Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s athletics announced the official Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective for student-athletes, known as the Fork ‘EM Collective, at the beginning of December 2024.
After being in the works for over a year, the Fork ‘EM Collective will operate within the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Southland Conference and State of Louisiana’s parameters to bring opportunities to student-athletes at NSU.
“The collective is needed for NSU to remain competitive in today’s ever-changing Division I college landscape,” Kevin Bostian, NSU athletic director, said in an email. “The NCAA now allows student-athletes to make money off their Name, Image and Likeness so we need to make sure we offer ways they can do so. If not, we would be at a competitive disadvantage.”
Aside from the collective, Bostian explained that the college athletics landscape has changed over the last few years and there are more changes to come.
He referred to the historic proposed class action settlement known as Grant House v. NCAA, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in 2021. According to Sportico, the lawsuit addressed the financial limitations caused by the NCAA for athletes to make revenue from their NIL by violating antitrust laws. The settlement will allow former Division I athletes from 2016 to the present to be compensated.
The fairness hearing that will be held in April will allow U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken to determine if the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate.
The article addressed two key components that will happen if Wilken approves the settlement. The first component involves paying former Division I athletes with what they could have earned over a 10-year period with NIL, video games, broadcast and other opportunities that were denied by the NCAA rules.
While the second component, Sportico states, “The second component looks forward and would go into effect for the 2025-26 academic year. It allows colleges to elect to opt in to a structure where each can directly pay athletes increased benefits, including for use of NIL. Each participating school can pay its athletes a total of up to 22% of a defined figure that reflects average Power 5 media, ticket and sponsorship revenue; the initial cap is expected to be about $21 million.”
Bostian added how events might change in a few months. “If the House of Settlement gets approved in April, which is the expectation. If approved, the House Settlement will change the economic model of college athletics,” he said.
Bostian explained that the local community and alumni will be able to engage with the Fork ‘EM Collective through fundraising events that are currently in the works. Athletics is looking at different ways to generate revenue for the collective for student-athletes.
According to an NSU Athletics press release, Bostian explained that donations will support fans’ favorite NSU teams.
“The collective allows businesses, donors and fans to support and engage with their favorite NSU teams and student-athletes, who may engage in a variety of opportunities, including personal appearances, meet-and-greets, charitable work, speaking engagements or commercial sponsorships through the collective,” he said in the article.
He also added that student-athletes that receive NIL will participate in community service in exchange for monetary support.
“The student-athletes that benefit from the collective will do various community service activities,” Bostian said. “These could range from working at the food pantry, reading to kids or working with FAUNA and the animal shelter.”
Bostian shared that even though this is a newly established endeavor, there are a few student-athletes who are actively benefiting from the collective.
“As we generate additional revenue for the collective, we will be able to support more student-athletes in the form of NIL,” he said.
Due to the Fork ‘EM Collective’s policy, The Current Sauce was unable to obtain interviews with student-athletes who are receiving NIL benefits. “As a new entity, the Collective does not have the ability to distribute benefits to all 375-plus Northwestern State student-athletes,” Jason Pugh, associate athletic director for external relations, explained in an email.
Through events and donations, the Fork ‘EM Collective is designed to allow sports teams and student-athletes to benefit from NILs and obtain more opportunities to connect with the Natchitoches community.
To donate to the Fork ‘EM Collective, click here.
