Dabo Swinney, Shane Beamer testify at legislative hearing to expand NIL laws

Dabo Swinney and Shane Beamer were put in the awkward position of sitting next to one another at a hearing in the South Carolina State House. NIL issues were the topic to allow collectives to work more directly with schools and athletes.

The idea is that the bill would pass this summer so schools in the state of South Carolina can bring their collectives in house to work with their athletics departments.

The bill is being considered by the the Education and Public Works Committee, and is designed to protect the right of universities to work on behalf of athletes to navigate possible NIL deals by reviewing contracts, assisting in producing content to fulfill sponsorship agreements and providing guidance as athletes pay taxes on money earned from NIL agreements, the Post and Courier reported.

Swinney called NIL “vital” and a resource Clemson offers to athletes, just like nutrition, academics. “We’ve been limited in our NIL resources … if permitted, we’re equipped to provide them with real resources.”

Beamer said NIL is a good thing: “This law would give us stability, flexibility, and allow the institutions we work at to make decisions, and, also, protection from an ever-changing environment.”