Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday outlined the ways in which athletes at North Carolina colleges and universities can cash in on their name, image and likeness.
THREE DIFFERENT WAYS, YET COULD NOT REACH THEM. >>> COLLEGE ATHLETES IN NORTH CAROLINA CAN NOW RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE USE OF THEIR NAMES, IMAGES, OR LIKENESSES. RULES THAT ARE QUICKLY BEING SHORTENED TO THE NIL. >> WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN TODAY, WE JOIN MORE THAN WITHIN TWO DOZEN OTHER STATE THAT HAVE SET SIMILAR GROUND RULES, MANY IN JUST THE LAST WEEK. ADAMMENT HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: IT IS CLEAR THAT COLLEGE ATHLETICS IS HEADING IN A NEW DIRECTION. EARLIERED TO, THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT SOME OF THE RULES OF THE ROAD. STATE SENATOR NICHOL HAS PUSHED TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PROFIT. TO HIM, IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS TO THE STUDENTS. HE WANTS THE RULES TO BE FAIR AS WELL. >> YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS, AND WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES AND HAVE CONSISTENT RULES. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR COOPER ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SAYS NOW THAT SCHOOLS CANNOT PAY STUDENTS FOR THEIR IMAGE OR LIKE WITNESS, AND ATHLETES CANNOT ENTER INTO A DEAL THAT IS IN CONFLICT WITH A SCHOOL'S DEAL OR MAY HURT A SCHOOL'S IMAGE. >> I TONIGHT THINK SCHOOLS WILL GET HURT BY THIS AT ALL. I THINK LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE'RE AFRAID OF CHANGE. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS. >> Reporter: ADAM GOLD IS A WRAL SPORTS ANALYST. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT OTHERS HAVE ABOUT HOW THIS MAY ALL PLAY OUT. IN FACT? >> THERE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AN RULES. WE SHOULD JUST TREAT THEM LIKE REGULAR STUDENTS.
