By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Disregarding the announcement by the NCAA that it would soon change its rules regarding college athletes being allowed to be compensated, Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would keep a paid college athlete on the field.

In response to pressure from lawmakers in various states, the NCAA announced Tuesday that it will change its rules.

“In the Association’s continuing efforts to support college athletes, the NCAA’s top governing board voted unanimously to permit students participating in athletics the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model,” the organization said in a release.

Calling the NCAA’s announcement a “publicity stunt,” Illinois House lawmakers voted Wednesday for Rep. Chris Welch’s legislation that would ban the NCAA from changing a student athlete’s eligibility because they’ve received compensation for the use of their name, face or likeness.

“For nearly 40 years, the NCAA, in full knowledge of universities around Illinois and around America, have prostituted, pimped, and perversed the minds of college athletes,” Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, said. “The NCAA, I don’t trust them.”

A number of lawmakers who have universities in their districts were concerned about the details of the bill.

“The financial side, the regulations side, and the General Assembly entering into an area of college athletics and losing the focus of academics and creating the emphasis and the importance on the money and on the athletic side,” Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said. “All stakeholders should be at the table on something of this magnitude.”

The bill passed by a wide margin and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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