SCOTUS Rules NCAA Prohibiting Student-Athlete Education Benefits Violates Federal Law
The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision Monday ruled that the NCAA has gone too far in restricting access to education-related benefits to student-athletes.
The court’s ruling concluded the NCAA to be in violation of antitrust laws by curbing the amount students could receive for things such as postgraduate scholarships to paid internships.
In other words, Executive Director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova Law School Andrew Brandt sums up today’s events quite nicely:
To be clear, this decision is not going to allow for a professional, pay-for-play model.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 21, 2021
But it does not allow the NCAA to stop colleges from providing athletes with education-related benefits such as free laptops or paid post-graduate internships.
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the opinion of the court on this matter:
From Gorsuch's conclusion: pic.twitter.com/yiDDvDyf2T
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 21, 2021
Gorsuch said this ruling may provide “…student-athletes a measure of compensation more consistent with the value they bring to their schools.”
It’s a subtle acknowledgment of the overarching discussion surrounding amateurism in college athletics and the outdated business model of the NCAA.
There was a sense during oral arguments that the NCAA was stuck in the past with its cherished "amateurism" principles. This ruling affirms that.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 21, 2021
Fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh provided a concurring opinion with a much simpler message:
“The NCAA is not above the law.”
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) June 21, 2021
Kavanaugh’s closing paragraph: pic.twitter.com/ykFHV0MqsO
“The NCAA is not above the law,” Kavanaugh said.
Today’s events become part of the greater tapestry in the NCAA’s fight against embracing a pay-for-play business model with its student-athletes.
Numerous states have already passed legislation regarding compensation for name, image, and likeness.
Related: Senate Panel Convenes for Image and Likeness Discussions
In the meantime, Andrew Brandt believes that the message from Kavanaugh sets up future cases against the NCAA.
"He's setting up the stage" ~ @AndrewBrandt on Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh's statements for future cases against the NCAA
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 21, 2021
🗣I LIKE BEER, I STILL LIKE BEER, I LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL.. THOSE MF'ERS SHOULD BE PAID THOUGH #PATMCAFEESHOWLIVE pic.twitter.com/znsvZS1Jrb
“Who knew that Justice Brett Kavanaugh would be the champion for the U.S. Supreme Court for student-athlete rights?” Brandt said on the Pat McAfee Show.
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SCOTUS Rules NCAA Prohibiting Student-Athlete Education Benefits Violates Federal Law
The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision Monday ruled that the NCAA has gone too far in restricting access to education-related benefits to student-athletes.
The court’s ruling concluded the NCAA to be in violation of antitrust laws by curbing the amount students could receive for things such as postgraduate scholarships to paid internships.
In other words, Executive Director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova Law School Andrew Brandt sums up today’s events quite nicely:
To be clear, this decision is not going to allow for a professional, pay-for-play model.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 21, 2021
But it does not allow the NCAA to stop colleges from providing athletes with education-related benefits such as free laptops or paid post-graduate internships.
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the opinion of the court on this matter:
From Gorsuch's conclusion: pic.twitter.com/yiDDvDyf2T
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 21, 2021
Gorsuch said this ruling may provide “…student-athletes a measure of compensation more consistent with the value they bring to their schools.”
It’s a subtle acknowledgment of the overarching discussion surrounding amateurism in college athletics and the outdated business model of the NCAA.
There was a sense during oral arguments that the NCAA was stuck in the past with its cherished "amateurism" principles. This ruling affirms that.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 21, 2021
Fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh provided a concurring opinion with a much simpler message:
“The NCAA is not above the law.”
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) June 21, 2021
Kavanaugh’s closing paragraph: pic.twitter.com/ykFHV0MqsO
“The NCAA is not above the law,” Kavanaugh said.
Today’s events become part of the greater tapestry in the NCAA’s fight against embracing a pay-for-play business model with its student-athletes.
Numerous states have already passed legislation regarding compensation for name, image, and likeness.
Related: Senate Panel Convenes for Image and Likeness Discussions
In the meantime, Andrew Brandt believes that the message from Kavanaugh sets up future cases against the NCAA.
"He's setting up the stage" ~ @AndrewBrandt on Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh's statements for future cases against the NCAA
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 21, 2021
🗣I LIKE BEER, I STILL LIKE BEER, I LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL.. THOSE MF'ERS SHOULD BE PAID THOUGH #PATMCAFEESHOWLIVE pic.twitter.com/znsvZS1Jrb
“Who knew that Justice Brett Kavanaugh would be the champion for the U.S. Supreme Court for student-athlete rights?” Brandt said on the Pat McAfee Show.