LOOK: Tennessee senator takes parting shot at Mark Emmert amid NIL legislation talks

Thursday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff headed to Washington, D.C. to lobby for federal NIL legislation. Afterward, one of the senators they spoke with took a shot at outgoing NCAA president Mark Emmert.

Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a statement after the meeting criticizing Emmert and the NCAA, calling Emmert’s resignation “one of the many structural changes” needed across the organization.

Statement from Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn to ESPN following today’s meeting with conference commissioners about NIL legislation: pic.twitter.com/5gUVTz8Iws

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) May 5, 2022

“For far too long, the NCAA has refused to allow student-athletes to benefit from the use of their name, image, likeness (NIL),” Blackburn said in a statement, via ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “NCAA President Mark Emmert’s resignation is one of the many necessary structural changes that will enable the NCAA to support our student-athletes. During my meeting with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and others today, I continued to push for the accountability and fairness measures our student-athletes deserve.”

Greg Sankey, George Kliavkoff pitch Senate on creation of federal NIL legislation

Late Wednesday, Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported Kliavkoff and Sankey were heading to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. senators about federal NIL legislation. He added they’d meet with Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Blackburn, among possibly others, to talk about potential NIL laws at the federal level.

Last July, the NCAA implemented policy regarding players’ abilities to profit off their name, image and likeness. However, it was fairly vague, and boosters are starting to find ways around it. That’s why Kliavkoff and Sankey are heading to Congress to try and make changes.

The problem, Dellenger wrote, is that federal NIL legislation might not come quickly. He said “many believe it’s a longshot” to happen this year.

NIL has been at the forefront of discussion across college sports all year, but that conversation roared its ugly head in the last week or so. Pittsburgh star wide receiver Jordan Addison put his name into the portal and rumors swirled of an NIL deal waiting for him if he heads to USC. Those rumors started before Addison entered the portal, which is why Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi accused USC and coach Lincoln Riley of tampering.