NIL - Yay or Nay

[isutrevman]

That’s where I get conflicted on this. I don’t disagree with anything you just said….. however, I guess I’m too much of a traditionalist on college sports and what it represents to me. It’s odd because I’m a modernist on almost everything else.

I think I struggle with the idea that 99% of athletes aren’t going to be afforded the NIL deals and therefore you get 1-2 guys that benefit financially from the whole team’s effort and hard work. It would be like everybody in my company working hard and not getting paid while the CEO makes a million dollars. I’m not a socialist in any way, but that seems to go against the concept.

I do think athletes are penalized by not being able to make a fair wage due to time restrictions. I also believe that people should be able to benefit from their efforts. But I think there are better ways to do it while still maintaining a level playing field that differentiates amateur and professional sports.

To me, you either keep college sports as "amateur athletics" or you don't. Keep it as it was: scholarships + monthly living stipend. Or you go full on free market pay athletes whatever the school/boosters want effectively turning it into minor league sports.

I preferred the old way. If I want to watch pro sports I'll watch the NFL or NBA. Ideally, the NFL would get rid of any rules prohibiting younger players from entering the league. Same thing with the NBA. That way anyone that wants to get paid more can go play pro sports, and anyone that isn't good enough, or likes college can stay with true amateur athletics.

 

[CyJack13]

To me, you either keep college sports as "amateur athletics" or you don't. Keep it as it was: scholarships + monthly living stipend. Or you go full on free market pay athletes whatever the school/boosters want effectively turning it into minor league sports.

I preferred the old way. If I want to watch pro sports I'll watch the NFL or NBA. Ideally, the NFL would get rid of any rules prohibiting younger players from entering the league. Same thing with the NBA. That way anyone that wants to get paid more can go play pro sports, and anyone that isn't good enough, or likes college can stay with true amateur athletics.

Should we go back to one nationally televised college football game a week too?

 

[isutrevman]

This new NIL program "Ames NIL Club" sounds shady A.F. They're pocketing 30% of the money? What a racket. Why would I pay NIL money if 30% is going to someone that has nothing to do with Iowa State? MAYBE if it was like 5%, or if it was an actual Iowa State booster running it and needed some % just for operational costs.

 

[isutrevman]

Should we go back to one nationally televised college football game a week too?

Irrelevant. And no.

 

[CyJack13]

Irrelevant. And no.

It's not, you can't say you want to keep it the old way while ignoring the money pouring into college athletics has exploded. There weren't billion dollar TV deals in the 60's and 70's, it's a totally different situation today. Look at AD's salaries and coaching salaries. A D-1 head coaching job in the 80's didn't pay that much more than a random middle manager job, today assistants are making over $1M/year. So everyone connected with college sports are seeing huge increases in salary but the kids who are responsible for the actual product shouldn't get a cut.

 

[Rabbuk]

I'm waiting for the stories of a teammate crashing their popular teammates buggati while driving drunk or something.

 

[ClonesFTW]

I fully expect there to be an episode of American Greed about this 10 years from now, not about the players but about those taking advantage of them.

 

[isutrevman]

It's not, you can't say you want to keep it the old way while ignoring the money pouring into college athletics has exploded. There weren't billion dollar TV deals in the 60's and 70's, it's a totally different situation today. Look at AD's salaries and coaching salaries. A D-1 head coaching job in the 80's didn't pay that much more than a random middle manager job, today assistants are making over $1M/year. So everyone connected with college sports are seeing huge increases in salary but the kids who are responsible for the actual product shouldn't get a cut.

Have you seen D1 athletic facilities lately? Yes, coaches salaries have gone way up, but the majority of revenue is still being spent on the athletes through meal plans, tutors, and faculties. College facilities are better than NFL facilities.

Like I said, either you want amateur athletics, or you don't. You clearly favor the pro model which is fine. I don't.

 

[jsb]

This new NIL program "Ames NIL Club" sounds shady A.F. They're pocketing 30% of the money? What a racket. Why would I pay NIL money if 30% is going to someone that has nothing to do with Iowa State? MAYBE if it was like 5%, or if it was an actual Iowa State booster running it and needed some % just for operational costs.

