Father John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame University, told TODAY, "Once you go down a path to say we're paying them for their play, you go more and more to this professional model and lose sight of this educational purpose that these programs were set up for in the first place."
SEARCHING FOR RIGHT NOW. BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, MARK, THANK YOU. >> TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF NOTRE DAME SPOKE WITH THE TODAY SHOW EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND IN PARTICULAR NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS PAYMENTS FOR PLAYERS. THE NCAA CHANGED ITS RULES ON THIS IN 2021 AND ALLOWED ATHLETES TO PROFIT OFF THEIR NIL SIGNING ENDORSEMENT DEALS AND BRANDS OR MAKING POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WRAL, SPORTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER BRIAN MURPHY WITH MORE ON THE IMPACTS. WITH CAROLINA BASKETBALL STAR ARMANDO BACOT IS RETURNING TO CHAPEL HILL FOR A 5TH SEASON. >> THANKS IN PART TO HIS ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY FROM HIS NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS WHILE STILL PLAYING FOR THE TAR HEELS? WELL, MONEY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO INDUCE PLAYERS TO COME TO OR STAY AT A SCHOOL COLLEGE OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THAT AND HAS BECOME MUCH MORE THAN THEY ENVISIONED BASICALLY PAY FOR PLAY. ONCE YOU GO DOWN A PATH TO SAY WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM FOR THEIR PLAY. HUGO, BORN MORE TO THIS PROFESSIONAL MODEL AND YOU LOSE SIGHT OF THIS EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE. >> THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE SET UP FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT'S FATHER JOHN JENKINS, PRESIDENT OF NOTRE DAME. HE AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, JACK SWARBRICK PENNED A PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLING FOR REFORMS STATING THAT, QUOTE, THE NEW NIL RULES HAVE PROVEN TO BE EASY TO ABUSE. NEW NCAA PRESIDENT CHARLIE BAKER AND OTHERS ARE LOOKING TO CONGRESS FOR HELP. >> CONCERNED THAT COURTS WILL SOMEDAY SOON DECLARE AT LEAST SOME COLLEGE PLAYERS AS EMPLOYEES. THE NOTRE DAME PAIR CALLED FOR CONGRESS TO PREEMPT THAT AND TO RESOLVE CONFLICTING STATE REGULATIONS AROUND NIL. NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS ARE GOVERNED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM GOVERNOR ROY COOPER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE REALLY NO GUARDRAILS. SO >> THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE CAN THE NCAA COME UP WITH GUARD WALES AND HAVE A BETTER WAY TO ENFORCE THEM? THEN THEY DO RECRUITING VIOLATIONS THAT SOME PLAYERS ARE EARNING THOUSANDS OTHERS, MILLIONS A WALK ON DUKE'S MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM RECENTLY SIGNED WITH DEGREE DEODORANT FOR $25,000 BECAUSE HAS PARLAYED HIS SUCCESS ON THE COURT TO RICHES OFF IT WITH A HOST OF ENDORSEMENT DEALS AND A CAMEO IN THE POPULAR OUTER BANKS. NETFLIX SERIES, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RIGHT OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TO THAT. >> USE THEIR NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS AS THEY WISH BECAUSE EVERY OTHER STUDENT COULD DO IT. >> PUT EDUCATION THE CENTER, PUT OUR STUDENTS AT THE CENTER. DON'T MAKE US INTO SOME SECOND CLASS PROFESSIONALLY. THERE'S NO FUTURE AND THAT BRIAN MURPHY, WRAL >> IT'S AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION AND U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD HEARINGS ON
