While he thinks it’s great for student-athletes can now make money with Name, Image, Likeness that is now available, Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi calls it “legalized cheating.”
Speaking with the Fan Morning Show, Narduzzi says “it’s the evolution of college football” but that creates a disparity within college football.
“Pretty much legalized cheating out there now going on with this name, image and likeness,” said Narduzzi. “I think it’s great for our kids but I wonder where it takes college football and then teams are getting snatched from other conferences behind closed doors, it’s interesting and I think there’s more to come.”
Narduzzi adds that there need to be guidelines put in place before NIL gets “out of control” and some sort of cap, like in the NFL, needs to be put in place.
“I mean even the NFL has a cap, what’s the cap . . . great for Alabama’s quarterback almost making $1 million but where’s the cap and if there’s no cap, what happens?” asked Narduzzi.
Narduzzi says if they’re recruiting against teams like Alabama where their NIL deals could make them million(s) then that puts schools like Pitt at a disadvantage.
Pitt quarterback has multiple NIL deals, including one with us at the Fan. He’ll host an hour show every week with the PM Team as the Fan’s first ambassador.
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Narduzzi believes that being in the City of Pittsburgh, once NIL details are make more clear, he believes Pitt can compete when it comes to getting his players deals.
But for now, Narduzzi isn’t focusing on how the “rich get richer”, he’s all in on putting the best team he can on the field.
“You can pay those guys whatever you want to do, give them cars, whatever it may be, but we’re still going to compete,” said Narduzzi.
Pitt kicks off their football training camp on Friday with their first game kicking off at Heinz Field September 4 against UMass at 4 p.m.