IRVING, Texas (July 21, 2021) – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) today released the results of a recent anonymous survey it conducted of College Football Hall of Fame inductees on current college football topics. Topics covered in the survey included the College Football Playoff; Name, image and likeness (NIL) and player remuneration; the transfer portal; and unsubscribe from bowl games
“As organizers of the game and the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation felt there was no better group than our inductees to ask questions on current topics,” said NFF President and CEO. Steve Hatchell. “These living legends of college football come from all levels of play and represent five distinct decades of football history.”
Although the majority of the 120 responses came from those who played at the FBS level (70.1%), the results also included players from the FCS (12%), NCAA Division II (5.1%), NCAA Division III (5.1%), and NAIA (6.8%). There was also a participant from a college that no longer offers football. Respondents represented five decades of collegiate play, including the 1950s (7.5%), 1960s (30%), 1970s (28.3%), 1980s (22.5%), and 1990s (11.7%).
Below are the survey results interspersed with anonymous comments from College Football Hall of Fame inductees, who were given space to expand on any topic.
College Football Playoff (CFP)
The first three questions focused on expanding the CFP, with more than half of Hall of Famers strongly or somewhat favoring the proposed 12-team format. More than half of the Hall of Famers strongly or somewhat agreed that the additional playoff rounds would result in too many games for players in a single season.
Comments from Hall of Fame members on the call for proposals
“I’m happy to see the proposed expansion of teams for the playoffs; I would limit it to the top 8 ranked teams before the bowl season. I’m not a fan of automatic conference bids, as some conferences may be less competitive than others.”
“Expanding the Division I playoffs is a great plan. Earning a berth in our divisional playoffs has always been one of our main goals. This has allowed our student-athletes to compete for a national championship on the field. Most of our former players will say that playing in a playoff game was one of the highlights of their careers.”
Name, image and likeness (NIL) and remuneration
The next three questions were about NIL and student-athlete compensation. More than half of Hall of Famers strongly or somewhat agreed that college football players should be compensated in addition to their scholarships, while they were split on whether zero earnings should be capped. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed said they had not left school early, while many other Hall of Famers agreed that the opportunity to earn compensation would have affected their decision to do so.
Hall of Fame comments on NIL and compensation
The NIL and compensation topics generated the greatest number of additional opinions, including the following comments:
“NIL does not solve the problem it seeks to solve. As currently designed, it will create innumerable and intractable legal and financial complications. Schools have allowed NIL laws to emerge because of their reluctance to include student-athletes in the business and, more importantly, have failed to include education in the experience. The lack of a strong educational (element) in the “college sports business” exposes NIL as a tacit admission that the “pursuing a meaningful education has been abandoned. It’s a great idea, but there is a big business that ignores its fundamental purpose and is unsustainable.”
“I think players should receive help from their school with marketing their brand (name, image, etc.). There is a great opportunity to teach kids how to use OPM to start and maintain a business with the goal of making a positive impact in their community. To ensure they don’t abuse their opportunity, they should be required to live in student housing while they study.”
“I think there should be some form of deferred compensation for players once they have fulfilled their eligibility for use of their likeness. If the school makes money off of the player’s likeness, then there needs to be some sort of revenue sharing. This goes beyond ‘compensation’ for the player’s scholarship, which they trade for their play on the field.”
“My preference is (athletes not being paid) because it would divide the locker room between the haves and have-nots, making the college experience even trickier! However, if you’re paying them, you certainly can’t cap what someone generates. Instead of money, I’d like to see the NCAA look to give these athletes lifelong insurance if they need it.”
“Athletes receive scholarships, academic aid, great nutrition, name recognition – all of which are valuable after their playing days.”
“I played FCS football, but spent my career as a Div. I coach. I think we have a professional league – the NFL – and we should work to maintain the student-athlete concept of college athletes. If a player thinks he is willing to play for pay or receive money for his name, he should be allowed to go to the NFL. The NFL should create a league for those who need additional training. College athletics should be for the real student-athletes.”
“Compensation for merchandise sales cannot be a one-time reward. If a quarterback, running back or wide receiver owns a high-selling item, the compensation must be shared with the team.”
Transfer portal
The next three questions in the survey focused on transfer policies in college football. Hall of Famers were divided on whether the transfer portal is good for sports, although more than half strongly or somewhat agreed that the NCAA has made it too easy for student-athletes to change schools. More than half of those surveyed strongly or somewhat agreed that players should not be forced to sit out a season after transferring.
Hall of Famer’s comments on the transfer portal
“Allowing student-athletes to transfer to a higher division for free will result in lower division programs acting like minor leagues, negatively impacting college football. The transfer portal for graduates with an extra year of eligibility is a good thing, but allowing players to be removed from programs at any point in their career is not. Additionally, if an athlete wishes to transfer to a lower division program, there should be no requirement to sit out for one year.”
“I think transfers should be allowed immediately in certain situations, for example when the coach leaves or is fired. Also in personal situations at home.”
“I’m afraid the transfer portal and paying players will destroy the purity and uniqueness of college football. I don’t want that to happen.”
“A kid should be free to go where he wants in terms of school. Why stop someone from going where they want? If you own him like a draft pick, you better pay him like a pro.”
Additional topics
More than half of the College Football Hall of Famers strongly opposed players opting out of bowl games to prepare for the NFL draft. Respondents were split on the topic of schools providing financial aid for former players to return and finish their degrees after leaving early for the NFL. More than half of Hall of Famers strongly or somewhat agree that college football is a better business product than their playing career.
Comments from Hall of Famers on additional topics
“I STRONGLY disagree with the commercialization of sports and the plethora of meaningless ball games for the selfish purposes of corporations, private entities and more. This adds to the potential demise of the health and safety of student-athletes.”
“(Football is) a better commercial product thanks to television and social media allowing more people to watch more games.”
About the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a nonprofit educational organization that operates programs designed to use the power of amateur football to develop scholarship, citizenship and athletic success in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Future for Football, the William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor legends of the past and inspire leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Goodyear, Jostens, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram And Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more about footballfoundation.org.
