The time stamp reads: 9:36 p.m., Sept. 24, 2024.
It is the moment that this name, image and likeness business in college athletics took another turn to the absurd.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka tweeted on Tuesday night that he was redshirting and would not play another game this season.
Imagine that, the starting quarterback walked away from a 3-0 team that this week became nationally ranked for the first time in the program’s 46-year Division I history. Never mind the Rebels are among a handful of the Group of Five frontrunners for a berth in the expanded college football playoff.
“I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,” Sluka tweeted. “Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future.”
Early Wednesday morning, there were multiple reports from Sluka’s agent and father claiming that a verbal agreement to pay Sluka $100,000 was not fulfilled.
By midday, they said/they said was complete, with UNLV’s collective as well as the Rebels athletic department issuing statements denying any such offers were made.
And, in fact, UNLV’s statement claimed: “Matthew Sluka’s representative made financial demands upon the University and its NIL collective in order to continue playing. UNLV interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-to-play rules, as well as Nevada state law.”
By Wednesday afternoon, UNLV lost another player when running back Michael Allen said he would be redshirting and transferring.
Allen tweeted: “My decision has no ties to NIL agreements. This is due to on-field opportunities. I did not receive a dime from any UNLV collective.”
All this swirled amid conference realignment decisions for UNLV as it considers remaining in the Mountain West or moving to the reconstituted Pac-12.
The San Diego State football team plays at UNLV on Nov. 16. Maybe some of the dust will have settled by then.
SDSU coach Sean Lewis did not comment specifically about the UNLV situation. After Wednesday morning’s practice, Lewis did offer general thoughts on NIL and how it is being handled.
“For us, what’s most important is the character of our club,” he said. “We talk about it a lot. With any relationship, we are going to make sure we mean what we say and say what we mean. … If an agreement has been made by the parties that handle all that, then honor that agreement. That’s how we’re going to handle it on the Mesa here at San Diego State.”
The situation is convoluted because coaches aren’t allowed to discuss NIL compensation with players. And schools are not allowed to pay players. That has to be handled by an outside “collective.”
“We have nothing to do with it,” Lewis said. “Whatever they warrant because of what they’ve done as a person, as a student, within the community, in between the white lines, if someone wants to give them their NIL value, have at it.”
Lewis would like to see transparency in the process to eliminate the confusion that has accompanied it since NIL was approved three years ago.
“I think that would help all parties involved,” he said, adding, “It’s a very gray, convoluted space, right?
“At the end of the day, it needs to be what it is intended to be as opposed to what it has become. Name, image and likeness needs to be, what is that young man’s value to the community for name, image and likeness.”
An example is Blenders Eyewear’s recent collaboration with Aztec Link, SDSU’s collective for football.
The company, founded by SDSU alum Chase Fisher, created “BE THE A1PHA” sunglasses, with $100,000 from proceeds going to the collective. SDSU players will be paid through the collective for helping to promote the limited-edition design.
“There is a reward for all parties involved in that, to where a proud Aztec who is running the Blenders corporation gets to partner with his alma mater and champion our team,” Lewis said. “The people who are buying those sunglasses then are giving back to our collective and there’s a true name, image and likeness relationship there. That’s at the heart of what this should be.”
AZTECS QB UPDATE
SDSU quarterback Danny O’Neil took several reps with the first team during Wednesday morning’s practice as the Aztecs prepared for Saturday’s game at Central Michigan.
The question was posed to Lewis, if the game was Wednesday, would O’Neil be able to start?
“Yes,” he said.
So does that mean O’Neil is going to start?
“No,” he said. “The game’s not today.”
Lewis noted there is one more practice on Thursday before an official decision will be made on whether O’Neil returns or backup Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson plays in his place for the second straight game.
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