Author: kaylamurden0622

Is NIL Ruining College Sports?

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With college sports on a rise paying athletes only right, but at what point is NIL becoming to much? Is NIL taking away from student-athletes and making them just athletes.

NIL, which stands for “name, image, and likeness,” becoming official July 1, 2021 allowing student-athletes to make a profit from their NIL. If the athlete would like, they can hire an agent or business advisors but isn’t required. The polices and certain colleges require to know all details of deals or any possible deals with the school and have to be approved before any signing is done. NIL deals vary from all types of things. Popular ones being high end clothing and shoes or school related materials.

NIL has taken over the NCAA these past 4 years. According to sports illustrated in 2025 Arch Manning, University of Texas quarterback will be making $6.5 million. Manning is only a sophomore, during his freshman year he was the backup quarter back for Quinn Ewers, who declared to the NFL draft and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Manning only appeared in two games his freshman season making $3.2 million and not even starting a game. Cooper Flagg, the number one projected pick in the 2025 NBA Draft made at least $28 million just one season alone at Duke Fox Sports states. The $28 million is based on Flagg’s deal with brands like New Balance and Fanatics. Flagg had more NIL deals with Gatorade, AT&T, Cort Furniture and The NIL Store with those prices being unknown leaving us knowing he made at least $28 million. If picked as the first overall pick Flagg’s rookie contract will be on an average scale around $62.7 million. Another stand out freshman and national champion Jeremiah Smith makes around $4 million Sports illustrated says. Smith has partnerships with, Nintendo, Epic Ames, Redbull, American Eagle Outfitters and Lululemon. He’s ranked number 3 among college players in NIL value.

Granted these star athletes bring in huge attention and money to the school but here when it starts to get out of hand. This is when the transfer portal gets involved. The transfer portal is an online system where college athletes can declare their intention to transfer to another school publicly. It allows coaches from other schools to view information about athletes and reach out to them. As soon as a player enters the portal all their academic records become visible and the recruiting process starts all over again. A more recent example of transfer portal situations is Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee’s former quarterback, he left the university to seek a higher NIL after Tennessee refused. According to multiple reports Iamaleava was trying to renegotiate his $2 million a year contract with the school in hopes for a new $4 million a year contract. After the school declined this negotiation Iamaleava refused to show up to practices and missed the spring game in hopes to change their minds. Not long after, Iamaleava posted on Instagram his new commitment post to UCLA, which, UCLA offer was not remotely close to the $4 million he wanted. The Tennessee coach and athletic director were positive they made the right idea. Tennessee is a large football school being an SEC team, the Vols went 6-2 this past season and making the College Football Playoffs but fell short to the Ohio State. Meanwhile UCLA went 3-6 and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014. It shows Iamaleava was more focused on his NIL income compared to playing for a team that’s a better overall team and has produced more professional athletes. It’s sad to see someone with so much talent and potential waste it somewhere just to make more money. This exist shocked his teammates. “He left his brothers behind,” Boo Carter says, a receiver and defensive back at Tennessee said.

This to pay and play system system does question the schools loyalty, the players loyalty, but the fans too.

A sports page made a poll for college fans to vote how they felt about NIL and 53 percent voted its ruining the sport while only seven precent voted its a great thing for players. Looking at St. Johns basketball team one team leader R.J. Luis entered the NBA Draft, soon players flooded into the portal. The school lost eight of their nine rotation players. Along with McNeese State team manager entering the transfer portal and signing a $100 thousand NIL deal transferring to NC State.

What makes people enjoy college sports more is watching young athletes are not playing for money like the pros but the love of the game, unfortunately now it isn’t the same. The logo on players jerseys has now lost its meaning and is represented by the most followers and the biggest paychecks. NIL made these athletes believe playing for a brand is more important. The process of recruiting players has changed drastically since NIL, it used to be you would commit to the school with the culture, team chemistry, and coaches. Now to get recruits you try to bring them in to offer the most money. Schools with less funding are losing out on key players. College sports has turned into a business more than anything.

