What do we think about this?

[bcoach]

My favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how many people literally just make stuff up.
"I'd bet 85% of players, coaches, etc. HATE this new system!" Given what evidence? Even a kid only getting a few bucks or some free food/merch is better than nothing at all.
"There's got to be jealousy in the locker room!" Why? Do professionals get jealous when a star player gets paid more than a bench piece? You want more money? Play better.
"I won't give a dime more than the value of a scholarship!" Why? This is still America, right? Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? If I'm putting my body on the line every Saturday, plus practice, conditioning, film study, etc. all on top of going to class and maintaining a higher GPA requirement than normal students, AND my performance helps bring in millions of dollars to the university, I'd expect to get a little more than ~$20k a year in scholarships.

Well I have no idea how many players like it or not but I'll bet 85% of coaches is way too low.
If you really think there is no or will be no jealousy in the locker room you are kidding yourself.
Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? Well here is my take on that. First off they are by way of scholorships and all that includes. ALL that includes. Second the whole putting my body on the line deal is just bull. You are not being forced to play a game at this level that thousands of kids would give anything to be able to do. There is a reason there are two different words. One is game and the other is work. When you want to talk about the millions it brings in, take away student fees and we can talk.
My least favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how people continue to try and defend a system that is destroying the sport.

[AppSt94]

Here's a good interview with Andrew Luck and Condoleezza Rice discussing Transfer Portal, NIL, and Pay-for-Play.

This was a fantastic interview. A great watch. Thank you for sharing.

[Bigdaddyg1]

My favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how many people literally just make stuff up.
"I'd bet 85% of players, coaches, etc. HATE this new system!" Given what evidence? Even a kid only getting a few bucks or some free food/merch is better than nothing at all.
"There's got to be jealousy in the locker room!" Why? Do professionals get jealous when a star player gets paid more than a bench piece? You want more money? Play better.
"I won't give a dime more than the value of a scholarship!" Why? This is still America, right? Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? If I'm putting my body on the line every Saturday, plus practice, conditioning, film study, etc. all on top of going to class and maintaining a higher GPA requirement than normal students, AND my performance helps bring in millions of dollars to the university, I'd expect to get a little more than ~$20k a year in scholarships.

Well I have no idea how many players like it or not but I'll bet 85% of coaches is way too low.
If you really think there is no or will be no jealousy in the locker room you are kidding yourself.
Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? Well here is my take on that. First off they are by way of scholorships and all that includes. ALL that includes. Second the whole putting my body on the line deal is just bull. You are not being forced to play a game at this level that thousands of kids would give anything to be able to do. There is a reason there are two different words. One is game and the other is work. When you want to talk about the millions it brings in, take away student fees and we can talk.
My least favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how people continue to try and defend a system that is destroying the sport.

I don’t think many people have a problem with NIL as we think it was intended- if player A represents Joe’s Used Cars on their commercials he deserves to be paid like any spokesperson. If some video game company has App State and they identify the quarterback as Joey A he absolutely deserves to be paid. If that same video game company has an App State team and the quarterback has his number and the player they generated looks exactly like Joey A but without a name on the jersey he once again deserves to be paid.

Where I and many other have a problem is with the Go Fund Me Collectives who are basically taking up donations to pay athletes. The aspect of college athletics that I have always loved to read is- No one is forcing you to play! My wife is a NC Educator and I wish she made double what she makes but she knew when she decided to pursue this career what the pay was. She knows every year that her raises will not be substantial but she loves her job. Kids who want to play college ball should not be shocked to find out that they have to work out and practice a lot AND attend classes. If you took the entire rosters of every D1 and FCS football and basketball teams how many players would be considered stars who generate millions for their schools? How many FCS teams operate with huge surplus budgets. How many teams at our level operate with a surplus? This entire process is really for the benefit of a great minority of the total number of college athletes. We have teams and athletes at App who don’t generate a dime of added revenue.

[fjblair]

As mentioned above, donations are eventually going to take a hit whether the money goes to "scholarships" or not. Many fans and donors are going to reject the professional sports model that is developing. College football is killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

[PhillyApp1]

As mentioned above, donations are eventually going to take a hit whether the money goes to "scholarships" or not. Many fans and donors are going to reject the professional sports model that is developing. College football is killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Not in the SEC

This war started with schools who have billions to spend. They are the greediest and narcissistic group of Asswipes and don't care about anything except money and power.

[appgrad95&97]

To me the take away from Tennessee's specific plan is that athletics is a black hole. If an SEC school with all the TV and other revenue they get has to tax ticket holders to raise money for players: that's a fiscal discipline issue. There will never be enough money.

