NIL.

[Jimbosc]

NIL is part of it - the schools that have turned their football revenue into dynasties over the last 10-15 years have lead to the same teams playing for the MNC every year. That is not good for the sport IMHO. I get how hard it is to level the playing the field when money drives a lot of the separation (best coaches, NIL, support staff, consultants, facilities.....etc.) - that should be what the NCAA strives for. BUT - the NCAA is on the way out - the Power 5 conference schools will eventually kick the NCAA to the curb so they can keep as much $$$ as possible - and determine the rules for how things are run.

Blame the NCAA all you want - it is schools like Alabama and Texas that pushing everyone down this path.

 

[Hunchback Johnny]

Blame the NCAA all you want - it is schools like Alabama and Texas that pushing everyone down this path.

Honestly Jimbo I made mention of the NCAA only because they are currently the governing body. May be the fault of the courts and their recent rulings in favor of player rights also. All I know is I hate the direction of college athletics and it may not be long before it goes the way of the NBA and NFL for me. Have not watched either in years...

 

[Red Storm Rising]

Here’s a question— how much NIL money is Manning Jr going to get— kid will be a multi- millionaire at 18

GBR

 

[Jimbosc]

Honestly Jimbo I made mention of the NCAA only because they are currently the governing body. May be the fault of the courts and their recent rulings in favor of player rights also. All I know is I hate the direction of college athletics and it may not be long before it goes the way of the NBA and NFL for me. Have not watched either in years...

I don't watch the NBA - frankly with the game being a 3 pt shot or dunk whenever possible analytics driven exercise it is not that interesting. Lots of other reasons on top of that to dislike - but I just can't turn it on and really care until late in the playoffs.
I don't get much out of MLB on TV outside of the World Series - but I do enjoy MLB games live the few times I have gone. Would go when I have a chance.
NFL - I get the reasons to dislike but I still follow it - hell if I didn't have a Fantasy Football team I probably would watch about 90% less (it does help to see actual games to figure out roster moves - sounds lame but it works - I've won 10+ leagues over the last 20 years).

I follow F1, Indycar, and NASCAR pretty close - they all have haters just like the big 3 stick and ball pro sports. F1 is on a HUGE upswing in ratings and attendance.....driven largely by their Netflix series Drive to Survive along with very good use of social media to promote the sport. Look for all sports to copy F1 in some ways.

 

[redfred]

At this point I have a little different take on things. I personally think the "capless NIL" has a limited lifespan. How long that lifespan is depends on what degree, and how soon, college athletics implodes. It will implode imo when interest is so low that the money stream dries up. Currently the major source of college athletic revenue is television/media, fan/donor support from attendance ( ie buying your seat), and contributions. These are all dependent on fan interest.....(eg no interest lead to no advertising, and no advertising leads to no huge media rights; local fan interest leads to empty seats and loss of local advertising; and donors give because they enjoy the exposure. Without exposure and interest there is little reason to keep pumping money into a program).

The national title game has become less interesting to me every year. Yes, it would help if Nebraska was in the mix more often, but I'd still be more interested if the faces changed more often....... with or without the huskers involved. As it is.... same brand......different year. Even the NFL has come to realize that to maintain broad based support they need to even the playing field with caps, adjusted draft selection etc. etc. Sooner or later I think there will be a come to Jesus moment where everyone realizes they survive together....or die alone.

 

[MRJFB]

If we didn't have a monolith stadium and rabid fanbase I'd say put all your eggs into basketball. You don't have a 100 plus egos to deal with. Just go out and buy the best 3 or 4 players you can.

 

[SUHnami]

So here it is - out in the open. Witness the end of student athletes.

NIL agent says Miami hoops star Isaiah Wong will enter transfer portal if NIL compensation isn't increased (espn.com)

You now have agents, players and families making decisions about schools like it was the NFL or NBA.
It's not "where can I get the best education" but who will get me a million and a car.

I'm done with it.

Unfortunately we all kind of knew this was coming. I just hope that NU can whether the storm and keep getting these high level recruits that other big time programs can't because they have competition for the same players in their state.

