This past April, the NCAA moved closer to a comprehensive and universally agreed upon position when it comes to student athletes ability to retain ownership of the rights associated with their individual name, image and likeness. It’s about time.
A Las Cruces Digest Sports Editorial
by: Levi Gwaltney
In the early eighties, I had the opportunity to meet Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Danny White. He was the guest of honor at a banquet hosted by the New Mexico State University football booster organization. My parents had purchased tickets to the event as a birthday present to me, and it was a very special evening. I was twelve years old, an avid football fan, and filled with the delusion that I might grow up to be a football player, myself. With me, I brought the copy of the “Dallas Cowboys Weekly” tabloid publication with Danny White on the cover, hoping to have it autographed.
After the evening’s formalities and a key note address by Danny White, himself, a line formed to meet him, and when I finally reached the front of the line, I stood there, awestruck at his size. I tried to muster a word, but could only hand him the folded copy in my hand–silently. I tried to push a word out, but the only sound I could muster was wheeze. He smiled at me, graciously scrawled his signature, and handed it back to me. Looking back, now, I have to admit that the player I met will never wear a Hall-of-Fame jacket. In fact, as far as quarterbacks go, he is likely the most forgettable in Dallas Cowboy history. Still, I will always remember the night I met Danny White.
A more striking revelation for me is how I am, to this day, unable to name a single player for the Aggies that year. Not one. That year, I attended the games and cheered when they scored. I listened to the post-game recap on the car radio while the traffic around the stadium cleared. I can hear Jack Nixon’s voice in my head as I write this, but I cannot remember the name of a single player he mentioned. [For all of you die-hard Aggie fans yelling, “What about Fred Young?!”–Yes, I know Fred Young played for the Aggies around this time, but I never really made the connection until he had already become a perennial Pro-Bowl selection in the NFL.]
Before the era of “Name, Image and Likeness”, an Aggie standout was never truly embraced as an individual until he (or she) successfully moved on to something bigger and better, rising above the label of being one among many athletes at NMSU. For the longest time, it seemed the only players whose names were widely known were the ones who were in some kind of trouble.
Times have changed. Student athletes have won some hard-earned rights to control, and profit from, their most basic commodity–their identity. These changes can only help a school like New Mexico State University. Before NIL, there was no way NMSU could legally compete with schools who had skirted player compensation rules for generations. NMSU is not a wealthy school, and everyone knows it–including the student athletes.
While there is value in scholarship-only “compensation” for student athletes, the ability to personally capitalize on their own name, image and likeness creates an educational environment for those student athletes which rewards all of the right things–first and foremost among them, being a member of our broader community. Student athletes now represent more than the university for which they play. They now represent us all. They do this by representing themselves well–and now they have a good reason to. There is no more hiding behind the anonymity provided by an institution.
Student athletes, we see you, and we welcome you to our broader community. While our broader community cannot offer you great financial rewards, we can offer you something uniquely our own. We can offer you acceptance into our broader community. We truly are glad you chose to compete at New Mexico State University, and we are glad you chose our community to call home.
New Mexico State University is embracing this new era, acknowledging the newly-earned rights of players by making space at the table when the questions come in, and making sure the glory of victories is shared by all who contributed. Below, please see the picture from this year’s Conference USA Kickoff press event:
Meet Shiyazh Pete and Buddha Peliti (standing behind Head Coach Tony Sanchez). Pete (left) is a veteran offensive lineman and on the “watch list” for both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. Peliti (right) is one of two returning starters to defense, this year. Both Pete and Peliti are Juniors, so we hope to have the opportunity to root for them, and the Aggies, this year–and next year, as well.
From the April 22, 2024 NCAA News Release:
“Effective immediately, Division I student-athletes have access to additional school assistance with name, image and likeness activities and more flexibility to transfer, the Division I Board of Directors decided Monday when it affirmed action taken last week by the Division I Council.
“Schools can identify NIL opportunities and facilitate deals between student-athletes and third parties. Student-athletes are not obligated to accept assistance from the school and must maintain authority over the terms in their NIL agreements. Beginning Aug. 1, member schools will be permitted to increase NIL-related support only for student-athletes who disclose their NIL arrangements.
“Also effective immediately, Division I student-athletes who meet certain academic eligibility requirements will be immediately eligible at their next school, regardless of whether they transferred previously. Specifically, to be immediately eligible after a transfer, undergraduate student-athletes must have left their previous school while academically eligible and in good standing (not subject to disciplinary suspension or dismissal) and meet progress-toward-degree requirements at their new school before competing. For graduate transfer student-athletes to be eligible, they must earn a degree from their previous school, leave while academically eligible and be enrolled as a full-time postgraduate student while satisfying minimum academic standards.”
NM State Athletics Appoints A-Mountain Sports as Exclusive NIL Collective Partner
Last October, NM State Athletics announced in conjunction with LEARFIELD Sports Properties that A-Mountain Sports will be the official Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Collective of the NM State Aggies.
Source: NMSU Athletics
A-Mountain Sports NIL Collective, founded by Executive Director Dr. Paul Grindstaff, was first launched in the spring of 2022 and has since created unique opportunities to facilitate and support NM State student-athletes through their NIL and provide networking opportunities and business connections to ensure the success of our student-athlete Aggies.
“In today’s landscape, NIL holds almost equal significance in recruiting as traditional focal points like maintaining high-quality facilities,” said NM State Director of Athletics Mario Moccia. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have Paul Grindstaff at the helm of the collective. His wealth of expertise and insights into NIL from his prior affiliations with various institutions, adds immense value, making A-Mountain Collective an ideal partner.”
A-Mountain currently partners with nearly 50 student-athletes, an increase from just over 20 in its first year of existence and seeks to grow that number annually. Fans can support in several ways, with contribution opportunities as low as $50 per month. There are also unique business partnership opportunities, including the new “Cruces Business Coalition” which is a collection of local businesses that the Collective highlights and helps emphasize player endorsement of small and large businesses in the Las Cruces area.
To learn more info about the A-Mountain Collective, visit AggieNIL.com or reach out via email (info@aggieNIL.com).
ABOUT LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD is the leading media and technology company powering intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services include trademark licensing and branding; collegiate sports properties’ multimedia sponsorship management; NIL solutions; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA’s acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.
