IOWA SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY SAYS THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT THAT PASSED THE SENATE ON MONDAY SHOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING BENEFITS FOR HIS ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, AND THE STATE’S OTHER DIVISION ONE SCHOOLS.
THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO OVERHAUL AND STABILIZE COLLEGE ATHLETICS BY TRADING STATE-LEVEL RULES FOR A SINGLE NATIONAL RULEBOOK, WHILE SETTING NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS AGREEMENTS, TRANSFERS, AND MORE.
CGNIL1 OC……..”THAT THEY HAVE” :19
OPPONENTS OF THE LEGISLATION INCLUDE THE N-DOUBLE-A-C-P AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, WHICH ARGUE THE BILL ROLLS BACK ATHLETES’ RIGHTS AND SHIFTS CONTROL ENTIRELY TO THE N-C-DOUBLE-A.
SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL INCLUDE ALL 32 MAJOR COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCES, MORE THAN 380 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY.
GRASSLEY SAYS THE BILL SHOULD HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR IOWA’S SMALLER INSTITUTIONS.
CGNIL2 OC……..MOST SCHOOLS” :20
GRASSLEY SAYS THE SITUATION MAY NOT NECESSARILY RUIN THINGS FOR U-N-I BUT IT WOULD GENERALLY MAKE IT TOUGH FOR ALL SCHOOLS THAT AREN’T IN THE BIG FOUR CONFERENCES.
THE BILL FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN THE U-S HOUSE, WHICH IS IN RECESS UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THOUGH GRASSLEY SAYS HE’S OPTIMISTIC.
CGNIL3 OC………”THE BILL UP” :18
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS AMONG THE BILL’S BACKERS.
