College QB Forced To Sue T-Shirt Company To Retain Eligibility

Just when you think the NCAA bylaws couldn't possibly become more ridiculously hypocritical, a story like this comes along.

Mississippi State quarterback Dakota "Dak" Prescott is suing a T-shirt company for using and profiting from his name without permission. Whether Prescott actually gives a shit about some guys making a few bucks off some T-shirts is unclear, because no matter how he feels about it, he has to sue the T-shirt company if he wants to retain his eligibility. I direct your attention to NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.2 (emphasis mine):

If a student-athlete's name or picture appears on commercial items (e.g., T-shirts, sweatshirts, serving trays, playing cards, posters) or is used to promote a commercial product sold by an individual or agency without the student-athlete's knowledge or permission, the student-athlete (or the institution acting on behalf of the student-athlete) is required to take steps to stop such an activity in order to retain his or her eligibility for intercollegiate athletics. Such steps are not required in cases in which a student-athlete's photograph is sold by an individual or agency (e.g., private photographer, news agency) for private use.

Dak Prescott, who probably doesn't care about some T-shirts and just wants to play football, is now involved in a lawsuit aimed at preventing people from profiting from the use of his name or likeness in order to protect the earning potential of a corrupt organization that profits from the use of his name or likeness every single day, and will take away Prescott's ability to play football if he doesn't protect that earning potential. Thank God Prescott stepped up in time to save his eligibility and make sure that only the right people are making money from his unpaid labor.

[ Clarion Ledger]