BUT if the players want that, why shouldn't we donate it? If this is all about players choice and they choose the stupid Ames Club, then don't we have to go with that?

 

[CyCrazy]

Pay em I dont care. Its not perfect but whatever.

 

[isutrevman]

BUT if the players want that, why shouldn't we donate it? If this is all about players choice and they choose the stupid Ames Club, then don't we have to go with that?

You should if you want to.

 

[jsb]

You should if you want to.

Right. I'm just saying that the people that have been very pro-NIL, talk about player freedom and how the fans have to do whatever it takes. This might be what it takes.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Yes it was a while ago but the AD found us summer jobs that paid pretty decent.

I knew a player that was one of several that had a summer job helping maintain the field at the football stadium. We looked at him and said "but it's artificial turf"

 

[VeloClone]

It's not, you can't say you want to keep it the old way while ignoring the money pouring into college athletics has exploded. There weren't billion dollar TV deals in the 60's and 70's, it's a totally different situation today. Look at AD's salaries and coaching salaries. A D-1 head coaching job in the 80's didn't pay that much more than a random middle manager job, today assistants are making over $1M/year. So everyone connected with college sports are seeing huge increases in salary but the kids who are responsible for the actual product shouldn't get a cut.

None of the money that is pouring into college athletics is ending up in these NIL collectives...at least by rule it isn't supposed to be. So we now have more money being poured in because "the athletes deserve a piece of the pie." The same size pie is still over there with the same cuts for the same old things. Instead, the fans are having to bake some new cupcakes over here for the players.

 

[VeloClone]

I knew a player that was one of several that had a summer job helping maintain the field at the football stadium. We looked at him and said "but it's artificial turf"

That turf was in need of some serious maintaining. I know because I had to document and catalogue every single flaw in it before we did a stadium concert in the stadium one year.

Also, I remember Julo working for **** Doyle the stadium maintance guy one summer. At the time my understanding was that due to scholarship and/or immigration status Julo couldn't be paid but he just did it so he wasn't bored out of his skull all summer.

 

[isucy86]

I don't have an issue with athletes making money on NIL. Earning money through sponsorship deals with businesses where the athlete promotes those businesses leveraging their brand.

I feel a lot of college sport issues stem from the billionaire NFL, NBA and MLB owners who put age restrictions on young athletes entering their leagues or don't create a minor league system that pays an equitable salary.

MLB has a viable development path with MiLB, but their compensation for most is lacking.

 

[isucy86]

Have you seen D1 athletic facilities lately? Yes, coaches salaries have gone way up, but the majority of revenue is still being spent on the athletes through meal plans, tutors, and faculties. College facilities are better than NFL facilities.

Like I said, either you want amateur athletics, or you don't. You clearly favor the pro model which is fine. I don't.

I think the other thing people overlook is this billion dollar revenue machine pays for the college scholastic and sport experience for over 400 kids at each school. So yes football and basketball athletes are "under compensated" but their fellow student-athletes benefit from the FB & MBB money machines.

Has the admin side of college sport gotten out of hand? Definitely. But not sure how that can be changed. At one time the NCAA tried to restrict entry level coach salaries, got sued and courts ruled against NCAA.

 

[Halincandenza]

As long as it isn't a recruiting inducement, I am on board with all of it.

 

[brokenloginagain]

I sometimes think a labor/strike situation is inevitable in the future.

college athletes are still only getting the scraps of all these millions/billions.

were only a decent social media campaign away from players refusing to play until they get a big chunk of those TV dollars, just like NFL/NBA/MLB etc.

I won't be putting money into an NIL, but I hope these athletes get all the $$$$ they can - the coaches/suits certainly are!

 

[jdoggivjc]

Like most, yes on its intention, no on its reality. I was always in favor of the players being able to profit from their identities. I was never in favor of it opening a loophole to allow behavior that got SMU the death penalty back in the 1980s - which is quickly what NIL has become.