COLUMBUS, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez saw an imbalance in college athlete compensation in two of the most important people of his college life — his Ohio State quarterback and his future wife. As the second-term Republican congressman from Ohio’s 16th Congressional district told Buckeye Talk for Tuesday’s episode, those experiences helped frame the Level Playing Field Act. Gonzalez co-wrote that bill with Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver to provide a national framework for the issue of name, image and likeness revenue for college athletes. Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy in 2006, but his NFL career lasted only 20 games over four seasons. His greatest earnings potential in terms of endorsements or sponsorships came during his Buckeye career, when the school could profit from his likeness but he could not. “Looking up in the stands, and seeing, for example, a No. 10 Troy Smith jersey all over Ohio Stadium…
Continue Reading: How Ohio State football teammate Troy Smith influenced U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez’s name, image and likeness stance
