NCAA’s Present and Future Play Out 1700 Miles Apart on the Same Day

The final buzzer in San Antonio closed a drama that ended with confetti and Gator chomps — a thrill-a-minute NCAA title for the Florida Gators that reminded us all of what’s so good about the games these college athletes play.

In another court — a few hours earlier and 1,700 miles away — lawyers, a few athletes and a judge debated issues that will impact the future of games like these and what comes next for a multibillion-dollar college-sports industry that is struggling with change.

The Stakes are High

Those two scenes Monday illustrated all that’s at stake, and maybe even whether March Madness, which Florida wrapped up with a 65-63 title-clinching victory over Houston, will look the same in coming years.
So while Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr.’s clutch stop in the final seconds might have produced the day’s biggest headline, federal judge Claudia Wilken’s decision about the multibillion-dollar college-sports lawsuit settlement — which could come within days, weeks, months, who knows? — will carry more weight.

Judge Seeks Solutions

“Basically I think it is a good settlement, don’t quote me, and I think it’s worth pursuing,” Wilken said near the close of the daylong hearing she held in Oakland that finished about an hour before tipoff in the Alamodome. “I think some of these things could be fixed if people tried to fix them and that it would be worth their while to try to fix them.”
Among Wilken’s top-line items is figuring a way to gradually implement roster limits prescribed by the lawsuit. A solution could prevent an immediate wholesale phase-out of hundreds of football players, swimmers, sprinters and other college athletes across the country.

Impact on Future College Players

She also wants tweaks to how athletes who haven’t yet reached college might be treated per terms of an agreement that’s supposed to last 10 years.
"We’re taking your feedback. We’ll take it to our clients,” NCAA attorney Rakesh Kilaru told Wilken.
The clock is ticking.

Settlement Terms

As currently structured, terms of the settlement are due to take effect on July 1, when the biggest change will be schools’ ability to pay athletes directly. Also at stake is $2.78 billion in backpay to former players who weren’t eligible for those payments.
That’s where it comes back to the Gators, along with the thousands of varsity teams and players participating in college sports — from swimmers to pitchers to quarterbacks and everyone in between.

Impact on All Sports

Like every other coach, Florida’s Todd Golden is learning to work with a payroll. It’s funded both from third-party booster groups that can funnel money to the players, and then, if Wilken gives the OK, from a pool of $20.5 million that schools like his will distribute among all its athletes — but mostly to football and a little less to basketball.
Those financial decisions, in turn, will dictate roster decisions and determine whether the Gators can afford another player like Clayton.

Conclusion

The NCAA’s present and future played out 1700 miles apart on the same day, with the Florida Gators winning the championship and a federal judge debating the future of college sports. The settlement’s terms will have a significant impact on all sports, and the clock is ticking. The future of college sports is uncertain, but one thing is clear: it will be shaped by the decisions made in the coming days, weeks, and months.

FAQs

• What is the current state of the NCAA lawsuit settlement?
  The settlement is currently being debated in court, with a decision expected in the coming days, weeks, or months.
• How will the settlement affect college sports?
  The settlement will allow schools to pay athletes directly, and will also provide $2.78 billion in backpay to former players.
• What is the impact of the settlement on roster decisions?
  The settlement will dictate roster decisions, as schools will have to work with a payroll and make financial decisions about which players to keep and which to let go.
• How will the settlement affect the future of college sports?
  The settlement will shape the future of college sports, as it will change the way schools interact with athletes and will provide new opportunities for athletes to receive compensation.