Pat Narduzzi seemed to think the answer was obvious when he was asked Monday if he believes his Pitt program was violated this offseason by name, image and likeness rules.
“You tell me,” he said. “I would say, probably.”
Narduzzi did not specifically reference former Pitt All-American wide receiver Jordan Addison’s transfer to USC in May, but he said, “We all, you know, talk about the elephant in the room. But I don’t think there’s any question, at least, you know, (players were) tempted with (NIL promises) one way or the other.
“But there’s no question about it. It’s not a good thing, and hopefully, they get it under control.”
A recent ESPN survey of more than 200 college coaches, players and administrators found nearly 80% believe NIL enticements are being used to lure recruits and transfers.
Narduzzi said one way of controlling the system is “to remove the boosters from the game.”
“You have to remove them,” he said. “I mean, for years and years and years, the boosters were eliminated, and now all of the sudden, we have brought boosters back into the picture.
“I want our kids to make as much money as they can, but I want them to work for it and do it the right way and not just black-market it.”
Boosters play a huge role in the Pitt athletics program, but for specific purposes, Narduzzi said. For example, Narduzzi’s position is officially named “Chris Bickell ‘97 Head Football coach.”
Bickell, a Pitt grad, donated $20 million to the program last fall, funds earmarked for capital improvements. It is the largest single gift in Pitt athletics history.
“I’m not saying (get) rid of boosters from our athletic department,” he said. “What you’ll see throughout the country now is a booster, OK, saying, `Do I give my money to the athletic department or do I give it to the collective (for NIL)?
“I’m saying we should be giving our money to the athletic department and kind of eliminating that. I think name, image and likeness goes out to those companies that want to take care of your kids, and, you know, you’re working for them, tweeting for them and you’re doing community service for them. You’re making money that way.
“I just think there needs to be some limits. And, again, if we are going to get boosters involved in name, image and likeness, which is great, we just have to have control what they can do, and it has to be pretty equal throughout the country.
“Can’t be wide gaps or we are going to ruin college football.”
