIL does happen, it could open up opportunities for athletes like quarterback Jaren Hall to make some money on social media or start his own camp. It would create a lot of chances for him to make money. KSL Sports asked him at BYU Media Day if he’s ever thought about the possibilities that could come with NIL as a BYU quarterback.

“Hey, when you and your wife have a kid on the way, I’ve absolutely thought about it. So we’ll see what happens,” Hall said. “There’s a long process of getting that passed through the Government and this that and the other. Who knows when it will happen? If it happens, hopefully, it does. I think everyone deserves the opportunity. But yeah, for sure, I’ve thought about it. Our new Built4Life program that they just introduced is all part of that, so hopefully, we can get it going.”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.