Wisconsin basketball star Nigel Hayes was invited to attend ESPN’s College GameDay, and he used the opportunity to protest the NCAA’s policy of not paying college athletes. But his stunt may have serious consequences.
.@CollegeGameDay I'll be there for Game Day and I'll have a great sign! Thanks for the passes (hopefully), see you there!#WisconsinGameDay pic.twitter.com/IOmBr6LMdO
— Nigel Hayes-Davis (@NIGEL_HAYES) October 12, 2016
Hayes is a senior for the Wisconsin Badgers and was named the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. Last year he made the All-Big Ten’s first team and averaged 15.7 points per game. He’s considered a strong NBA prospect.
Hayes takes considerable issue with the fact that the NCAA does not pay the student-athletes upon which its built a multimillion-dollar empire. He made his intentions for the GameDay protest known on Twitter.
The @bigten made nearly $450 million.
— Nigel Hayes-Davis (@NIGEL_HAYES) October 14, 2016
My scholarship is about $160,00.
If only there was enough money to pay us.. pic.twitter.com/EPV1d0I16X
Oh, I won't.
— Nigel Hayes-Davis (@NIGEL_HAYES) October 15, 2016
Momma ain't raise no punk.
Thanks for the support my brutha! https://t.co/hHXNlmxHUR
Then he showed up with a headline-grabbing sign that reads “Broke College Athlete Anything Helps.” It includes a screenname for Venmo, the digital payment system.
Wisconsin basketball player @NIGEL_HAYES making big statement at College Gameday today with sign (H/T @BadgerBeat) pic.twitter.com/esPl6HQNTi
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 15, 2016
It’s a bold statement that will undoubtedly catch the NCAA’s attention. Even before his protest, Hayes’ tweets sparked serious discussion on Twitter, and he engaged with many of the people who took issue with his stance.
You tell 'em https://t.co/6cUGxyfEnF
— Nigel Hayes-Davis (@NIGEL_HAYES) October 14, 2016
Hayes likely didn’t intend to actually get paid from his protest—he intentionally put the wrong username on his sign—but it’s not hard to find him on the platform, and people appear to be sending him money and comments of encouragement.
Screenshot via Venmo
Screenshot via Venmo
Hayes appears to be putting himself at considerable risk. According to the NCAA, “The receipt of a benefit not authorized by NCAA regulations by a student-athlete or his parents, relatives or friends will immediately place the student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate athletics competition in jeopardy.”
This isn’t the first time someone has used College GameDay to score some extra cash. Earlier this season, internet hero Sam Crowder’s sign for beer money went viral and resulted in more than 400 people sending money.
The NCAA, however, could care less about some random student’s beer money. Hayes’ protest, on the other hand, will likely be investigated.
H/T BroBible