Gonzaga Bulldogs schedule another big game – with a twist
The Gonzaga Bulldogs and Baylor Bears will play each other again on December 2. But the setup for this game is completely different than any other.
For all their success, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have their detractors. One thing they can’t accuse the Zags of is ditching other top teams. Well, they just added another one to the 2022-23 schedule.
The Zags added a game against Baylor on December 2 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It comes as no surprise that these teams would play each other as the coaches Scott Drew and Mark Few are good friends.
Pay Day
While it’s not uncommon for Gonzaga to schedule tough early-season opponents, the 2021 National Championship rematch will be different. The promoters of this game, Complete Sports Management and Range Sports, announced that the players would be able to cash in on their celebrity by using name, image, and likeness rules. Zags and Bears players will receive compensation for “tune into the game” spots on the network that carries the game.
According to ESPN, the per-player compensation is undisclosed at this time. Matt Haberman, a spokesman for the organizers said:
“We’re working to find a media partner who believes in providing this generation of student-athletes more opportunities as well as align with iconic powerhouse basketball brands Baylor and Gonzaga.”
Paradigm Shift
This game is a major change in how business is done in major college athletics. Despite how the organizers frame this, the Bulldogs and Bears players get paid for showing up in South Dakota to face each other on National Television.
Whether fans agree with NIL or not, the way this game is being framed sets a big precedent. If the Gonzaga Bulldogs wanted to be on the cutting edge of this new frontier, they got their wish.
BrandonNCAAB pre season top 10:
1. Houston
2. Gonzaga
3. Baylor
4. Kentucky
5. UCLA
6 Creighton
7. UNC
8. Tennessee
9. Texas
10. Kansas— King (@BrandonNCAAB) August 25, 2022
How do you feel about using NIL to compensate the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Baylor Bears players for participating in this game? Let us know in the comments section below.