“Threw that in the garbage can”: Geno Auriemma trashes NCAA for NIL deal structure, calls out student athlete “charade”
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma blasted the NCAA's current NIL structure. Since its introduction in 2021, name, image and likeness deals have transformed the college sports landscape.
Although the policy has provided student-athletes more opportunities to profit off their names and brands, several veteran coaches have voiced their concerns about sports' future.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Geno Auriemma said the NCAA still needs to improve its rules. He referred to it as a "charade" and believed it lacked any real sense of amateur spirit or consistency.
"Well, the NIL part, I think it's a test. It's a test for whether people are full of sh** or whether they're serious," Geno said [via SNY]. "So it's a test for, do we keep the charade of student-athlete and amateurism or do we call it what it is — semi-professional, pay-for-play sports?
"So, either keep the charade of student-athlete. Teams wouldn't be going 3,000 miles to play conference games. It had anything to do with student-athlete welfare," he continued. "So, we obviously threw that in the garbage can.
"We're going to pay athletes to play ... any sports at a university. and then let's make it a business and figure out how to run it."
Last week, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo referred to the NIL and transfer portal as "an absolute chaos" in the post-COVID era.
Geno Auriemma's UConn injury report ahead of new season
In the past three seasons, injuries have been a challenge for Auriemma's UConn team, with their standout player Paige Bueckers missing her entire junior season because of a knee injury.
Likewise, Azzi Fudd, Caroline Ducharme, Jana El Alfy and Aubrey Griffin were missing from UConn's lineup for most of the previous season. The Huskies are expected to have all 14 players ready for the Big East games starting in January.
Meanwhile, KK Arnold is now on the injury list after rolling her foot while making a cut in practice this week. Redshirt junior Ayanna Patterson will also be unavailable at the start of the season because of a shoulder injury she got during practice.
On the other hand, Azzi Fudd is still trying to regain her strength and does not have a specific time for when she will be back. She is currently doing light training and practice. Caroline Ducharme and Aubrey Griffin are also still out, and it’s unclear when they will return.