Louisiana college athletics and university administrators recently gathered at a Louisiana Board of Regents NIL symposium at Grambling State University to discuss the financial and practical challenges created by the new era of paying student-athletes, Louisiana Illuminator reports.  Since 2021, th e NCAA has allowed athletes to earn money from their name, image and likeness through sponsorship deals, and starting last year, Division I programs could pay players directly through revenue sharing.  Administrators agreed that the biggest challenge is finding enough money to support these payments. Louisiana has 11 Division I universities and relatively low wealth and median household income, creating competition for a limited pool of athletic donors. The state’s 10 non-Power Conference schools operate with smaller budgets, and officials said some are redirecting money from other areas, such as facility upkeep, to maintain competitive rosters.  “No one has endless money, whether you’re at LSU or at McNeese, we’re all fighting the boogeyman, if you will,” said Heath Schroyer, LSU’s senior deputy athletics director. “Everyone’s got more, right?”  Despite these financial pressures, administrators believe successful athletics are worth the investment because they can increase a university’s visibility and help market the school.  However, NIL creates challenges beyond finances. Some athletes have unrealistic expectations about the value of their NIL, while others fail to fulfill contractual responsibilities, such as attending events or photoshoots. Administrators emphasized that athletes must understand that being paid also comes with professional expectations.  Louisiana has also taken steps to protect student-athletes by becoming the first state to approve a law requiring NIL agents to register with the state, pass background checks and complete training.  Louisiana Illuminator has the full story. Development priorities What type of development should Baton Rouge prioritize most over the next five to 10 years? Riverfront development Housing Transportation and infrastructure Economic development/jobs Entertainment and tourism Vote Δ ...read more read less