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WASHINGTON, N.C. – The Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) issue has become a hot-button topic on the college sports level. Could it be headed to the public high school level in Eastern North Carolina and around the state?

The State Board of Education met Sept. 5 and, after debating NIL, members voted to move ahead to public comment on the issue. The public will be able to give its opinion from Oct. 1-Dec. 6 – including a virtual public hearing on Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.

A vote on NIL could come up on Jan. 9, 2025. If the vote to implement NIL for public schools is passed, it would go into place on July 1, 2025, according to HighSchoolOT.com.

NIL on the college level allows athletes to earn money through various ways, from public appearances to commercials and autograph sessions. The athletes can’t mention their school and they can’t promote things like alcohol, tobacco, vaping and other activities currently not allowed or would disrupt operations of the school.

Many coaches who have spoken about the issue to The Washington Daily News still have questions. While it might be a big deal in larger cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, there may not be as many opportunities for athletes east of Greenville.

Still, it’s an interesting possibility, Washington football coach Matt Taylor said.

“The challenge is, it’s different in Eastern North Carolina, middle North Carolina, and western North Carolina,” Taylor said. “Raleigh and Charlotte aren’t gonna be playing with the same rules that we play out here in the east, where I think the intent of it, just like it was in college, I think it could be a positive thing.

“It’d be a really cool thing for a local car dealership to come pick up our quarterback and give him a couple hundred dollars to go do a commercial or to come do a signing. I think that would be a very positive thing for all involved, for the community, for the business, and for our kids. Our kids need that kind of exposure.”

While we’re already seeing athletes at East Carolina University do NIL deals, it’s uncertain how many businesses in ENC would be interested in doing the same with high school athletes.

The NC Independent Schools Athletic Association allows NIL for its 100 private schools, including Terra Ceia Christian School and Pungo Christian Academy. A lawsuit requesting a Greensboro public school athlete the chance to have NIL eligibility was filed in August.

“What happens when players start making more than coaches?” said Taylor, who drives each day from Winterville to coach at Washington. “How many coaches are gonna drop out? Because that’s gonna hurt my soul when my quarterback, who I’m coaching and sacrificing all the time with my family with, is making more money than me.

“I get it. I love what I do. But that’s an issue. That’s a concern. And I don’t think coaches can make enough money. I mean, let’s let them get some NIL money, you know?”

The debate is certainly a new one and is still up for discussion.

“That’s not the essence and the feeling that high school should be about. So I would vote no, because there’s so many negatives that could go with it,” Taylor said.

“But if it did get passed, I think a place like Washington is where it would benefit. “Because I think the community loves this school, they love this program, and they want to contribute to it. So having given those kids some opportunities to get invested into the community could be a really cool thing.”