Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 | 8:45 p.m.
A Fresno State fan walking through Allegiant Stadium Saturday morning shouted “get the bag, Sluka!” in echoing what UNLV faithful have been preaching this week.
Quarterback Matthew Sluka left the program Tuesday after three games citing unfulfilled NIL payments by UNLV backers. Those backers dispute the claims that Sluka is owed $100,000.
New starting quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams was masterful in leading the Rebels to a lopsided win against Fresno State, surely helping erase the pain of Sluka’s departure. The drama faulted UNLV football into the national spotlight because it shined light on the hiccups of a new era of college athletics.
Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, refers to college athletes profiting from their name through endorsements.
Sluka’s agent alleged a UNLV assistant coach made a verbal offer to the player for a $100,000 NIL deal, but no contracts were signed.
UNLV released a statement saying Sluka’s requests for money were in violation of Nevada state law and NCAA rules. Several fans at Saturday’s game were equally dismissive of Sluka’s decision to leave for financial reasons.
“This is a prima donna quarterback being offered $100,000 behind the scenes,” said Alec Sonenthal, Las Vegas resident and Rebel fan of almost two decades. “He’s playing a power move, and I think he’s screwing his career for the rest of his life by running out on this team over money.”
The impact of NIL on collegiate athletics is evolving because it’s still a relatively new concept. Fans expressed concerns about a lack of regulations.
“When you decide to do NIL, and all the legal boosting now, you open up a can of worms,” UNLV kinesiology alum Elliot Kleven said. “There’s got to be a balance to that stuff.”
Nevada’s law regulating NIL deals went into effect in 2022, and laws like it across the United States have drastically shifted players’ access to financial incentives and marketing deals.
“I’m not sure if I’m on either side of that, but it has really brought a national focus onto that conversation, and UNLV has gotten more press this week than it’s gotten in 20 years,” Sonenthal said.
The drama with Sluka was only half of the week for the university’s athletic department. They considered leaving for the Pac-12 Conference before agreeing to a lucrative deal to remain a member of the Mountain West.