 

[SUHnami]

At this point I have a little different take on things. I personally think the "capless NIL" has a limited lifespan. How long that lifespan is depends on what degree, and how soon, college athletics implodes. It will implode imo when interest is so low that the money stream dries up. Currently the major source of college athletic revenue is television/media, fan/donor support from attendance ( ie buying your seat), and contributions. These are all dependent on fan interest.....(eg no interest lead to no advertising, and no advertising leads to no huge media rights; local fan interest leads to empty seats and loss of local advertising; and donors give because they enjoy the exposure. Without exposure and interest there is little reason to keep pumping money into a program).

The national title game has become less interesting to me every year. Yes, it would help if Nebraska was in the mix more often, but I'd still be more interested if the faces changed more often....... with or without the huskers involved. As it is.... same brand......different year. Even the NFL has come to realize that to maintain broad based support they need to even the playing field with caps, adjusted draft selection etc. etc. Sooner or later I think there will be a come to Jesus moment where everyone realizes they survive together....or die alone.

I don't think the NCAA can cap NIL money. Since it was the courts who overrode the NCAA for not allowing players to be compensated for their NIL in the first place. This aspect is a boon for Nebraska as we are the only game in town.

 

[SUHnami]

Honestly Jimbo I made mention of the NCAA only because they are currently the governing body. May be the fault of the courts and their recent rulings in favor of player rights also. All I know is I hate the direction of college athletics and it may not be long before it goes the way of the NBA and NFL for me. Have not watched either in years...

Wait? Wut? The NBA is still around? I though they folded a year or 2 ago! LOL Haven't watched or cared since MJ left the game. MLB is boring until the playoffs and I only watch then if my team is in the playoffs. The NFL, once I dropped my Fantasy team and players politicized the game, I stopped watching until the playoffs this year when my favorite team ended the Cowboys! LOL. Does the NHL still exist? Haven't seen a game of theirs in probably 20 years.

 

[redfred]

I don't think the NCAA can cap NIL money. Since it was the courts who overrode the NCAA for not allowing players to be compensated for their NIL in the first place. This aspect is a boon for Nebraska as we are the only game in town.

You have a good point, but NIL just might be a little harder to come by if fan interest subsides and what is now marketable becomes less so over time.

There are things I like, such as the money used to even the recruiting field, and exposure of programs who have used monetary enticement for years, but imo if it it is not self-regulated to some degree it could get ugly. The legal system (supposedly) should only enforce laws. Will the legislative branch become involved? Dunno.

You might be right about NU being a real player. We just might find out later today.

 

[UNK Lopers]

A lot of good takes in this thread.

Personally, I do blame the NCAA. They could have had the vision to see where NIL was heading and been proactive about it. There’s really no reason that players shouldn’t be able to pocket some NIL money. Autographs, advertisements, etc. There was a way to do this in a fair and responsible manner. Instead, they tried to fight it, got neutered, and now we have the Wild West. It’s pay-for-play and I don’t like it one bit.

We are in the infant stages of this. It’s going to get even more ridiculous before it gets better. I think it will get better though. All these boosters paying these players are going to start to realize that many of these kids are complete dipsticks. They are going to get burned for a lot of money. Some of these kids have never had money and now they are going to get a cool million at 18. Yeah, there’s going to be plenty of athletes that get destroyed by this. Or when they spend it all and realize they owe taxes on it. There will be reforms at some point, but the next year are so will be nuts.

 

[Chris]

The NCAA had no choice really- they all but got sued by states who enacted laws prohibiting organizations from NOT allowing NIL.
As this article explains pretty well - this has to become a Federal issue - which will likely defer to the states anyway.

The NCAA Declares Independence from NIL Restrictions | Newsletters | Legal News: Sports | Foley & Lardner LLP

 

[Blatz]

I don't like the NIL or Portal, unless the Huskers make out like a bandit. Don't know how they'll end up doing yet so I don't have anything to comment about it. If they all come together in quick fashion they can have a great season next year.
But the NBA and NFL... I haven't watched more than a handful of minutes each season (except the SB) since Kaepernick took his knee.
Those leagues are just a turn off for me. My nephew's the Dodgers Head Strength Coach so I do follow MLB.