“When it came down to making my final decision, there were teams throwing money at me, this and that, trying to bribe me,” wide receiver T.J. Moore said. “But Clemson felt right. Clemson is what I was taught to like when I was a kid.”

What Moore said is a perfect example of college sports were like before NIL was introduced, you committed to the school you dreamed of going to or grew up watching.

This year was the first year since 2008 all seeds in the Final Four were all the number one seed. The Final Four consisted of Florida, Duke, Houston and Auburn. Leaving the final matchup being both number one seeds it brings it more viewers knowing the game will be closer in score and competitive. When theres a lower seed and higher seed less people watch thinking the higher seed will more than likely win. People were upset knowing there was no “Cinderella stories” in this year’s tournament. Lots of people said it had something to do with NIL big time schools paying the best players to win them championships which happened to the Florida Gators this year. With just generating $1.5 million the week of the final four.

NIL is paying some of these players more than they would make in the pros if signed. Shedeur Sanders was worth $6.5 million yearly while drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 144 pick Sanders signed a 4 year contract worth $4.6 million, a drastic drop from his NIL checks.

The question now is, is it even worth going pro for these big college athletes with insane NIL deals?

With the NBA Draft the end of this month, only 106 players declared early for the draft. It’s the fewest since 2015 (before NIL). The number typically varies around 300.

So quickly these players who become millionaires, are still students?

When this athletes pile up NIL checks how will they still reflect positive efforts on the academic side of school.

Paying athletes in college is important and something we need to keep because they bring so much revenue to schools by NIL has ruined the traditional college experience.

How banning cell phones in schools affected teachers

~ kaylamurden0622 ~ Leave a comment

On July 9, 2024 Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed banning cell phones in Virginia public schools starting January 1 2025. The goal of “cell phone-free education” was to promote healthier and more focused learning conditions but allowing students to have access to them at lunch.

Janet Balestino has been teaching at Virginia schools for 15 years. Through out her teaching career she always had access to her cell phone, preferably on her desk. “Without having to worry about my kids as much anymore, I still would check my messages from any clients and check for other important messages,” she says.

“Staying off of phones is hard for students, it’s normalized to have them on you at all times. It’s hard for both teachers and students because if they can’t be on it neither can I.”

With the ban coming in place January 1st which means as soon as we got back from winter break no watches, headphones, earbuds and phones. She expressed how having such a huge change mid year is hard for students to get used to. She believes it would’ve been more efficient to start the ban the first day of school. The first week of the ban she said she’s never had to contact as many parents or write so many referrals. She says it causes tension between her and the students. She hates having to get on her students so much about something that isn’t a huge problem but still has to follow the law.

“Having to come back after winter break and not being allowed to have any electronics it’s hard, it’s the middle of the year why do it now?”

For some student when working on computers makes them want to get on their phone more. Balestino says now she aims towards more lessons on paper. She also started doing game days on certain Fridays and days towards the end of semester. She said she loves to see her students take time off electronics and socialize more which was the goal of the ban.

“Doing worksheets means students are putting more focus into writing compared to typing with a phone in one hand, it also keeps the classroom quieter too, a better learning environment.”

As a marketing teacher making promotional videos have always been a big part of her class. If its videos for our school store or projects she allowed students to make videos on their phones. Filming videos on the Chromebook is hard. She says it’s going to be hard to find an alternative for the lesson for next year.

“I hate to see teachers also argue with other teachers about their views on cellphones, it’s such a non problem to other things that happen in the building. Phones are helpful if used in the right way. Like why are we chasing students down the halls if there’s an Airpod in their ear?”

After decreasing in test scores the governor made a change in our school system that did more affected more than just the students.

“I don’t think think that passing this worked in the way he wanted (Governor Glenn Youngkin) he thought it would be beneficial but started more behavioral issues in my personal opinion.”

From Athlete to Advocate

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Florida State and University of Georgia graduate Karmen Morrison uses her skills in the communications and journalism industry and being a graduate assistant. Morrison grew up in Jacksonville, Florida playing basketball, volleyball and flag football throughout high school.

