George has publicly backed a Colorado NIL bill that resembles the measure California passed in '19getty images
Univ. of Colorado AD Rick George said that he "favors allowing Colorado's college athletes to profit off their names and images," according to a front-page piece by Alex Burness of the DENVER POST. George's comment, from someone who "sits on an NCAA working group looking at the issue of student athlete compensation," is a "development that promises to put the state legislature at the center of a national shift on the issue." George said, "We want our student athletes to be able to benefit, just like our regular students are able to benefit, from their name, image and likeness." Burness notes George's "public backing" of a new bill proposed in the Colorado state legislature, which resembles California's NIL bill, "suggests it has a strong chance of passing." The bill is "expected to debut in a Colorado Senate committee in early February, and George plans to testify for it." He only "expressed concern with a provision that calls for college athletes to be allowed to hire agents -- a potential point of significant conflict." However, George said that the agent issue "doesn't threaten to undo his overall endorsement of the bill" (DENVER POST, 1/30). In Illinois, Bob Asmussen notes George's "primary consideration is the welfare of student-athletes." George: "What's important for college athletics is the integrity of the recruiting process and the competition. We've just got to make sure we do it in a thoughtful manner" (Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE, 1/30).