 

[SUHnami]

I don't like the NIL or Portal, unless the Huskers make out like a bandit. Don't know how they'll end up doing yet so I don't have anything to comment about it. If they all come together in quick fashion they can have a great season next year.
But the NBA and NFL... I haven't watched more than a handful of minutes each season (except the SB) since Kaepernick took his knee.
Those leagues are just a turn off for me. My nephew's the Dodgers Head Strength Coach so I do follow MLB.

Wait? Wut? The NBA didn't fold? LOL I haven't seen an NBA game for years. Last year was the first time I stopped watching the NFL. When you politicize a sport you will lose my support. I'm there to be entertained, not preached too. MLB I stopped watching a long time ago.

 

[NUinNC]

Once the shoe and apparel companies, Nike and Adidas, decide to get involved you may see American football go the way of European soccer. They will start signing the 14 and 15 year old kids to contracts and then give them a list of schools they can choose from.

It's not how much the local car dealership can pony up, it's the national brands. Oregon may become the new Alabama.

 

[innmc]

Does anybody have info on how the funds are being distributed? I mean do the players get a one lump sum or are there any conditions attached? Incentives?

 

[NUinNC]

Does anybody have info on how the funds are being distributed? I mean do the players get a one lump sum or are there any conditions attached? Incentives?

Do you mean like public appearances and/or name dropping during an interview.

Or do you mean like quarterback sacks or Quarterback hurries.

 

[Husker99]

I'm with you Chris. I still visit this site occasionally to check in with members that I have known for 10+ years but the NCAA has all but abandoned the reason I used to love college athletics. With stories like this my interest in college football (and sadly Husker football) is waning rapidly.

I have to say, and maybe I am just cynical, but this giving players money has been going on since forever, albeit under the table. The NIL just brought what was already happening into the light. Truth is, college football has always the NFL's unpaid farm system. And now that players are making money, and are far less exploited, some fans are like, "I don't like this..."

I think the NIL should have been more clearly defined and regulated, but again, we live in a society that prioritizes individualism and utter greed, but now it's "bad" because (mostly) Black players are now reaping huge paydays from a corrupt system that made lots of white people rich? I wonder if there's a word for that?

 

[SUHnami]

I have to say, and maybe I am just cynical, but this giving players money has been going on since forever, albeit under the table. The NIL just brought what was already happening into the light. Truth is, college football has always the NFL's unpaid farm system. And now that players are making money, and are far less exploited, some fans are like, "I don't like this..."

I think the NIL should have been more clearly defined and regulated, but again, we live in a society that prioritizes individualism and utter greed, but now it's "bad" because (mostly) Black players are now reaping huge paydays from a corrupt system that made lots of white people rich? I wonder if there's a word for that?

I do agree this had been happening in some form up to the 90's. Once SMU received the death Penalty pretty much every team stopped doing it at that level. Since then though Universities (UNL included) have been making killings on the players NIL. Apparel sales with Star players #'s on them selling over others that aren't stars. Etc. etc. The TV contract money that the BIG has been pulling down. Nebraska had been rolling in money and until COVID hit they were the 4 richest program in the country. I also do realize the players are given a free rid for a pretty good education, but at the same time it's not cool to be taking all the money your players are making for your A.D. and not giving them any back.

 

[Chris]

Does anybody have info on how the funds are being distributed? I mean do the players get a one lump sum or are there any conditions attached? Incentives?

It's like any contract: complete the service and they get paid by whatever the terms of the contract are. Example, if the contract says show up for two hours and sign autographs at Shoemart and get three pairs of free shoes..." You do the gig and get the shoes.

Bryce Young has already pocketed just shy of $2 million in cash and in-kind. And he just signed a deal with a local BMW dealer... assuming he gets a car or some such... a lease anyway. Dunno,

(8) Kyle Henderson on Twitter: "Nice NIL deal for Alabama quarterback Bryce Young @BMW https://t.co/lVXXG00Yuo" / Twitter