Not long ago, if a sports booster offered a UND athlete a pizza and a soft drink, it could have spelled big trouble. Back then, there was a solid and clear line in the sand, one that could not be crossed without an athlete jeopardizing their eligibility.
Without a doubt, those days are gone. Today, athletes are able to make deals on their own to earn income off their name, image or likeness while performing as a college athlete. And whereas many in big-time programs have secured eye-popping dollars – sometimes millions of dollars per season – while still performing as a college athlete, most are earning nothing or just a few bucks here and there.
At UND, it appears nobody is getting rich, but it’s still important to provide NIL opportunities to current and future athletes. That’s accordi