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Virginia law allows schools to pay athletes for NIL
Schools in Virginia will be able to directly pay athletes via name, image and likeness deals thanks to a state law signed Thursday morning.
Universities shamelessly shot themselves in the foot by trying to pretend the $6k - $10k stipends they were giving were there to support athletes. Then congress passed a law forcing schools to enumerate all extra expenses in the up front bill for attendance. This caught the power conference schools by surprise because their incredibly heightened extra expenses ($6-10k is more than you would pay typically for cell phone use and transportation, etc.) were now permanently part of each regular student's bill.
Flash forward several years, and now schools are going to pay players directly. This is typical university administrative thinking. Short-term at best.
There is absolutely no reason for programs to not go fully professional at this point, and to remain affiliated with schools.
The idea that these players could or would not be considered employees is absolutely preposterous. This has been well established legally. You're making $1m for heaven's sake. You are an employee, compensated for your work and service to the university. You're not a contractor or a consultant. You're a professional.