[Bigdaddyg1]

The NFL has a team salary cap yet some teams determine that their quarterback is worth $50m per year and a long snapper is worth $1m ish. They also have pretty much determined (through collective bargaining) that there is a rookie wage scale and a declining scale for draft picks. With no limits or cap schools with virtually endless funds can go nuts. As much as I love me some App football I would not pay a dime to watch practice. Obviously the value of the quarterback at Georgia is based on what they are willing to pay. Fanantical fans at the big schools have proven over the years that they lose their collective minds over football and basketball and don’t care how much money is spent. The new reality of what is really a watered down SEC is that some otherwise pretty good programs will have to accept 7-5.

[Capt. Ed]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

[AppSt94]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

True. And it’s hard to get mad at someone that “isn’t following the rules” because there aren’t any rules.

[Saint3333]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

Unintended consequences of a reasonable ruling and the schools with a $$$ advantage pushed their agenda into the realm where we are today. They may not have started it, but they did poor gasoline on it without regard to the consequences.

[MrCraig]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

Unintended consequences of a reasonable ruling and the schools with a $$$ advantage pushed their agenda into the realm where we are today. They may not have started it, but they did poor gasoline on it without regard to the consequences.

"They" didn't do anything. The NCAA caused all of this by not having a plan in place and making copious profits off the backs of unpaid labor. Now the labor is getting paid, and they don't like it.

[MrCraig]

My favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how many people literally just make stuff up.
"I'd bet 85% of players, coaches, etc. HATE this new system!" Given what evidence? Even a kid only getting a few bucks or some free food/merch is better than nothing at all.
"There's got to be jealousy in the locker room!" Why? Do professionals get jealous when a star player gets paid more than a bench piece? You want more money? Play better.
"I won't give a dime more than the value of a scholarship!" Why? This is still America, right? Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? If I'm putting my body on the line every Saturday, plus practice, conditioning, film study, etc. all on top of going to class and maintaining a higher GPA requirement than normal students, AND my performance helps bring in millions of dollars to the university, I'd expect to get a little more than ~$20k a year in scholarships.

Well I have no idea how many players like it or not but I'll bet 85% of coaches is way too low.
If you really think there is no or will be no jealousy in the locker room you are kidding yourself.
Don't people deserve to get paid for their work? Well here is my take on that. First off they are by way of scholorships and all that includes. ALL that includes. Second the whole putting my body on the line deal is just bull. You are not being forced to play a game at this level that thousands of kids would give anything to be able to do. There is a reason there are two different words. One is game and the other is work. When you want to talk about the millions it brings in, take away student fees and we can talk.
My least favorite thing about every NIL discussion is how people continue to try and defend a system that is destroying the sport.

I don’t think many people have a problem with NIL as we think it was intended- if player A represents Joe’s Used Cars on their commercials he deserves to be paid like any spokesperson. If some video game company has App State and they identify the quarterback as Joey A he absolutely deserves to be paid. If that same video game company has an App State team and the quarterback has his number and the player they generated looks exactly like Joey A but without a name on the jersey he once again deserves to be paid.

Where I and many other have a problem is with the Go Fund Me Collectives who are basically taking up donations to pay athletes. The aspect of college athletics that I have always loved to read is- No one is forcing you to play! My wife is a NC Educator and I wish she made double what she makes but she knew when she decided to pursue this career what the pay was. She knows every year that her raises will not be substantial but she loves her job. Kids who want to play college ball should not be shocked to find out that they have to work out and practice a lot AND attend classes. If you took the entire rosters of every D1 and FCS football and basketball teams how many players would be considered stars who generate millions for their schools? How many FCS teams operate with huge surplus budgets. How many teams at our level operate with a surplus? This entire process is really for the benefit of a great minority of the total number of college athletes. We have teams and athletes at App who don’t generate a dime of added revenue.

"The aspect of college athletics that I have always loved to read is- No one is forcing you to play! My wife is a NC Educator and I wish she made double what she makes but she knew when she decided to pursue this career what the pay was."

So, because teachers work countless hours of unpaid labor, and often have to get second jobs to help make ends meet, college athletes should have to as well?
That doesn't seem like a very strong argument.

[Saint3333]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

Unintended consequences of a reasonable ruling and the schools with a $$$ advantage pushed their agenda into the realm where we are today. They may not have started it, but they did poor gasoline on it without regard to the consequences.

"They" didn't do anything. The NCAA caused all of this by not having a plan in place and making copious profits off the backs of unpaid labor. Now the labor is getting paid, and they don't like it.

You're giving the schools a pass here. Schools with cash ran towards the opportunity to push beyond the NIL concept as intended. Some were happy they didn't have to hide it any longer.

