A video showing Lamborghinis lined up outside the Texas Longhorns football facility surfaced on Friday. Texas brought the luxury cars in ahead of a major recruiting weekend for Steve Sarkisian and company.
Naturally, several Twitter/X users voiced their displeasure regarding the Longhorns’ measure. However, what’s happening in Austin is not new to college football recruiting – it’s always been a thing. College football fans who haven’t lived under a rock for 20 years know it.
But is luring high school athletes with expensive toys the right thing to do?
The Texas Longhorns are Arguably in Violation of the University’s Standards of Conduct
According to its Code of Conduct, the University of Texas at Austin “is committed to a culture of integrity and ethical behavior.”
“Ethical behavior is much more than simply following rules; it is doing the right thing. Given the increasing complexity of the university’s environment, determining the “right thing” is not always easy.”
Standards of Conduct, University of Texas at Austin
Indeed, the “right thing” is highly subjective, and the Texas Longhorns are not breaking any laws or policies. Current NCAA policy allows college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, including luxury automobiles. However, one can argue that selling young men a rich and famous lifestyle before they step onto the collegiate field is wrong.
As far as we know, the Longhorns don’t promise every recruit a Lamborghini. Thus, they’re simply baiting high school kids to sign with their program.
The Biggest Problem with NIL in College Football
In May, quarterback Jaden Rashada filed a lawsuit against The University of Florida and football head coach Billy Napier. Rashada claims the school failed to honor its $9.5 million NIL pact after he committed to the Gators in 2023. Moreover, the former top recruit claims Florida boosters did not follow through on an initial $1 million “partial payment” after his signing.
The Rashada lawsuit illuminates the biggest problem with NIL: college football programs writing checks that players cannot cash.
There’s no shortage of cash traveling in and out of Austin, Texas, but a $19 billion budget for Lamborghinis is out of reach. As such, there’s a straightforward dilemma in luring recruits with Lamborghinis only to set them up with a local Toyota dealership after signing. Granted, a “free” car is a great deal for any college kid but misleading them shows a lack of integrity.
And no, Texas Longhorns fans, I don’t buy the excuse that Sarkisian uses Lamborghinis as a metal petting zoo. The Longhorns want recruits believing they will drive Lamborghinis around Austin if they commit to play football there. Some players will, but most won’t, and Sark knows it.
College football players and fancy cars go together like frat houses and Zyn pouches
The Longhorns aren’t the only program potentially violating their university’s code of conduct. Across the Red River, luxury automobiles have been a staple at Oklahoma’s annual family barbecue recruiting event. But I’m picking on Texas because they’re flaming Sark’s recruiting tactics.
If the teams can deliver, I have no problem with college programs dangling automobiles in front of recruits. For example, Utah’s NIL collective leased Dodge Ram 1500 trucks to all 85 scholarship players on the Utes football roster. Up in Columbus, the highest-profile recruits on Ohio State’s roster landed vehicles via an NIL deal with Ricart Automotive.
Last December, Ole Miss recruit Deion Smith pulled up to his signing day event in a Lamborghini. I have no idea if Smith was gifted the car, but I suspect it was borrowed to show off on National Signing Day.
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Featured Image: Tim Warner/Getty Images
