What do we think about this?

[AppStFan1]

This is not an App thing yet but every school is going to do this. Schools aren't going to absorb all the costs of paying revenue share along. They are going to pass it on to us. Knowing our admin this will be coming to App either in 2025 or 2026 season as well I bet.

If tickets go way up could we see fans staying home due to inflation? I can stay home and watch on ESPN+ for way less money so if we raise the costs then you have to provide clear benefits to the experience of attending the games. Are you 100% okay with it no matter our record?

https://www.on3.com/news/tennessee-to-a ... et-prices/

[yosef69]

Given our fan base and our consistent sell outs, this is something that will allow us to compete at a higher level than a lot of the schools in the G5.

I am for it.

[Appst86]

Some fans may stay home due to the increased costs but I think the real risk is losing donors that fundamentally disagree with pay-for-play. My Yosef Club donations are for scholarships and I'm fine with that. As the lines between scholarships and pay-for-play become more unclear, I may choose to donate my charitable dollars elsewhere. I suspect what I give to the Yosef club might have a greater impact if received by a college-bound kid at Rosman High School in Transylvania County.

[moonshine]

I was seriously thinking about this after the ECU game as a way App could try and "compete" in the NIL era. However, I wasn't thinking in percentages, I figured $2 per ticket. Say 15k tickets (not including students), for easy math, with 6 games would produce an extra $180k per season to add to what the collective is able to bring in. Not a huge increase for fans to absorb and may help to keep some talent App finds. For comparison, UTk's cheapest ticket I found on their website was $64 against UTEP so we'll call the "10% talent fee" $6. For 100k tickets over 7 games, the Vols can generate a minimum of $4.2m a season just on tickets. If App charged $6 per ticket (15k tix/6 games), it would bring in $540k. The financials are not in the same universe!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of how the new era is unfolding, but if you don't adjust to work in the new reality, you'll likely struggle to compete.

[AppSt94]

This works for schools that want to bring NIL in house rather than or in addition to the respective collectives. Unless App chooses to engage in NIL as a department, I’m not sure this would apply.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

[spacemonkey]

I paid $70 bucks to the ECU game. It amazed me how many App Students were at the ECU game. Was their a student ticket? and if so, how much was the student ticket? It amazes me that students can afford to pay that for tickets or are willing to do it. I must just be getting old and $70 bucks is not what $70 bucks used to be.

[AppSt94]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

I was told that Florida St has a defensive lineman getting $850k. How is that working out for them and the dude that stroked that check?

[311neers]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

I was told that Florida St has a defensive lineman getting $850k. How is that working out for them and the dude that stroked that check?

Saban said watch what happens when they pay the wrong guys... Marvin Jones Jr at FSU a perfect example.

[AppStFan1]

Some fans may stay home due to the increased costs but I think the real risk is losing donors that fundamentally disagree with pay-for-play. My Yosef Club donations are for scholarships and I'm fine with that. As the lines between scholarships and pay-for-play become more unclear, I may choose to donate my charitable dollars elsewhere. I suspect what I give to the Yosef club might have a greater impact if received by a college-bound kid at Rosman High School in Transylvania County.

I am with you here.

[Mjohn1988]

I paid $70 bucks to the ECU game. It amazed me how many App Students were at the ECU game. Was their a student ticket? and if so, how much was the student ticket? It amazes me that students can afford to pay that for tickets or are willing to do it. I must just be getting old and $70 bucks is not what $70 bucks used to be.

I think today’s students would see $70.00 as cheap entertainment. Live entertainment cost has gone through the roof.

[AppStFan1]

I was seriously thinking about this after the ECU game as a way App could try and "compete" in the NIL era. However, I wasn't thinking in percentages, I figured $2 per ticket. Say 15k tickets (not including students), for easy math, with 6 games would produce an extra $180k per season to add to what the collective is able to bring in. Not a huge increase for fans to absorb and may help to keep some talent App finds. For comparison, UTk's cheapest ticket I found on their website was $64 against UTEP so we'll call the "10% talent fee" $6. For 100k tickets over 7 games, the Vols can generate a minimum of $4.2m a season just on tickets. If App charged $6 per ticket (15k tix/6 games), it would bring in $540k. The financials are not in the same universe!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of how the new era is unfolding, but if you don't adjust to work in the new reality, you'll likely struggle to compete.

A divide is coming to make this easier. There is going to have to be a break away. This is why so many FCS schools are trying to move up because they know they can't compete with Alabama but they also don't want to be stuck with Drake, Merrimack, Stonehill, and a bunch of other truly D2 level schools. I think eventually the current top tier of FCS schools and 95% of the current G5 will end up in the second tier together where we will be with schools we have more in common with. Hopefully they will set up minimum requirements so 50 more FCS schools don't move up as well that don't really belong.

[biggie]

I'm not sure where people are finding money for our tickets now. I'm probably not making any games next year after my 2 games left this year that I have tickets to due to having to cut back.

[AppStFan1]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

I was told that Florida St has a defensive lineman getting $850k. How is that working out for them and the dude that stroked that check?

Saban said watch what happens when they pay the wrong guys... Marvin Jones Jr at FSU a perfect example.

Exactly. This is all setting up for fans to turn on players. Players who are busts and don't earn their money better get ready for fans to come at them wanting a refund or something.

[AppStFan1]

I'm not sure where people are finding money for our tickets now. I'm probably not making any games next year after my 2 games left this year that I have tickets to due to having to cut back.

Whether you have the money or not it is getting to the point with everything on TV that it is just a lot smarter financially to stay home.

[appdaze]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

[AppSt94]

I think the aspect I struggle with is trying to apply “value” to players, particularly at App. The eyeballs tell you that certain players are obviously more value based on projected rate of return. There is also value to backups as seen last Saturday. Where it gets tough is for that 3rd and 4th string QB, freshman linemen who most likely won’t play a snap this year. How about the backup punter? Everyone serves a purpose be it as scout team guys or in practice but is it fair to determine how much to pay our players? Who exactly makes that call? Is it negotiated between the player/parents/an uncle and the coaching staff? It was so much better when basically 85 guys were all treated equally. The whole thing is quickly spiraling out of control.

I was told that Florida St has a defensive lineman getting $850k. How is that working out for them and the dude that stroked that check?

Saban said watch what happens when they pay the wrong guys... Marvin Jones Jr at FSU a perfect example.

Exactly. This is all setting up for fans to turn on players. Players who are busts and don't earn their money better get ready for fans to come at them wanting a refund or something.

Fans do that now. Fans aren’t going to turn on a guy because he isn’t providing return on NIL. This is going to end up doing one of two things. Self correct or eat itself. Collectives at these big schools are going to find out very quickly that while you can buy talent. You can’t buy a team or a championship.

[Stonewall]

Interesting. I agree with just about everything above. Hmmm. Perhaps I should reconsider. In any event the Athletic Department has been directed to develop a plan to ensure that we don’t get left behind. When I asked for clarification it was a bit murky but being in the top sixty when the split comes was basically the response. I don’t know that we can pull it off.

[704App]

Interesting. I agree with just about everything above. Hmmm. Perhaps I should reconsider. In any event the Athletic Department has been directed to develop a plan to ensure that we don’t get left behind. When I asked for clarification it was a bit murky but being in the top sixty when the split comes was basically the response. I don’t know that we can pull it off.

When I hit that 176 mil on Powerball tomorrow night, we'll be able to pull it off!

[Stonewall]

After taxes it likely won’t be enough.