Passing legislation to protect college athletics has never been more important. I realized the extent of that in June, when I was fortunate enough to hear former Alabama coach Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in the history of college football, testify before the Senate Commerce Committee and urge lawmakers to pass the Protect College Sports Act.
Coach Saban focused his testimony on the importance of establishing a consistent national framework to end the current era of differing waivers and local rulings that has created uncertainty throughout college athletics. Since then, he has continued to call for timely action, especially in light of recent cases involving professional athletes returning to college football.
At a time when Congress can’t seem to agree on much, the bipartisan nature and broad support of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act speak volumes about the urgency of the problem and why it must be passed.
Playing college football has made an indescribable impact on my life. I wasn’t a highly recruited prospect out of high school, and I enrolled at Stetson University to play Division I non-scholarship football for two years. Non-scholarship football was such a neat experience. The workload and commitment levels were the same as anywhere else, but we were all doing it purely out of love for our sport.
After the coaching staff that recruited me was let go, I entered the transfer portal and transferred home to play for the then-Division II University of West Florida.
As someone who has personally been in the transfer portal, I was happy to hear that the Protect College Sports Act protects athletes’ ability to do so but also establishes reasonable guardrails and caps. There are absolutely cases where leaving a school is needed. I experienced it myself. But unrestricted free agency every offseason has created pandemonium for programs trying to maintain their rosters.
Contrary to what dominates the headlines, NIL itself is not the issue. I wholeheartedly believe that college athletes should be able to make an income from their name, image, and likeness if people are willing to pay them. But the lack of consistent guidelines has led to unsustainable bidding wars between schools offering seven-figure salaries.
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The Protect College Sports Act would establish federal protections for athletes’ NIL rights, scholarships, and healthcare. The healthcare aspects are particularly important. The injuries we sustain and the lingering effects last long after our playing careers end. The Protect College Sports Act recognizes that reality and provides extended coverage for athletes after graduation.
This legislation will also stop professional athletes from returning to college athletics. As an athlete myself, I know firsthand how critical this provision is for both safety and preserving what makes college sports different. In no world is it safe or fair for a 28-year-old professional athlete to be on the same field as an 18-year-old freshman, and it is disheartening to see anyone making an argument against that.
Additionally, the protections for women’s and Olympic sports are crucial. Nonrevenue sports are just as important and should be shielded from the potentially devastating effects of the current system.
College athletics are far bigger than Power 4 football. Hundreds of thousands of young people choose to take a harder route of early morning workouts, long preseason camps, classes, practices, travel, and all of the other sacrifices that come with it — often without receiving significant financial benefit or recognition. This is my story, and I know it’s also the story of many others.
The Protect College Sports Act isn’t about choosing athletes over universities, or universities over athletes. It is about recognizing that both need clear rules to continue to provide the most opportunities possible for students.
As someone who has lived college football in one of its purest forms, I hope our leaders remember that college athletics are supposed to provide every student athlete with the opportunity to compete, earn an education, and become something greater than the student you were when you arrived.
Let’s protect that opportunity. Congress, pass the Protect College Sports Act.
Lumpy (Liam) DeWeese is a senior college football player and finance major at the University of West Florida.
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