Chapter 27 Explosive News (2)

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[10:00, 01/07/2021]

[Jace POV]

Max Kellerman raised an eyebrow. "You're referring to the NIL bill, right?"

Stephen A. nodded. "That's exactly what I'm talking about, Max. If the NCAA pushes that through, we're looking at a brand-new world for college athletes. Imagine the floodgates opening for endorsements, commercials—maybe even sneaker deals for top recruits."

I exhaled slowly, sinking deeper into the couch as the conversation on ESPN continued. The energy in the studio had shifted, the urgency in their voices building with each sentence.

"Listen," Stephen A. Smith said, jabbing a finger into the air. "I don't think people understand the magnitude of this decision. We're talking about college athletes—kids who've been busting their asses for years—finally getting a piece of the pie. No more under-the-table nonsense, no more sneaky sponsorships. If this passes, it's all above board."

Kirk Herbstreit nodded but held up a hand. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. If the NCAA greenlights the NIL, we're talking about a major shake-up. Some programs are built for it; others? Not so much.

You have schools that thrive on tradition, and then you have programs that'll embrace this like the Wild West. And let's be real, the big names? They'll be fine. But what about the smaller schools? The mid-majors? Are they gonna get left in the dust when the biggest recruits start thinking brand before program?"

Max Kellerman leaned forward, adjusting his tie. "That's the debate, right? You think about a kid like Jace Lyon—one of the top quarterbacks in the country, committed to a traditional powerhouse like UCLA. While they have recently suffered from a scandal and a management shakeup the marketability of the school will be attractive to future athletes following the NIL deal."

He took a second to gather his thoughts as he took a sip from his glass of water. "Now, let's say he can start signing deals today. How does that change the recruiting game? Does it put more pressure on him? Does it mess with the team dynamic? These are real questions."

My heart gave a little jump when I heard my name; I still wasn't quite used to being talked about by strangers on national TV. I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my composure even though no one was around to see me. I could have sworn I heard my phone somewhere on the coffee table, probably texts from my sisters and friends.

I ignored it for a moment, as the conversation on ESPN took a sudden turn as Molly Qerim—sitting beside Stephen A.—pressed a finger to her earpiece. "We're going live to an NCAA press conference…apparently there's a major announcement coming in about two minutes," she said, her tone tinged with excitement.

Stephen A. leaned forward; eyebrows raised. "Now that I want to hear. Could this be the official word on the NIL?"

On the screen, a graphic popped up: Breaking News—NCAA Commissioner to Address NIL. In a matter of moments, the feed cut to a podium where the NCAA commissioner stood tall. He was a stern-looking man in his fifties, hair trimmed neatly into a conservative style. The camera zoomed in on him as he cleared his throat, flanked by a row of microphones and reporters clamouring for space.

"Good morning," he began, glancing down at the papers in front of him. "Thank you all for attending this urgent press conference. I will make it short and sweet effective immediately, the NCAA has decided to implement the long-discussed Name, Image, and Likeness policy."

A flurry of camera flashes danced across the screen. Even through the TV, I could feel the sudden rush of energy in the room. Reporters jostled ready to throw questions his way, but he continued speaking silencing them for a second.

"This policy will allow student-athletes to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness without forfeiting their amateur status. Starting today, institutions will be expected to follow guidelines that ensure fair and safe partnerships for our athletes."

He paused, taking a measured breath. "I realize this is a historic moment, and we've spent a great deal of time considering the implications. However, the NCAA believes this is the right move to support our student-athletes. We will continue to refine and provide direction to ensure that our core values of education and fair competition remain intact."

I didn't even register the happenings on the screen as my phone exploded with a barrage of notifications. I finally gave in and picked it up, sure enough, it was all football-related news all talking about the NIL. "Dang this blew up fast," I muttered surprised at how quickly they picked this up.

Back on the screen, the commissioner was fielding a barrage of questions. "Commissioner!" one reporter shouted. "Does this mean any athlete can now appear in local or national advertisements?"

Another voice cut through. "How do you plan to handle potential conflicts between universities and private sponsors?"

He held both hands up as if to contain the storm. "All these questions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. We understand the complexity of different state laws, different university policies, but we feel confident that this policy will unify those efforts under the NCAA umbrella. More details are on our official website."

In the ESPN studio, Stephen A. was already clapping his hands in excitement. "This is it, ladies and gentlemen. This is the new era we've been talking about."

Kirk Herbstreit picked up the thread. "It's massive. Some folks have been calling for this for years. Now we get to see how it all unfolds."

Max Kellerman folded his notes, a half-smile on his face. "Alright, we're gonna dive deeper into the implications of this ruling, but for now, it's official: NIL is here, and the first wave of deals is about to hit. Let's see who signs that dotted line first."

I clicked the TV off, letting the house fall quiet for a moment as I stared at the reflection on the black screen. This is my chance to get my family out of this hell ahead of time without waiting 3 years to attend the draft. Not even paying attention to the chatter of the ESPN round table I started thinking of ways to make the best of this opportunity.

My phone sprung to life buzzing as Tariq's caller ID flashed on the screen on my beat-up Apple 7 that my dad had got for me on my 15th birthday. His goofy picture appeared on the screen prompting me to slide the green button to answer. He didn't even let me get a word in as his voice resounded through the phone's speaker.

"You heard the news bro," His excited voice sounded in my ears forcing me to pull it away from my ear. "I honestly thought they would never pass it. You know hard to control us if we are already making bread and don't have to risk our lives for a chance to make some in the league."

"I know shit bout to be like the wild west, just don't go signing your life or career away over a little cash. Though from what I'm hearing Alabama have a lot of people wanting to throw bread to their players." Jace responded with a light smile now more thankful than he chose the Bruins for college.

"Tell me about it, I no longer have to lie about the money Uncle Tiny gives me," Tariq added with an excited tone, as if the money was lining up outside of his door and he had to hide it whenever someone offered it to him. "Fr though this is a game changer for us,"

"I know bro, can't wait to sign my first deal the bigger the better." I told him honestly thinking of what we would do with the first check. "And remember just like we were taught 'Tackle your problems, block out your fears, and always finish strong no matter what."

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To Be Continued...