Because he has a multi jillion dollar contract with Reebok and Illinois is a Nike School. Welcome to the 00s . Like most other social bureaucracies, the NCAA is fanny backwards when logic enters into the picture. About Athletes uses the self denial is a good thing slogan when it comes to student athletes, and has a big book of brainless rules to enforce it. These self appointed saints are hanging judges who think a jock strap is something used in horse racing.
Athletes can t get a legit part time job, off season, to make ends meet.
The NCAA says let them eat cake, not steak . Meanwhile, back at Fort Knox, the guys who coach the guys who make their school Millions, are stuffing their savings accounts with lobby money from the sporting goods companies. On the other hand, the flood of talented players leaving for the pros after one or two years of college has a lot to do with hardship. The controllers who spend most of their time at Halo conventions haven t figured that out. They think athletes are just another kind of horse.