Would you give up football NIL

[im4cyclones]

Good lord! You didn't deserve any of the vitriol that you've received on this post. Regardless of what all these keyboard warriors say, it is a legitimate question, if all things stay the same.

Here's why. All schools have a budget for their sports (even a Texas whose NIL budget dwarfs ours). I've heard our budget for NIL is about 3 million (I have no clue, but that's a start). I've also heard that we spend roughly a 1/3 of that on MBB. So, what you are asking, I think, is this: Would you be willing to spend all 3 million (if that's the number) on MBB for a Natty?

I did say "if all things stay the same," though, which they are not doing! I heard that the player from KU is wanting 3 million to stay at KU! That would most if not all of our entire NIL budget to get him. If 3 million is his ask, he'll probably take 2; still a large portion of budget. Also, how many (and which) players would we need to give us good odds at a Natty? Don't know. Given the NIL economy's inflation, we probably wouldn't be able to afford it, even if we decided to ditch football's NIL (even for a while).

I think, until the craziness settles down, the best ISU can hope for is two-fold. First, use NIL allotted to MBB for players that will be symbiotic with our existing players (the whole is greater than the parts approach). Second, catch lightning in a bottle on a few one-and-done freshmen.

So, the question isn't at all dumb. I just don't think our total NIL budge could even buy a MBB team that has good odds to compete for a Natty.

The issue is that our entire athletic department is dependent on a competitive football team. Football profits about $25M and men’s basketball profits about $7M. Everything else loses money.

If football loses revenue, we aren’t just uncompetitive in football, we don’t compete in women’s basketball, wrestling, etc.

We’d be better off taking the basketball revenue and putting it to football, which I’m not advocating.

 

[UNIGuy4Cy]

To switch all NIL to basketball for a couple years to compete for the national title? I’m getting to the point where it’s would rather compete for a national title in basketball than competing more for stuff in n football.

I just don’t think we will ever compete for anything in football.

I can’t believe you typed this up and then actually posted it. At the end of the day, football means everything in college athletics, the rest money away from football.

 

[Pizzapitter]

History supports this view.

We have been pretty damn successful in numerous sports, for a pretty decent spell, past-present, despite the lack of funding: Men's and women's BB. Football and wrestling. Want more? Donate more.
(I can't help but to chuckle, re: the never-ending, "nutcup" theme).
I feel kinda blessed, to see winning records in the aforementioned.
We win, a hell of a lot more, than we lose.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

The issue is that our entire athletic department is dependent on a competitive football team. Football profits about $25M and men’s basketball profits about $7M. Everything else loses money.

If football loses revenue, we aren’t just uncompetitive in football, we don’t compete in women’s basketball, wrestling, etc.

We’d be better off taking the basketball revenue and putting it to football, which I’m not advocating.

Every P4 school is in the same boat, football provides most of the money to run the entire department because of the media money involved, then men's basketball team. Few if any schools are making money on their WBB teams, EIU lost money when they had back to back final four teams. Last year their WBB team sold out every game and again lost money, while the mens team made money, even though it was playing in a half empty arena most nights. Until the media revenue for WBB gets pushed up higher, it's just another sport draining off resources from football and MBB.

 

[danvillecyclone]

Just let A.I. decide where to allocate the dough.

What can go wrong?!

 

[AuH2O]

I can’t believe you typed this up and then actually posted it. At the end of the day, football means everything in college athletics, the rest money away from football.

This really isn’t true. Most college athletics revenues are dependent on being in a conference with good football programs that provide a good media deals as much as it is being good yourself.

Second, it’s estimated that the average combined media deals are about 75-80% for football and 20-25% MBB. In the Big 12 that might’ve skewed a little more toward basketball.

So of course ISU would lose some revenue by sucking at football, but it’s simply not true that ISUs AD revenue would bottom out.

