Hear that sound? It’s unmistakable. It’s the stubborn sound of the college sports world cracking as players cash in.
You know it’s revolutionary to hear, too, because this limited land rush is accompanied by coaches immediately trying to use open money to induce recruits.
Call it July Madness. University of Miami quarterback D’Eriq King was one of the first to take advantage by agreeing to a sponsorship deal with two companies, Murphy Auto Group and Hunks Hauling Junk, in a deal worth $20,000.
That’s not the life-changing amount of an NFL contract. But it’s good, real and illustrative money that tells how the new world might work as athletes cash in on their name, image and likeness – and the tact of smart schools now.