“What drew me from sports to journalism? When I was in high school, I was asked to do a lot of interviews about school and sports. I was in an early college program, so people were asking me a lot about that. I ended up being the Female Athlete of the Year of my city. So I did a few different interviews for that, and I had fun doing it. I was the interviewee, obviously, but I enjoyed it. And I was like, I think I could probably do this. So that’s where I got my start. ”

In high school being an involved student athlete, Morrison said she saw the difference between men’s and women’s sports quickly.

When going to Florida State majoring in media communications studies, she used her social media platforms to advocate for women’s sports. With women’s sports on the rise right now, it’s important to see other women and previous athletes show support. Female athletes deal with more pressures than men as professionals. For example,

when you’re a woman people will criticize your looks, skill, background, race and sexuality.

“I’m on social media, so I share my opinions,” Morrison said, adding that one interview she conducted was really powerful to her. “I got to talk to Lonnie Alameda. She’s their head softball coach, very, very renowned coach. And this was following a very late game. So I asked her, what’s your opinion on you guys playing really late? And she was very open, honest, blunt about it. It’s probably one of my favorite interviews I’ve done. She spoke about a lot of the things that could change with the Women’s College World Series, and so I included that stuff in my package.”

Morrison expresses herself through sports journalism and takes pride in women’s sports, whether it’s on social media, the stories she does, or just little quotes. Morrison mentioned that tennis is one of the only sports to pay women and men equally, at least in the majors. She thinks it’s important, but just a small step.

Morrison believes no matter race, age, or gender, representation matters. Even though she calls herself a rookie she likes to share what she knows with younger people to help them become better than what she is.

“I think for me, one thing that irritated me, is we had a good football team when I was there, and they would always get free shirts. But we were districts champs year after year, and I’m like, why we aren’t we getting free shirts? What’s going on?” This is one example of how something simple can make a difference. Looking beyond the sport, it’s the principle of it not being equal for the girls and boys teams.

“And I think for me, representation matters. Obviously, I’m a black woman, so you got to be able to reach back and show little girls, even little boys, and show them what’s possible. I think it’s really about representation at the end of the day.”

Kayla Murden

~ kaylamurden0622 ~ Leave a comment

I was born in Norfolk, Virginia on June 22, 2008. Growing up in Virginia Beach I made many friendships, and once in a lifetime memories either in school, girl scout camp in elementary school, being an older sister, or being active in my city. My parents gave my sister and me everything we asked for and more. As I enter my senior year at Landstown High School, I reflect on my younger years and how they shaped me into the person I am today.

Growing up my family has always been passionate about sports if it’s NFL, CFB or NBA. Many of my earliest memories consist of Saturday afternoons watching my dad cheer for the Florida State Seminoles or late Sunday nights as he watched the Washington Redskins, take the field for a game. I soon became a fan of different teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Timberwolves. Being exposed to the atmosphere of sports at such a young age made me passionate about pursuing a career in the sports industry.

I knew from my freshman year I wanted to go to an out of state college. When I became passionate about getting a degree in journalism I looked into UGA and that soon became my dream school. I hope wherever I end up going to college I get my degree in journalism and become a sports reporter for a professional team in a big city, with hopes to interview some of my favorite athletes like Ja’marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Anthony Edwards, Tank Dell, and of course the GOAT Lebron James. I love watching women dominate in the sports industry with reporting, it shows women can work just as well as men can in a male-dominated career.

Outside of watching sports I played soccer for many years, but eventually got tired of it. My mom signed me up for volleyball and I fell in love with it. I met so many people and have won two city championships within two years. I ventured out of my comfort zone and joined my schools basketball team and gained so many fun memories along with amazing friendships. Besides being on a court you can find me in the kitchen baking or with my Beats on blasting music, at the lake house with my cousin, or cuddling with my three dogs while watching a Disney movie.

Growing up with unconditional love and support from the people around me made me appreciate the little things in life and how to always look on the bright side of things.