A proposal to shield the public from seeing the revenue share contracts between universities and their athletes has received approval from the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil says if other SEC schools know how much LSU is giving to a particular player, it could result in other universities offering that athlete more money to play at their schools.
“It would give other schools a competitive advantage, and also, it somewhat protects the players as well. That’s the purpose of the bill. Other states around the South are doing it,” Foil noted.
Several senators spoke out against the legislation which LSU supports. Norco Senator Gregory Miller says the state is losing sight of its priorities with this legislation.
“The university professors and the university presidents, we’re all going to know how much they get paid. But athletes, who are getting paid millions of dollars, we’re not going to be able to see what they get paid because we’re trying to protect them? Who are we really trying to protect?” Miller asked.
Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell also voiced her opposition to the legislation while questioning Foil.
Foil: “It’s to protect the player as far as how much money they’re getting. That’s the primary purpose of this bill.”
Mizell: “I think we’re at a point and time where we’re deciding whether an athletic competitive edge is more important than transparency for state funds.”
Foil argues the money going to athletes through a revenue share deal are funds generated by the athletic department through ticket sales and television contracts.
Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly opposes the idea of creating a new public records exemption to hide the dollar amounts students receive directly from universities.
“I’m all for positive opportunities for our student-athletes and having good quality athletics on the football field or baseball field or wherever, but I think our focus should be on education,” Pressly said.
The measure heads back to the House for final legislative approval, because an amendment was added to the legislation that shields the current revenue share deals that universities have with their athletes.