The unanimous U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 June ruling limiting the NCAA鈥檚 ability to restrict education-related benefits to athletes won鈥檛 have as broad an impact as some news outlets are reporting, said , former Georgetown University men鈥檚 basketball coach, lawyer and associate professor in
鈥淭he Supreme Court found that the NCAA is subject to the Sherman Antitrust Act and permitted schools to award more educationally related expenses,鈥 said Esherick, associate director for Mason鈥檚 and academic program coordinator for Mason鈥檚 program. 鈥淏ut on the news, they are making it out like it is a broad ruling. The justices specifically recognized that college athletics is an intricate business relationship and gave wide berth to the NCAA and colleges鈥 business judgments.鈥
Esherick said that Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion, made a narrow decision that still allows for the NCAA to create limits on benefits unrelated to education.
鈥淐ertainly, the ruling will permit colleges to award their athletes more educationally related expenses, like graduate school scholarships or technology used for school work, but the justices also specifically said that doesn鈥檛 mean a college can buy someone a Lamborghini to drive to class,鈥 Esherick said.
Esherick also commented on the NCAA鈥檚 recent decision to officially suspend rules that prohibited athletes from selling the rights to their names, images and likenesses. The new rules represent a major shift for the NCAA. The decision came hours before laws or executive orders in six states that would have had the same impact were set to take effect.
鈥淭here are going to be some athletes that will be able to make a large amount of money now,鈥 Esherick said. 鈥淚t will be interesting to see what that dynamic brings to athletes playing a team sport.鈥
Esherick also warned that student athletes shouldn鈥檛 ignore the most important financial benefit they get鈥攆or those on a full scholarship, a free education.
鈥淭he concern I have is that athletes will be spending so much time building up their social media presence that it will detract from their work in math or English class,鈥 Esherick said.
To reach Craig Esherick directly, please contact him at cesheric@gmu.edu
For more information, contact Anna Stolley Persky at听apersky@gmu.edu
About George Mason听
亚洲AV is Virginia鈥檚 largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at gmu.edu
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