Pandora's Box is Open
UNLV's Matthew Sluka's decision to fold on a 3-0 season deals college football a hand that many may not be willing to play
I’m no great visionary of business, but one of the things I learned while studying business in college, and over a lifetime of deals and promises is — get it in writing.
That is what makes the decision of UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka to redshirt1 following his team’s 3-0 start this season so astounding.
Although, if you really think about it, we’ve been heading toward this scenario the minute Name Image and Likeness (NIL) was introduced to the college athletic landscape.
Sluka, who grew up on Long Island, N.Y. and eventually played four seasons at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., says he transferred to UNLV with the “certain representations” of $100,000 in NIL. Apparently, UNLV hadn’t delivered the bag by September 24th.
We all know what happens in Vegas when you don’t deliver on a promise.
Sluka released a statement on X: "I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program."
I know he’s not the most popular person these days, but like Diddy said, “It’s all about the benjamins, baby.”
The world of big time college football has come to the point where a fifth-year player voluntarily walks out on a team that is undefeated and poised for a run at the Group of 5 spot in the College Football Playoff.
Whose to blame for all this?
There’s plenty of blame to go around.
The NCAA, which for decades stood steadfast and tone deaf to student-athletes, punishing them for any financial benefits they received, no matter how small or rediculous the financial gain.
The colleges, which stood by and benefited millions billions while letting the NCAA play the role of the bad guy, all the while touting the value of the students’ scholarship for a college education, and a surprising number of students which never earned a degree.
And certainly the Slukas, Matthew’s parents.
As a father of a son the same age as Matthew, it would strike me as neglectful and irresponsible to send my son across the country without some concrete deal in place, preferably in writing. (There’s also some question as to whether NIL deals can even be in writing, which only encourages situations like this one.)
The one person I don’t blame is Matthew Sluka. I can’t imagine it was easy for him to walkaway from his teammates. Granted, it’s not a great look for him.2 But we know exactly where his loyalty lies.
But it was a brave step as well.
We may come to think of Sluka as a modern day Curt Flood, the St. Louis outfielder that took on Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which eventually resulted in free agency in sports.
In a season where a quarterback leaves a 3-0 team over $100,000, would any of us be surprised to eventually see a shutdown corner refuse to play in a CFP semifinal if the school doesn’t renegotiate his NIL?
Pandora’s Box is now open.
The NCAA allows players who play in four or less games to redshirt.
Imagine that interview question! “Tell us about the time you walked out on your teammates when you were undefeated?”