NCAA, Media, Power schools, and yes even us fans are all complicit in the direction this took. No party can avoid 100% of the "blame".

[bcoach]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

Unintended consequences of a reasonable ruling and the schools with a $$$ advantage pushed their agenda into the realm where we are today. They may not have started it, but they did poor gasoline on it without regard to the consequences.

"They" didn't do anything. The NCAA caused all of this by not having a plan in place and making copious profits off the backs of unpaid labor. Now the labor is getting paid, and they don't like it.

"off the backs of unpaid labor"? really? You said that?

[appgrad95&97]

The NFL has a team salary cap yet some teams determine that their quarterback is worth $50m per year and a long snapper is worth $1m ish. They also have pretty much determined (through collective bargaining) that there is a rookie wage scale and a declining scale for draft picks. With no limits or cap schools with virtually endless funds can go nuts. As much as I love me some App football I would not pay a dime to watch practice. Obviously the value of the quarterback at Georgia is based on what they are willing to pay. Fanantical fans at the big schools have proven over the years that they lose their collective minds over football and basketball and don’t care how much money is spent. The new reality of what is really a watered down SEC is that some otherwise pretty good programs will have to accept 7-5.

There's no comparison between pro franchises and college athletics. A pro franchise can be sold. Around 1990 Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys for around $200m. Today the Cowboys are worth $11b. He could loose $100m a year and still have positive equity in the franchise. A university can't do that. College teams can't be sold. Running a perpetual loss on a college athletics program is unsubstantiated because you can’t build equity in something you can't sell.

[MrCraig]

Just for the record, the players sued and the courts agreed. The schools did not start this.

Unintended consequences of a reasonable ruling and the schools with a $$$ advantage pushed their agenda into the realm where we are today. They may not have started it, but they did poor gasoline on it without regard to the consequences.

"They" didn't do anything. The NCAA caused all of this by not having a plan in place and making copious profits off the backs of unpaid labor. Now the labor is getting paid, and they don't like it.

"off the backs of unpaid labor"? really? You said that?

What else would you call it? Before NCAA v. Alston, American Olympians who were also on scholarship were not allowed to accept money from the USOC for medals they won. Athletes weren't allowed to work other jobs while on scholarship. How is saying "your scholarship is pay for your work" any different than indentured servitude?

[AppOrange]

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

It is truly a sad testament about the current level of college athletics when a big win like that won't even really make a difference. The cash value of that is 89.4 million and after 37% federal income tax you are at 56.3 million. While that is a really nice day, Ohio State's NIL this year alone is reported at 20 million. So that gives what, 3 good years of NIL maybe 5 since App can do more with less. Hell, that couldn't even cover a stadium expansion where we actually provide seats (not bleachers) for the ticket holder. The costs associated with college football really have gotten out of control.

I really don't understand the obsession with putting seats in KBS (not bleachers). I get the comfort issue, but to pay that amount of money and decrease the capacity significantly just seems like a bad call. I can see doing certain sections if we are adding significant seats elsewhere. I found it interesting that Death Valley (Clemson) was full of bleachers (not seats) and is considered a premier facility.

I don't think we should do the entire stadium, bleachers are perfect for the entire student section as they never sit anyways, but eventually we are going to have to make our fans comfortable. We have been very fortunate that our attendance continues to be at record levels, but we are the exception. In a time of belt tightening, eventually we will need to offer superior amenities for our fans. I go to a lot of games at the Swamp, and they too have mostly bleachers, but they are also planning a renovation that will reduce capacity to make things more comfortable. I think eventually, and to me the sooner the better, we need to make more sections more comfortable for more fans.

Lambeau Field sells out at nearly 80,000 every game and the large majority of their seats are aluminum benches with no backs. Many of the Big 10 stadiums are also primarily bleachers. The horseshoe of Folsom Field is all bleachers.

Now wi-fi.......

Yeah, the WIFI deal is way worse than the bleacher seats, its not even close. Not being able to see scores, text, get an uber, anything over the network is just not acceptable in this modern day. I can bring my own seat cushion . . .

[moonshine]

Yeah, the WIFI deal is way worse than the bleacher seats, its not even close. Not being able to see scores, text, get an uber, anything over the network is just not acceptable in this modern day. I can bring my own seat cushion . . .

We need NIL for Wifi! Before DG tacks on a "talent fee" to the tickets, start with a "wifi fee" so fans can have actual service inside KBS.

[Saint3333]

I enjoy three hours with no wi-fi.

[AppStFan1]

I enjoy three hours with no wi-fi.

I like it to check scores. The interesting thing is Wifi works in the stadium when there is not a huge crowd but obviously most of us are only there for the game and if you want to check scores you need it.