(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman supports the idea of college athletes getting paid like school employees, but others say programs might be cut and players could get fired.
At a recent hearing of the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust in Washington, Illinois U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Chicago, said he opposed legislation to grant the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) an antitrust exemption.
“The fact is, the entire college athlete system is designed to suppress the compensation and labor rights of players,” Garcia said. “Coaches and athletic directors profit handsomely from this system. In 2023, the highest-paid state official in 43 states was a college coach.”
U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-South Carolina, suggested to University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh that colleges might cut sports if athletes were employees.
“We would take every step necessary to avoid that. That would be the last resort,” McIntosh said.
“But it is a reality that that could happen,” Fry suggested.
“I think it would be a reality for many programs at lower levels,” McIntosh said.
McIntosh said it would be difficult for his school to hire all of its student athletes as employees.
“It puts tremendous pressure on our budget. I’m trying to envision our HR department posting 800 positions, posting a position for a wide receiver on our football team,” McIntosh said.
Both McIntosh and University of Louisville swimming and diving coach Arthur Albiero warned of consequences for lower-revenue schools.
McIntosh said, in an employee system, players could theoretically get fired. He said in the NFL, he got injured in his second year and his contract was terminated in his third year.
He also said that some sports could be cut at “lower-level programs.”
U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wisconsin, chairs the subcommittee on the administrative state, regulatory reform and antitrust.
“College sports is rapidly heading in the direction of unlimited payments, unlimited transfers, and no rules around who is eligible to compete,” Fitzgerald said.
In addition to discussing athletes earning income and antitrust liability for the NCAA, lawmakers and witnesses discussed NCAA Name, Image and Likeness rules, the college transfer portal and other regulations.
