I am incredibly sad based on the FB situation right now. I need to channel my energy into something (seemingly?) more productive. What's the opportunity in the current adversity? How do we become part of the solution?
There are obviously two main issues at play here: First, our ability to fully fund the settlement cap and reach beyond that for additional NIL. Second is the AD's current approach to the handling of the cap and NIL. I will get the water under the bridge out of the way...I wish that the WWC had been absorbed into the AD in a way that would have retained its effectiveness, while aligning with the AD need to address the cap.
The current cap/NIL approach seems to be out of most of our hands. We will need the key donors, coaches and new President to address/revise (through pressure and solutioning) the current cap/NIL approach, as well as how to reach the cap and grow the additional NIL opportunities. With the current state of the FB program, we are at risk of revenues being down next year and we will likely lose some FB stars that were bringing in NIL monies to the cap. Time for a fresh, collaborative review of the current program(s), again, driven by the most influential stakeholders. I hope that there is a cadre forming to undertake this effort. Any suggestions on how we may be able to support them? Emails to AD, President, etc. @brentblum do you have an recommendations? Your contributions to ISU athletics is incredible and I know you are stepping back, but I know you have some much knowledge and experience in this area.
Funding the cap and allowing for additional NIL opportunities will likely contribute to improving our current cap/NIL approach, one helps address the other. I am viewing the cap and NIL separately as funding the cap, to allow the AD to fully pay the $20.5MM, is one thing while finding additional NIL opportunities for athletes is another important and additive component (and it sounds like it's not being fully leveraged yet). I have said it before, but there is no mega-donor coming to the rescue. This one feels like we as fans can have an impact (even small) on helping address. I get it, many of us are tapped out. How do we help encourage new donors? Should we be contacting city, county(s) and state officials? Are there company matches we should be looking into? Does following athletes on social media and liking their endorsements help? I am spit balling here and hope others have some better ideas. Again, I welcome @brentblum 's thoughts on it.
I plan to renew my Cyclone Club membership and season FB tickets for next season. The new staff and players (especially those staying) need our support. It goes beyond that, the University, City of Ames and region have an economic stake and risk in this. I am considering moving my modest WWC contributions (or part of it) to the Grid Iron Club until our approach is modified. I want to be able to do more but I am tapped and looking for levers I can still pull to help.
I don't care if this post gets 'dumbed' or receives a bunch of snarky drive-by comments...writing this was cathartic for me. I want to actually help.
Logging off for a while. Thanks for reading.
There are obviously two main issues at play here: First, our ability to fully fund the settlement cap and reach beyond that for additional NIL. Second is the AD's current approach to the handling of the cap and NIL. I will get the water under the bridge out of the way...I wish that the WWC had been absorbed into the AD in a way that would have retained its effectiveness, while aligning with the AD need to address the cap.
The current cap/NIL approach seems to be out of most of our hands. We will need the key donors, coaches and new President to address/revise (through pressure and solutioning) the current cap/NIL approach, as well as how to reach the cap and grow the additional NIL opportunities. With the current state of the FB program, we are at risk of revenues being down next year and we will likely lose some FB stars that were bringing in NIL monies to the cap. Time for a fresh, collaborative review of the current program(s), again, driven by the most influential stakeholders. I hope that there is a cadre forming to undertake this effort. Any suggestions on how we may be able to support them? Emails to AD, President, etc. @brentblum do you have an recommendations? Your contributions to ISU athletics is incredible and I know you are stepping back, but I know you have some much knowledge and experience in this area.
Funding the cap and allowing for additional NIL opportunities will likely contribute to improving our current cap/NIL approach, one helps address the other. I am viewing the cap and NIL separately as funding the cap, to allow the AD to fully pay the $20.5MM, is one thing while finding additional NIL opportunities for athletes is another important and additive component (and it sounds like it's not being fully leveraged yet). I have said it before, but there is no mega-donor coming to the rescue. This one feels like we as fans can have an impact (even small) on helping address. I get it, many of us are tapped out. How do we help encourage new donors? Should we be contacting city, county(s) and state officials? Are there company matches we should be looking into? Does following athletes on social media and liking their endorsements help? I am spit balling here and hope others have some better ideas. Again, I welcome @brentblum 's thoughts on it.
I plan to renew my Cyclone Club membership and season FB tickets for next season. The new staff and players (especially those staying) need our support. It goes beyond that, the University, City of Ames and region have an economic stake and risk in this. I am considering moving my modest WWC contributions (or part of it) to the Grid Iron Club until our approach is modified. I want to be able to do more but I am tapped and looking for levers I can still pull to help.
I don't care if this post gets 'dumbed' or receives a bunch of snarky drive-by comments...writing this was cathartic for me. I want to actually help.
Logging off for a while. Thanks for reading.
