COLUMBIA, S.C. — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and Coastal Carolina football coach Tim Beck gathered at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass a law that allows their schools to directly compensate their athletes.
The call for name, image and likeness legislation came Tuesday at a South Carolina House education committee hearing. It was approved unanimously after the committee began the meeting with a group photo: the coaches in front and the legislators in the back. The bill now goes to the full House; The Senate has not yet taken up the matter.
The three football coaches were joined by more than a dozen other sports. They filled the hearing room and South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and men's basketball coach Lamont Paris walked the halls of the House Office Building to meet with lawmakers before the meeting began .
The bill would reform a law passed a few years ago, when name, image and likeness laws were just beginning. It would allow universities to work with companies or other people who want to make NIL offers. The school could also evaluate offers and give advice to athletes. It's similar to proposals in other states that are also trying to circumvent the NCAA.
“We have been limited in our participation in NIL due to the ever-changing guidance from the NCAA, and that has left our student-athletes trying to figure out much of this on their own, navigating complex NIL opportunities without trained guidance,” Swinney said. the committee.
Beamer thanked lawmakers for their consideration and said passing the bill was vital to keeping the state's teams competitive. House Republican Education and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson of Beaufort mentioned the nearly dozens of national titles won by coaches at the meeting or seen earlier in the day in football, women's basketball, soccer men's, horse riding and baseball.
“It's something we deal with on a daily basis. It also changes constantly, on a daily basis. This law would give us stability and flexibility,” Beamer said.
The bill is also needed for smaller, lesser-known teams, Coastal Carolina women's basketball coach Kevin Pederson said.
On his team, one player receives a few shakes through his deal and a second receives swimsuits. The law would allow the school to work toward better deals for everyone.
“They need an advocate who will love them like I love them. They need an advocate who will support them like I love them,” Pederson said.
The outcome was certain before the gavel fell to open the meeting. Republican Rep. April Cromer of Anderson approached Swinney and shook his hand.
“This might not have been necessary. We were going to approve it anyway,” he said as Swinney, Beamer and Beck laughed.
