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By Bill Contz
For the Mirror
Just prior to the start of Oklahoma State's season-opening 44-20 win over South Dakota State, the NCAA stampeded into Stillwater and proceeded to toss a giant lariat around the home team with a cease-and-desist order to immediately remove QR codes from Cowboy players' helmets.
The logic behind this 11th-hour decision was that it "follows previous interpretations of not allowing social media handles to appear on a uniform."
Head honcho Mike Gundy had previously deemed this latest innovation an "evolutionary step forward," which was basically fancy coach-speak for a huge recruiting advantage to no doubt promote while attempting to steer future top prospects to his program.
In effect, the NCAA issued a "git along, little dogies" decree to this contingent of cowpokes regarding the use of their uniforms to further fund their personal brands, evidently turning a blind eye to the giant Nike swoosh on the sleeve.
For the underinformed (i.e. this author) Google tells us that "QR" stands for Quick Response and the code is a two-dimensional thingy that stores information in a grid of black and white squares.
When scanned using a smartphone's camera app this code gave fans direct access to, among other things, an athlete's personal NIL account.
To comply with this request the university promptly announced that player QR codes would be accessible via "larger and more prominent locations" throughout Boone Pickens Stadium including the facility's massive scoreboard likely right next to the giant displays promoting various FanDuel or Draft Kings apps.
Okie State supporters looking to financially support their favorite players but seated in the upper decks of the end zone opposite said scoreboard would face challenges as to the range of their mobile devices prior to rerouting their next mortgage payment to their favorite player's NIL account.
I would argue that, if college athletes were more strongly unionized and defiant they could threaten to boycott games since this edict would limit the access to NIL accounts to stadium dwellers and shut out faithful Cowboy rooters who elected to watch the televised broadcast from the comfort of their man caves or local drinking establishments.
The NCAA essentially put the kibosh on allowing anonymous donors other than those in attendance to deploy technology for purposes of transferring money electronically from their bank account directly to the player.
Personally, I have no issue with the idea of making such a contribution to someone's NIL thus rewarding them for a stellar effort but I ask: Why stop with the player?
I contend that coaches and head trainers should also have accessible QR codes.
For example, let's say an offensive coordinator dials up some well-designed play late in the game to win a close contest that helps a fan cover the point spread. Shouldn't these folks benefit from a fan's newfound financial good fortune?
Ditto for the head trainer who manages to nurse an injured player back to health before game's end to help the team win.
For a current governing body that faces rapidly dwindling authority over the rank-and-file, direct access to a student-athlete's NIL account will continue to be a lightning rod, subject to fierce debate and something the NCAA will desperately try to restrict.
For now, access to Oklahoma State player QR codes is limited to only those fans who attend the home games.
Contz was a starting offensive tackle on Penn State's first national championship team in 1982 and played six NFL seasons with New Orleans and Cleveland. He published a book in 2017, "When the Lions Roared: Joe Paterno and One of College Football's Greatest Teams." He resides in Pittsburgh.