An annual $2.5 million for an elite starting lineup would not be that high. We would borrow to do that if needed. Huge ROI. Top level basketball and top branding for just $2.5 million. Plus revenue growth.
That will get KUs inclusion in the P2. And it’s not that far from their recruiting budgets and inflated coaching salaries due to recruiting.
The issue is it’s 2.5 million only right now. Every recruit it goes up. I don’t know where it stops, but given these TV deals, and what top programs make on basketball, 8 figures is not unlikely. There’s a lot riding on KU basketball. There are also a lot of committed fans and donors that will pay.
If YOU want to step up and fund student-athletes NIL go ahead.
If we are talking 6 figure NIL payments or pay-for-play as the direction college-athletics is going, no thanks. I would prefer ISU step back and find other universities that also want to take what I'll call an Ivy League approach to the college sport experience for athletes and fans. Athletic Departments can then focus on the educational opportunities and integrating athletes into the general student population. Athlete dorms, lounges, etc. are part of the problem by segregating athletes from the general student population.
If athletes want pay-for-play, then they should be able to enter the NBA or NFL draft right out of HS. If the top basketball and football players have a market value, then the NBA and NFL should be able to create a profitable minor league development system.
It really is a crazy system where you and I pay the development (R&D) cost for Jerry Jones, Robert Craft, Stan Kroenke, Steve Balmer, Mark Cuban, Dan Gilbert, etc. finished product. I doubt Pat Bowlen's family is going to take the $4 billion proceeds from their sale of the Denver Broncos franchise to a member of the Walton (Walmart) family and donate it to charity or better yet, Bronco season ticketholders.