Right now ISU is able to be competitive to good in both sports, so they are playing it right. The question becomes if you start falling too far behind in NIL into both and are mediocre in both.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

I'm retired and debt-free. Cheap? Probably so. I pick up the dinner tab WAY more than my share bc I have cheapskate friends. But, I will never donate a penny to NIL. There are better causes then teenagers, many of whom will be getting paid major bucks under the House Settlement.

Good for you but coming on to cyclonefanatic.com and waxing poetic about how NIL is a bad idea is like going to church and giving a sermon about how giving to the offering plate is a waste of time. Just completely stupid. My mindset is that spending money on things you enjoy is not a waste; I love Cyclone sports and want to see them be successful. So I give to NIL. It's that simple. If you truly can't afford to give $10 a month then that's fine but don't come in here trying to convince others to do the same.

The amount of people in here agreeing with it is kinda gross but emblematic of our cheap fanbase; we're going to be bottom feeders financially permanently unless this mindset changes.

 

[Kinch]

no. Jim Walden we don’t need again.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Good for you but coming on to cyclonefanatic.com and waxing poetic about how NIL is a bad idea is like going to church and giving a sermon about how giving to the offering plate is a waste of time. Just completely stupid. My mindset is that spending money on things you enjoy is not a waste; I love Cyclone sports and want to see them be successful. So I give to NIL. It's that simple. If you truly can't afford to give $10 a month then that's fine but don't come in here trying to convince others to do the same.

The amount of people in here agreeing with it is kinda gross but emblematic of our cheap fanbase; we're going to be bottom feeders financially permanently unless this mindset changes.

I think a lot of people that go to the games feel like we are spending enough and that giving to NIL on top of what they are already spending, is a step too far. I figured up last night we will spend about $2800 this coming season for our 4 FB tickets and 2 WBB tickets. Throw in parking and concessions and that number increases even more to over 3 grand a year. How is my giving another $100 to NIL going to make a difference in the outcome of the season? It's not, in my opinion, so I do not donate.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

I think a lot of people that go to the games feel like we are spending enough and that giving to NIL on top of what they are already spending, is a step too far. I figured up last night we will spend about $2800 this coming season for our 4 FB tickets and 2 WBB tickets. Throw in parking and concessions and that number increases even more to over 3 grand a year. How is my giving another $100 to NIL going to make a difference in the outcome of the season? It's not, in my opinion, so I do not donate.

sure, your $100 alone is not gonna make a difference, but if everyone else has the same thought process as you now we're missing out on thousands of dollars that absolutely would make a difference.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

sure, your $100 alone is not gonna make a difference, but if everyone else has the same thought process as you now we're missing out on thousands of dollars that absolutely would make a difference.

Total BS, people have the right to spend their extra money where they want to spend it. This idea that tens of thousands of alumni or fans are going to start sending $10 a month to NIL is nothing but a dream. Look at any school with large NIL funds and it's because of a few very wealthy people pouring money into the program. One guy giving a million makes up for 10,000 average fans giving a $100 a year. It's a numbers game and we do not have the numbers and never will.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Stop ******** and start donating, you whiny *****. My broke ass is throwing down on We Will pizza & beer.

 

[NoCreativity]

The way to end this mess is for the general public and these corporations to stop donating. When will it ever be enough? They are just going to keep coming for more and more of your money every season.

I know it will never happen, but it would stop on a dime if everyone just stopped wasting money.

 

[WooBadger18]

Good for you but coming on to cyclonefanatic.com and waxing poetic about how NIL is a bad idea is like going to church and giving a sermon about how giving to the offering plate is a waste of time. Just completely stupid. My mindset is that spending money on things you enjoy is not a waste; I love Cyclone sports and want to see them be successful. So I give to NIL. It's that simple. If you truly can't afford to give $10 a month then that's fine but don't come in here trying to convince others to do the same.

The amount of people in here agreeing with it is kinda gross but emblematic of our cheap fanbase; we're going to be bottom feeders financially permanently unless this mindset changes.

I think that’s a bad comparison. At most, it’s like being in church and saying that you aren’t a fan of a separate collection for a new program.

