Country music star Tracy Lawrence is completely over the NIL era.
The ’90s country legend sat down with us on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to discuss his own venture into podcasting, why the ’90s era of music is as popular as ever, his songs getting a second life on TikTok, his passion for giving back to the less fortunate, and much more.
At one point, Tracy got really fired up about NIL and the current state of college athletics… and frankly, it was awesome.
We’re finally getting to see the consequences of money and contracts seeping into the amateurism of college athletics. NIL, or Name, Image and Likeness, has officially opened up a can of worms, and I believe that can will be open forever more. We’re seeing the ugliness (can’t spell ugliness without NIL) of the new era of college athletics play out in real time.
Most recently (and emphatically) with former Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava.
Tracy Lawrence is one of many people that are upset with how NIL has been able to run wild through the college game. Though he’s not a big fan of basketball, he told us that he’s very much plugged into football and baseball, and considers himself a fan of Arkansas Razorbacks athletics and a follower of the Tennessee Vols. Tracy was born in Texas, but grew up in Arkansas so that would explain the Razorback fandom.
Lawrence also shared that he’s pretty much fed up with how college sports have changed since players have been allowed to be compensated:
“I like to watch football. I don’t watch the NFL as much as I used to. I’ve gotten more into college ball in the last few years. The SEC is pretty dominant. They’re fun to watch.
I’m kind of sad about the state of college athletics right now with the NIL stuff. I think it’s taken the purity away from the game. I agree that kids need to be compensated, but they don’t need to be driving a Rolls Royce and stuff around freaking campus.”
@whiskeyriff @Tracy Lawrence believes the NIL has ruined college athletics. // Listen to the latest Whiskey Riff Raff episode, brought to you by @Rock the Country, on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube now!🦅 #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff #tracylawrence #collegeathletics ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
Have to agree with the ’90s country music legend on that one.
The portion of the NIL era that seems to bother Tracy Lawrence the most is that there’s seemingly no rules or regulations to any of it. And because the country music legend is simply the man, he didn’t bring a problem to the table without also presenting a solution:
“There’s a line there. It’s kind of the wild west right now. I wish they’d sit down and put some parameters on things where the kids don’t have access to all that money. If you are making a couple million dollars from an NIL contract, then you should not be on a scholarship.
Let somebody else that doesn’t have access to that money get a college tuition. They should have to pay that stuff back. I think there needs to be some parameters put in place.”
Tracy Lawrence knows ball.
If you liked Tracy Lawrence’s take on the current state of college sports, I can promise you there’s more where that came from. You just have to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here.
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
