For the longest time, one of the biggest controversies in American sports was NCAA’s strict rules that barred players from receiving money and improper benefits over their name, image and likeness (NIL).
In July 2021, the NCAA introduced new rules which allowed players to profit from their own NILs. But there are several notable athletes and teams who would’ve greatly benefitted from these new rule changes some years earlier.
This includes former USC running back Reggie Bush, who had to vacate his 2005 Heisman Trophy award after an investigation determined that he had received improper benefits. In 2011, the Trojans were also stripped of their 2004 national championship.
In a recent video posted on his TikTok account, former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer — the younger brother of three-time Pro Bowler Carson Palmer — detailed a loophole that boosters would use to pay college athletes.
This is how the NCAA defines a booster:
“Boosters play a role in providing student-athletes with a positive experience through their enthusiastic efforts. They can support teams and athletics departments through donations of time and financial resources which help student-athletes succeed on and off the playing field.”
In the video below, Jordan explains that the “boosters” would set up online poker games. The other competitors would “raise”, then “fold” on the river so that the athlete could win:
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Jordan played four seasons for the University of Texas at El Paso (2003 to 2006). He is second all-time in passing yards among Miners players (11,084) and passing touchdowns (88). Only Trevor Vittatoe, who played for UTEP from 2007 to 2010, has more.
Washington drafted Palmer in the sixth round, 205th overall, in the 2007 NFL Draft. However, he was released by the team before the regular season started. He was on the Bengals’ roster, alongside brother Carson, from 2008 to 2010, and the younger Palmer saw a bit of playing time with the Tennessee Titans in 2014.
Back in the summer, the XFL hired Palmer to serve as the Director of Quarterback Development for the XFL. The league, which was brought back in 2020 before shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated to return in 2023.