I really dislike NIL and refuse to donate to it, but people can donate to it if they want. But I think he had a good point and I completely disagree that it’s gross or that I don’t support my team or program or that I’m not a real fan, etc.

 

[CyInDFW]

No, it's an incredibly stupid question

 

[Koala]

Good for you but coming on to cyclonefanatic.com and waxing poetic about how NIL is a bad idea is like going to church and giving a sermon about how giving to the offering plate is a waste of time. Just completely stupid. My mindset is that spending money on things you enjoy is not a waste; I love Cyclone sports and want to see them be successful. So I give to NIL. It's that simple. If you truly can't afford to give $10 a month then that's fine but don't come in here trying to convince others to do the same.

The amount of people in here agreeing with it is kinda gross but emblematic of our cheap fanbase; we're going to be bottom feeders financially permanently unless this mindset changes.

What I find gross is that now being a fan and being allowed to have an opinion is locked behind a subscription. And before the question comes, I do give to We Will, but if someone can't afford to or simply doesn't want to, fair enough, I definitely don't blame them. No one really asked for this new reality so why should anyone feel obligated to participate?

I don't like watching my team lose, but what I like even less than that is seeing the manipulative shaming and the idea that if you didn't donate $10 this month, it's your fault and until you spend, shut up. Seems like a counterproductive method to pitch the collective, but that's just me.

 

[Clonefan32]

If you take TV contracts and conference affiliations out of the equation, I kind of get your point. Much higher likelihood that you can be competitive on a national stage in basketball as opposed to football. In football, realistically our absolute ceiling is probably the year ASU had last year, whereas I think in basketball we could be a legitimate national title contender. While I love ISU football, sometimes I'm envious of the Creighton types that can just go all in on one sport.

Now looking at it realistically, we have to be competitive in football to keep our seat at the table for what makes the AD the money they need. So the answer is an absolute no.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

What I find gross is that now being a fan and being allowed to have an opinion is locked behind a subscription. And before the question comes, I do give to We Will, but if someone can't afford to or simply doesn't want to, fair enough, I definitely don't blame them. No one really asked for this new reality so why should anyone feel obligated to participate?

I don't like watching my team lose, but what I like even less than that is seeing the manipulative shaming and the idea that if you didn't donate $10 this month, it's your fault and until you spend, shut up. Seems like a counterproductive method to pitch the collective, but that's just me.

You missed my point completely. I don't care if this specific individual donates or not. But don't come into the literal center of Cyclone sports discussion and try to convince others to not donate. I mean imagine going into a bar and saying "this place sucks I'm not buying anything" and people are on your side??? Why tf are you here then?

 

[dosry5]

yep, there is so much of our fan base that doesn't give to our NIL. I think they don't understand. I mentioned in another thread I'm in a group chat with 5 other Cyclone fans. I implored them to donate to the collective. Here is the response to one of the guys in the chat. "I don't mind giving money via buying tickets, beer at a game, and even parking. But somehow raising money to expressly pay a 19 year old to play for us..just seems wierd to me."

I explained to him if we want great players to come here we have to pay, we may not like the way college athletics is going, but reality we need to pay. Anyway, I don't think a lot of our fans understand. If they are not on Cyclone Fanatic how would they know the situation. I have other Cyclone fans at my work, they have no idea about the collecitive or how it works. I will hit them up too.

Oooooorrrrrrrrrr, they do understand and they just refuse to pay players who already get incredible benefits that most of us will never get. To act like those who don’t contribute just don’t understand is goofy. I could say the same thing about those who do contribute—the only way to reign in this madness is to refuse to give money. I have no problems if people want to give money. It’s your money. But the animosity towards those that refuse is mind blowing to me.

 

[NoCreativity]

You missed my point completely. I don't care if this specific individual donates or not. But don't come into the literal center of Cyclone sports discussion and try to convince others to not donate. I mean imagine going into a bar and saying "this place sucks I'm not buying anything" and people are on your side??? Why tf are you here then?

Your general premise is understandable but your analogies are way off base. I guarantee there are more anti-NIL people that pay attention to this website than you think.