INDIANAPOLIS — After years of feeling isolated on pool decks, Grant House said competing has become enjoyable again.
The Bright, Indiana, native spent the past five years at the center of one of college sports’ most consequential legal battles, but now says the conversations surrounding him have changed.
“It’s definitely a lot more fun,” House said after competing on Friday during the TYR Pro Swim Series at the Indiana University Natatorium.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable to go through and have two-way conversations and not just feel like outcasted or side eyes walking on the deck for like the last five years,” he said.
House served as the lead plaintiff in the House v. NCAA class action lawsuit, which resulted in a $2.8 billion settlement allowing Division I schools to directly share revenue with athletes. As schools adjusted to the changes, including new roster limits that reduced opportunities in sports like swimming, House became the target of criticism.
Now, just more than a year after the settlement was approved, the former Arizona State swimmer said those conversations have shifted.
“It definitely feels like a more community sense,” House said. “I think a lot of people have kind of understood after some time it wasn’t my personal attack on things, but just something I was a part of and wanted to give more opportunities to athletes.”
Instead of reacting to headlines, House said more people have taken the time to understand why he became involved in the lawsuit.
“They’re starting to have better conversations and more educated conversations as well,” he said. “Not just reading headlines and understanding House as an actual person.”
That change has made traveling to meets and interacting with fellow swimmers, coaches and reporters feel different than it did during the lawsuit.
House said one conversation this week especially stood out. A national team teammate spoke with him about the lawsuit, praising House for what he accomplished despite the adversity.
“‘Cause now he can benefit from it,” House said. “It’s really neat to see that come full circle.”
While the shift didn’t happen overnight, conversations like the one with his teammate have shown him attitudes are beginning to change.
“It took longer than I expected,” House said. “But I guess doing something for the first time ever in the history of the world takes a little bit of time, maybe longer than you think.”
Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Grant House no longer feels like an outcast after settlement in NIL lawsuit vs NCAA
Reporting by Jessica Garcete, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jessica Garcete, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
