[M T]

Never in a million years did I expect my kid to be in the middle of a collegiate recruiting cycle. But here I am. 

I think athletes add a lot to college student bodies--drive, commitment, and at good schools, intelligence. They also add someone local to connect to and perhaps cheer for, and I think that's a good thing. 

 I'll be rooting hard for them. That's one of the great things about college sports, it's personal.

Congrats, and I agree with much of what you said.  I would add that if I ask myself what did my sports participation add to my college life, it was a lot.

Even those athletes getting NIL and transferring from school to school, I have to believe they don't see their sport as a job.  At least I hope not.  I think that virtually all student-athletes are competing for themselves and their teammates, much more than for the glory or the money or even for the school.

But, you did raise a question in me.  Can D-III athletes be paid NIL?  I suppose so since true commercial value is irrelevant.  Do the D-III schools permit athletic ability to be a factor in admissions?  I know a half century ago, my school's conference allegedly did not.  I certainly know some D-III schools that somehow always have enough good athletes to do well nationally. But, at private schools, I can't see how it would be blocked.  So, a wealthy donor could buy just a few athletes for a D-III school to give them a team to beat all other D-III teams.  It seems wrong and a shame.

[M T]

Never in a million years did I expect my kid to be in the middle of a collegiate recruiting cycle. But here I am. 

I think athletes add a lot to college student bodies--drive, commitment, and at good schools, intelligence. They also add someone local to connect to and perhaps cheer for, and I think that's a good thing. 

 I'll be rooting hard for them. That's one of the great things about college sports, it's personal.

Congrats, and I agree with much of what you said.  I would add that if I ask myself what did my sports participation add to my college life, it was a lot.

Even those athletes getting NIL and transferring from school to school, I have to believe they don't see their sport as a job.  At least I hope not.  I think that virtually all student-athletes are competing for themselves and their teammates, much more than for the glory or the money or even for the school.

But, you did raise a question in me.  Can D-III athletes be paid NIL?  I suppose so since true commercial value is irrelevant.  Do the D-III schools permit athletic ability to be a factor in admissions?  I know a half century ago, my school's conference allegedly did not.  I certainly know some D-III schools that somehow always have enough good athletes to do well nationally. But, at private schools, I can't see how it would be blocked.  So, a wealthy donor could buy just a few athletes for a D-III school to give them a team to beat all other D-III teams.  It seems wrong and a shame.