Call it what you want, leaderless or rudderless. That’s what some Ivy League coaches, alumni and donors are saying right now in droves. And it is spot on. Those terms apply to the recent Ivy mandate further restricting the ability of its student-athletes to receive NIL compensation.
Nothing exemplifies this more than the recent Ivy mandate further restricting the ability of its student-athletes to receive NIL.
Simply stated, member institutions must now sign “attestations of independence” for Ivy deals over $2,000. What on earth does this even mean? Does it mean that all deals under that arbitrary threshold deemed to pass muster through a NCAA-approved clearinghouse for NIL deals above $600 are automatically valid?
Dartmouth athletic director Mike Harrity told Bloomberg this month that any money directed through NIL is “in no way directed, indirectly or directly, at any institutional staff members’ or coaches’ direction.”
This new policy is beyond confusing to many sitting coaches, who have had to deal with a dearth of guidance from the Ivy League office and their athletic directors.
The Ivy has made misstep after misstep since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 NCAA v. Alston decision, which held that antitrust law prohibits the NCAA from keeping its Division I schools from offering “education-related compensation or benefits” to student-athletes (men and women) who play basketball and football.
The Ivy office soon after issued “guidance” to its member institutions that collectives would not be tolerated. What sanction would the office utilize if collectives sprung up? No one knows, and there are strong rumors about at least one collective right now.
Then in January 2025, the Ivy became one of two conferences along with the Patriot League to opt out of the revenue-sharing element of a $2.8 billion NCAA settlement forged last year aimed at paying athletes a share of the revenue colleges made from their performances.
The Ivy office is well-aware that some programs paid players last season, but it is powerless to stop this trend. An antitrust suit would follow if such action was taken.
What will be next in the effort to hamper the success of Ivy athletic teams? Let one’s imagination take hold.
Richard Kent is a longtime Ivy Hoops Online contributor who has developed NIL programs for schools as an attorney.
Question: Are the Ivies turning into a feeder league for other D1 scools? Would be nice if they offer their athletes more than the “40 year scholarship”.
I suggest that Mr Kent direct his advice to his Alma Mater, Rutgers College as Its priorities toward college football and basketball are more in line with his. I have no desire to see my college or any other Ivy engage in the money tossing business of NILs and transfers. We should be recruiting career oriented 4 year degree students rather than talented hitch hikers shopping annually for the highest bid. I’ve commented earlier on this topic and have little to add.
I encourage Mr. Kent to go to Voy Forums Ivy League Sports Board for An Alternative Perspective on the State of Ivy League Athletics. He will find a good discussion of the overall superiority of Ivy programs compared to those of the Big Four conferences and why we needn’t worry about a significant decline in the availability of talented athletes (at the 2 star level) in the $ sports.