Anthony Wilson
The entire UAB football team signed a contract with the Athletes Organization, a players’ association that aims to represent the interests of college athletes on a national level, it was announced this Monday. Blazers coach Trent Dilfer, who was a member of the NFL Players Association, was a major catalyst behind the decision.
UAB is the first Division I school to enter into such an agreement with a notable players association.
“Did you follow the conversation in college football. People are making a lot of money,” Dilfer said while addressing his team in a video posted by Athletes.org. “Billions of dollars. How much are you getting paid? The real money that is negotiated for you to play on TV, you will receive nothing. So who’s understanding? The conference and institutions. I’m one of the few people who believes you deserve some of that.”
Given recent changes that allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, and a series of recent lawsuits that challenge the NCAA’s ability to govern its member institutions and assert its status as a potential monopoly, models of Revenue sharing for athletes has become a hot topic. button problem. Prominent figures as former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh — who led the Wolverines to a 15-0 season and a College Football Playoff National Championship victory last season — supported players taking a cut of revenue generated from television deals and other opportunities at the conference level.
It is in this environment that Athletes.org began to gain momentum. Brandon Copeland, who played linebacker at Penn and spent 10 years in the NFL after joining as an undrafted free agent, serves as the organization’s CEO.
“The reason we spend time on Athletes.org is because, frankly, I just want to see you eat,” Copeland said upon visiting UAB. “I want to see you win. I’m tired of seeing people taking advantage of us. Who represents the athletes? you without you.”
In addition to Copeland, several prominent former college athletes serve on the board of Athlete.org, including Georgia alumnus Omari Hardwick, former All-SEC safety and Alabama star Roman Harper, and former All-SEC basketball coach Syracuse Jim Boeheim.
Athlete.org also lists several current basketball players, such as North Carolina’s RJ Davis and Duke’s Jeremy Roach, as members of its association. Veteran Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore, who is entering his fifth season as a starter for the Crimson Tide, is the only football player publicly included on the membership list to date.
