Mario Cristobal happy with Miami football name, image and likeness

Speaking at ACC Kickoff last week, head coach Mario Cristobal was asked about his experience with name, images and likeness during the first year since it was instituted and what he would like to see from it moving forward. Cristobal is pleased that the Miami football players and Hurricanes’ athletes have benefitted from NIL.

Led by prominent Miami alum and billionaire John Ruiz, Miami football players have secured millions of dollars in NIL deals. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and other coaches have called for a national standard with NIL. Although Ruiz has been transparent with his NIL deals with athletes, Miami has received a lot of criticism.

Coaches and athletic administrators are not permitted to get involved in NIL deals. The deals need to be secured by athletes and outside sources. Multiple athletic programs nationally have created collectives to help athletes gain NIL endorsements. The NCAA is analyzing whether the collectives are allowed under its rules.

Several boosters close to college athletic programs are behind the collectives. The transfer portal and NILs have changed the direction of college football. Cristobal stated the importance of embracing the change and having a positive mindset towards NIL. Cristobal went into detail about how NIL fits the Miami football program.

"“Well, I think that it seems pretty obvious that as a university, as an athletics program that our student-athletes have done really well with NIL. As a coach you’re not really allowed to delve in it. You know what I mean?Since it is part of the changes in college football, and it is a constitutional right, we have a positive mindset towards that. We’re also very fortunate to be in arguably the best city in the world and one of the more prominent and growing cities in the entire world as well. That’s just constantly ascending.All that is helpful along with prominent alumni that could be supportive in a role where NIL is a real positive thing.I know our guys have learned a lot and have benefited a lot from it, and I think as we get to know more about it, and I think that’s what everybody really desires, is just a little bit more clarity so that from a direction standpoint we can all understand it better to maximize it, but at the same time make sure that the educational aspect is real, that we’re providing a better path for a better future.That’s what it’s about, right? All the other stuff and the noise around it, I don’t really get into that. It’s still about these guys and their future. When I was a student-athlete, I would have loved to have had it. We didn’t.I know that the experience as a Miami Hurricane was a game-changer for me, and it’s a big reason why I’m blessed to have this opportunity to come back and why I jumped right at it. Now I have to make sure that I do everything for them to have the same type of game-changing experience. NIL is part of that now. It is.And it’s a big part of it right now. It’s still about keeping the main thing the main thing. You just have got to make sure that that marriage of these different things is one that makes sense and one that is productive."

The official Miami athletics website, MiamiHurricanes.Com announced the official Miami Marketplace for NILs earlier this month. Marketing comany Opendorse is working with Miami marketplace to promote Hurricanes’ athletes. The marketplace aims to connect supporters, brands and sponsors in one place.

The press release states “All current Miami student-athletes can be found in the Miami Marketplace, where they can customize their profiles with their needs, interests and social media channels.” Miami has been a leader from the beginning of NIL in an effort for its athletes to secure deals.

There has been a lot of speculation about NIL deals for Miami athletes and Ruiz spoke to the NCAA about concerns. Just over a year old, NIL will continue to evolve nationally. Schools are not supposed to be able to use NIL money to entice recruits or transfers to attend their schools. There is rampant speculation is that is happening.

Multiple reports refuted an allegation that 2023 Miami football commit Jaden Rashada used a huge NIL deal to pledge to the Hurricanes. Rashada took his official visit to Miami shortly before committing. NIL deals are supposed to happen more organically and not be tied to a school or perofrmance incentives per the NCAA.