NCC anchor Lillian Northrup:
Syracuse athletics booster Adam Weitsman’s abrupt departure from involvement with the University last week is raising some questions– especially ones about name, image, and likeness programs for Orange athletes. N-C-C’s Jake Morel is live in studio with answers– Jake?
NCC Reporter Jake Morel:
What do Jimmy Fallon, Tom Brady, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and rapper a boogie wit da hoodie all have in common? Well, they all sat courtside at Orange basketball games as guests of former Syracuse University athletics booster Adam Weitsman. Last week, Weitsman announced that he would stop his involvement with SU athletics, citing issues with chancellor Kent Syrverud. S-U Sport Management professor Dennis Deninger says there’s other factors that caused him to leave.
Falk professor Dennis Deninger
“There has to be more at play here than we know… I don’t see what he’s making, whether he’s in the red or in the black… Mr. Weitsman claims the chancellor was the person who wanted him out but he never did talk to the chancellor.”
NCC Reporter Jake Morel:
Without Weitsman, there’s concern about the school’s ability to land name, image, and likeness deals for big recruits. But Deninger says the lack of control the athletics program has over Weitsman’s N-I-L deals is more of an issue than people realize.
Falk professor Dennis Deninger:
“I’m not so sure one individual making pronouncements and acting on his own is beneficial for the university… it isn’t through the channel that the athletic department has control over or say over or protection of athletes involved.”
NCC Reporter Jake Morel:
The real concern S-U has over Weitsman’s deals is that they could violate NCAA rules. Still, Orange fans can be sure that they’ll see less celebrities courtside. Reporting live in studio, Jake Morel, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse athletics booster Adam Weitsman’s abrupt departure from involvement with the University last week is raising some questions, especially ones about name, image, and likeness programs for Orange athletes.
Name, image, and likeness deals are ways for college athletes to get compensation by working with what is usually a local company to advertise a product or service. The NCAA made these deals legal just two years ago, and Syracuse athletes such as Buddy Boeheim and Oronde Gadsden II have taken advantage since.
Weitsman announced last week that he would stop his involvement with SU athletics, citing issues with chancellor Kent Syrverud. Syracuse University sport management professor Dennis Deninger says there’s other factors that caused him to leave. “There has to be more at play here than we know… I don’t see what he’s making, whether he’s in the red or in the black… Mr. Weitsman claims the chancellor was the person who wanted him out but he never did talk to the chancellor,” said Deninger.
Regarding NIL, Deninger said the lack of control that the athletics program has over the deals is an underrated problem. “I’m not so sure one individual making pronouncements and acting on his own is beneficial for the university… it isn’t through the channel that the athletic department has control over or say over or protection of athletes involved,” said Deninger.
Another concern over Weitsman handling NIL deals for the university is that he could potentially break NCAA rules. Either way, Orange fans can be sure that they’ll see less celebrities sitting courtside.
