Chapman athletes talk name, image, likeness policy

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adopted the name, image and likeness (NIL) policy June 30, allowing NCAA athletes to profit off of their NIL.

Chapman athletes are among those eligible to benefit from the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) policy, which as of June 30, allows NCAA athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

This policy allows college athletes to make money through endorsement deals and other promotional efforts by means of their NIL — a feat that has been widely-debated in the world of college sports, especially following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s September 2019 passing of the Fair Pay to Play Act. Some Chapman student-athletes have taken advantage of the opportunity, and some haven’t.

Some Chapman student-athletes are taking advantage of the newfound opportunity, such as Brad Shimabuku, a senior business administration major and member of the baseball team. Shimbaku currently has an endorsement deal with Barstool Sports, coining him a “Barstool Athlete.”

“At first, I thought (the Barstool Athlete advertisement) was geared more towards Division I athletes … so, I didn’t really think much of it,” Shimabuku said. “I was just on Twitter one day. I saw (the advertisement), and I said, ‘Why not?’”

After entering the deal, Shimabuku was required to put “Barstool Athlete” in the bio of all of his social media accounts. In return, he received Barstool Athlete merchandise, including a T-shirt, a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

Shimbaku said the NIL policy heavily changes the dynamic of college sports, and he believes athletes will use these new guidelines to build their own personal brand for post-college success beyond the playing field.

Cate Combi, a senior strategic and corporate communication major on the women’s soccer team, emphasized the NIL policy is especially beneficial for athletes like herself who play at the Division III level, though she is not currently endorsed by anyone. 

“For Division III, I think this is great to get more recognition compared to Division I and Division II,” Combi said. “Oftentimes, a lot of Division III athletes choose to go to Division III instead of playing at a higher level, so they can have a balance of academics, a social life and sports.”

While Combi agrees with the NCAA’s decision to adopt the NIL policy, she thinks fulfilling its purpose relies on proper regulation so people are not abusing the benefits of this new rule.

“It is important, at the end of the day, to focus on the sport and the task at hand,” Combi said. 

Dillon Keefe, a fifth-year business administration major and linebacker on the football team, is wary of how this rule will change the dignity of the recruiting process. He worries recruits — specifically at the Division I level — will begin to “follow the money” instead of choosing a school based on a good fit with the sports program and school.

Regardless, Keefe clarified he doesn’t foresee this mentality influencing Chapman athletes.

“Unless it’s like a big Division III school, like the ones you see out east, … there's not a lot of resources in the Division III level,” Keefe said.