She knew that Duquesne’s athletes pursued other options—one, for example, struck a deal with a food delivery service—but she focused on teaching, she said, because she wanted to set an example for younger players. She did not understand how the lessons could jeopardize her integrity as a college sport.

“I know a lot of people are against it because they see how much money the deals are and how crazy the deals are and that is the only thing you see in the news,” she said, adding, “That could be a positive thing so many regular, unquoted athletes who are not those athletes.” famous people”.

Although many conventions involve students who play in Division I, the NCAA category that attracts the most public attention and money, athletes who compete in Division II and III may also benefit. It was $75 in the second section, less than 10 percent of their peers in the first section, and $37 in the third.

“If you want to have it, go get it,” said Shane Bell, a member of the Erskine College football team, a Division II school in Dew West, South Carolina.

Since July, Bell has made about $525 (and got free food) from Mama’s Sweet Shoppe, a local company in his Abbeville County part, in exchange for appearances and social media posts on platforms like Instagram, where he has nearly 1,900 follower. Wary of the troubled economy, he said, he has saved what he has achieved so far.