Sep 13, 2024; Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, USA; UNLV Rebels quarterback Matthew Sluka (3) runs the ball towards Kansas Jayhawks security O.J. Burroughs (5) throughout the second half at Kids’s Mercy Park. Obligatory Credit score: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures Not many individuals depart Las Vegas with more cash than they got here with. That’s very true for those who’re not even 21 years previous but.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka will probably be leaving Las Vegas after quarterbacking the Rebels to an undefeated 3-0 begin.
Early Wednesday morning, Sluka launched a press release on social media explaining that he’ll redshirt and sit out the rest of this season.
“I dedicated to UNLV primarily based on sure representations that had been made to me, which weren’t upheld after I enrolled,” Sluka mentioned. “Regardless of discussions, it grew to become clear that these commitments wouldn’t be fulfilled sooner or later.”
Faculty soccer analyst Carl Reed Jr. reported that regardless of this assertion, Sluka’s monetary commitments had been met by the college. Nevertheless, after large wins towards Houston and Kansas, his household employed an agent and felt that his market worth had elevated.
Welcome to the world we live in.
Studies later Wednesday morning confirmed that Sluka was approached with more cash to switch. He’s certainly performed enjoying for the Rebels and will probably be transferring.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg spoke with Sluka’s father, Bob, who claimed that UNLV by no means paid his son something. Bob claims that his son’s agent labored out an NIL take care of the college again in February, and he by no means obtained any funds. Actually, he claims that his son’s dwelling bills weren’t even lined, which is fairly unorthodox for a high-profile school athlete enjoying a sport on scholarship.
Possibly Sluka fudged the reality in his assertion and now his household is performing some injury management. Possibly the athletic division leaked false details about his household hiring an agent in the course of the evening. Possibly the college did really screw him out of cash that was promised. No matter what really went down, the optics on this usually are not nice for Sluka or UNLV. And head coach Barry Odom is now with out his beginning quarterback, no matter what really went down behind the scenes.
Faculty athletes should be compensated for his or her identify, picture and likeness. However this has formally taken on a brand new lifetime of its personal. Faculty soccer at the moment has an unmitigated free company interval on their palms. These athletes can discover loopholes to keep away from enjoying in video games as a result of they really feel like their market worth went up after only a few wins.
It’s solely a matter of time earlier than the NCAA steps in and places an finish to this insanity. Any person right here is mendacity. Both the college by no means compensated Sluka regardless of their promise to him, or he is actually skating out of there to chase more cash.
Think about within the NFL if an underpaid quarterback like Brock Purdy might simply inform the San Francisco 49ers, “Nah. You don’t come up with the money for for me. I’m going to sit down out till I can depart this offseason. Good luck to my teammates, although.”
However for a staff like UNLV, they’re screwed. Their beginning quarterback give up on them three weeks into the season as a result of he desires to chase more cash.
That’s not what newbie athletics are purported to be about. That’s not even what skilled sports activities are about, the place brokers and athletes have to attend for a devoted free company interval earlier than bouncing round to new groups.
