Why did Deestroying lose his scholarship?

By Jason Bolton December 12, 2023 06:14 GMT+4 min read

Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images

Donald De La Haye, better known as "Deestroying," is a former kicker for the Central Florida football team who gained fame as a YouTube star with over 700,000 subscribers. Unfortunately, his YouTube channel became the reason for the loss of his scholarship and his eligibility to play college football. This article will delve into the reasons behind Deestroying's scholarship loss and the subsequent legal battle he pursued against the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the NCAA.

Refusal to demonetize YouTube channel

Deestroying lost his scholarship due to his refusal to comply with the NCAA's demand to demonetize his YouTube channel. The NCAA prohibits college athletes from making money off their status as athletes, and De La Haye's YouTube channel featured athletic-related content. While the NCAA granted him a waiver to continue monetizing non-athletic videos, Deestroying believed this was unfair and chose not to accept the conditions. He felt that he was being forced to accept a raw deal by not being allowed to profit from videos featuring his athletic reputation, especially when some of the money went to his family.

UCF's enforcement of NCAA rules

UCF cited NCAA rules as the reason for Deestroying's loss of scholarship and eligibility. The university claimed that Deestroying's monetization of his YouTube channel violated these rules, which prohibit college athletes from profiting from their athletic status. While the NCAA offered a compromise that would have allowed him to keep running ads on non-athletic videos, Deestroying declined and chose to fight against the enforcement of these rules. He believed that UCF's actions violated his free speech and due process rights.

Filing a lawsuit against UCF

In response to the loss of his scholarship and eligibility, Deestroying filed a lawsuit against UCF, claiming violations of his constitutional rights. He sought to have UCF's enforcement of NCAA rules declared unconstitutional and wanted his scholarship eligibility reinstated. This legal battle not only aimed to secure his own rights but also had the potential to question the validity of other NCAA rules. It brought attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the rights and compensation of college athletes.

Seeking support through GoFundMe

Deestroying set up a GoFundMe to help pay for his education after losing his scholarship. This platform allowed him to seek financial assistance from his fans and supporters. By leveraging his YouTube fame and engaging his large subscriber base, Deestroying was able to garner support and continue pursuing his education while navigating the legal battle against UCF and the NCAA.

Deestroying lost his scholarship and eligibility to play college football because he refused to demonetize his YouTube channel, which violated NCAA rules. While the NCAA offered a compromise that would have allowed him to continue monetizing non-athletic videos, Deestroying believed this was unfair and chose to fight against the enforcement of these rules. He filed a lawsuit against UCF, claiming violations of his constitutional rights, and sought to have his scholarship eligibility reinstated. Through the support of his fans and a GoFundMe campaign, Deestroying continued his education and content creation career while challenging the NCAA's rules regarding college athletes' ability to profit from their status.