Jones AT&T Stadium/Addison Prater
By Addison Prater, Special to the Hub@TTU
Texas Tech athletes are getting an opportunity to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness following the NCAA policy changes that occurred in 2021.
Athletes can receive money for anything as small as giving lessons in their sport to doing a commercial for a large brand, whereas before, this was against regulations with penalties even leading to loss of scholarships, according to previous NCAA policies.
Due to this change, Student-athletes are placed on an even playing field with regular students as far as being able to earn money with their merit; this is something Robert Giovannetti, senior associate athletic director for Texas Tech, thinks is important.
“I think the most positive thing is that student-athletes can be compensated like a regular student,” Giovannetti said. “They are students first, yet they have not been able to be compensated for things they have value for previously.”
Robert Giovannetti/Provided photo
According to Giovannetti, like other students, many student-athletes have skills inside and outside their sport that deserve compensation. Following the policy change, athletes like Texas Tech softball player Abbie Orrick can showcase those skills openly, which is a relief to most students.
“We can actually give lessons upfront and get paid for it,” Orrick said.
Many student-athletes do not have time outside of school and their sport to get a part-time job, much less an internship, so Orrick states this means if they do not pursue their sport after graduation, they are behind many of their peers.
A teammate of Orrick, Texas Tech softball player Alanna Barraza, agrees and adds that athletes were often left in a place where they could not support themselves before the NIL decision.
“I think for a while, athletes have been in a place where we’re busy the entire day, every day of the week, so it’s harder for us to feel like we can support ourselves,” Barraza said. “This gives us a different way to support ourselves.”
According to Giovannetti, Texas Tech helps athletes support themselves by assisting students in marketing and building their brand.
“We work with a brand called Opendorse,” Giovannetti said. “They help students understand their social media value.”
Opendorse, a beyond-verified marketplace, partnered with Texas Tech University’s athletic department to allow athletes to post a profile for businesses, brands, and sponsors to browse, according to USASports.news. This partnership will enable students to maximize their brand and build connections. Students can look over deals through the app, accept compensation, and disclose NIL activity.
Opendorse allows for many opportunities for Red Raider athletes; however, the NIL policy change also opens the door for students to be taken advantage of, stated Giovannetti.
“Whenever something like this happens, you open yourself up to abuse or fraud,” said Giovannetti.
Texas Tech Athletics tries to help students look over deals and contracts before they sign to ensure there are no long-term negative impacts, Giovannetti stated. According to Orrick, there is a sole department that students can send their contracts to, and they will make sure that everything looks legally correct.
Texas Tech softball player Abbie Orrick/Provided photo
“There is a whole NIL group you can send your contract to,” said Orrick. “They will tell you in simple terms what you have to do and what it is saying.”
Building off what Orrick said, Barraza states Texas Tech has mandatory meetings and training about NIL for student-athletes. This is to make sure that athletes are the most knowledgeable and equipped they can be on the ins and outs of the new rules, Barraza said.
“They provide many resources and informational sessions to help us navigate all of that,” said Barraza.
Giovannetti stated Texas Tech is there to help their athletes make the best decisions personally, financially, and in business; in the new NIL situation, the positives outweigh the negatives.
In an interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith said student-athletes can make a better future for themselves due to the NIL rule change by giving them the ability to provide for themselves and their families while pursuing their dreams.
“You know, you could take care of your family if necessary. And it’s just you can really do whatever you want. You can live your dream in college if you wanted to set yourself up after college as well,” said Smith.
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