Rocket Mortgage-Michigan State deal a sign of things to come in business of college athletics

It is no secret college athletics is a big business. By their own numbers, the industry had a revenue of nearly $19 billion.

That line between amateurism and professionalism got a bit blurrier on March 11, when Michigan State announced its basketball team signed a five-year partnership with national lending company Rocket Mortgage.

The agreement makes the Detroit-based company a "presenting partner" of the basketball team, and includes sponsorship tie-ins across the athletic department. 

Sponsorship deals are nothing new in college athletics: uniforms, signage around stadiums, drink and beverage vendors and stadium naming rights have become common place.

This is the first timeI can recall a team name being effected.

According to the release, the men's basketball team will be called the MSU Spartans presented by Rocket Morgtage. 

"Michigan State Athletics couldn't compete at the highest levels without the support of our corporate partners like Rocket Mortgage," said Bill Beekman, Michigan State Director of Athletics.  "We are appreciative of Rocket's continued commitment to the Spartans and their unwavering support of our programs."

The school was quick to point out the team is not being renamed and this is just the verbage they will go by when announced in the arena.

And the administration at MSU is right, there is nothing abnormal here. Sponsorships and naming rights are per the usual in athletics, and we have an example.

NASCAR.

For decades, stock car racing teams and their drivers were masters at cross-branding. The Number 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet. The Miller Lite Ford. 

So get ready for Tom Izzo to talk about the Michigan State Spartans presented by Rocket Mortgage in the Aflac postgame report. 

And just like when their hideous football uniforms came out and was a stroke of genius, this is just Michigan State getting ahead of the curve. They put a little Rocket Mortgage patch on their basketball jersey and probably get a nice chunk of change for it.

It is merely what the NBA has been doing the last few years. Except you don't hear "The Dallas Mavericks presented by Chime," they are just "The Dallas Mavericks."

LINK: New Michigan State unis are bad, and a bit genius

LINK: Ohio State trademark case is ridiculous

LINK: Why is high school football in decline

This is clearly another way for theses cash strapped athletic departments...excuse me, non-profit, tax exempt instiutions to raise revenue while providing an amateur-driven sports environment to help young men and women grow. 

This is cut and dry. Attendance figures have been going down across the board in college athletics, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown these businesses, excuse me, institutions the need to have money not dependent on in-person fan support. 

On a positive note, this could be a way for the non-revenue sports in college to stay active, but I have a feeling these sponsorship deals are contingent on these teams being seen on a screen.

Expect this naming trend to extend to other basketball teams, and likely athletic departments as a whole. And coupled with the news EA Sports reviving its NCAA Football series, it is clear business will be good for the NCAA.

And maybe, just maybe if the NCAA can clear that $20 billion in revenue, they can start compensating players financially. 

Surely then they'd have enough money to go around.