JDL...NIL...SOL

[CougPatrol]

There was a (hopefully) unsubstantiated rumor floating around on talk radio and the web that JDL might be considering the portal, and it got me thinking about how different the college football landscape is going to be if there aren't some regulations put in place regarding the NIL.

Look at JDL for instance. A kid from Hawaii who grew up without a lot of financial means. What happens if a marketing branch of U of Texas or Alabama floats a $500K NIL offer his way. Fans would be furious if he left, but could you blame him? What would I tell my kid?

This type of scenario is a matter of when not if. Not just for WSU, but for all programs. What if a Nationally regarded recruit signs a big NIL with Ohio State and transfers out 2 years later to Oregon and signs another deal? They better start working on closing up the loopholes or this is going to get ugly fast.

 

[CougEd]

There was a (hopefully) unsubstantiated rumor floating around on talk radio and the web that JDL might be considering the portal, and it got me thinking about how different the college football landscape is going to be if there aren't some regulations put in place regarding the NIL.

Look at JDL for instance. A kid from Hawaii who grew up without a lot of financial means. What happens if a marketing branch of U of Texas or Alabama floats a $500K NIL offer his way. Fans would be furious if he left, but could you blame him? What would I tell my kid?

This type of scenario is a matter of when not if. Not just for WSU, but for all programs. What if a Nationally regarded recruit signs a big NIL with Ohio State and transfers out 2 years later to Oregon and signs another deal? They better start working on closing up the loopholes or this is going to get ugly fast.

I have fully anticipated another school coming to call… like Oregon .

 

[acgcoug]

I wish I didn't like sports, because we as a society give way too much power and influence to the sport's machine.

Pro sports lost me years ago, and I kind of wish my interest in college sports would go away too. I just don't like the direction of any of it.

 

[ttowncoug]

I think these kids need to be thinking about their career after football as well.

if JDL is thinking about transferring; a) I think it would be a mistake, and b) it could be a concern that the new offense isn't going to showcase his skills?

 

[CougPatrol]

I haven't figured out how this is going to play out. One of the key parameters for NIL payouts is playing time. Transferring doesn't guarantee that you'll win the job or stay healthy. Then there's the ethical optics of "recruiting" kids who are under scholarship with another University.

If NIKE approaches JDL and entices him to transfer to Oregon, the precedent has been set. Schools like WSU will then have to flex the same lack of integrity with kids in the Mountain West or Big Sky (like the kid from Incarnate Word). Things will quickly spiral out of control if this gets left unchecked.

 

[CougPatrol]

I think these kids need to be thinking about their career after football as well.

if JDL is thinking about transferring; a) I think it would be a mistake, and b) it could be a concern that the new offense isn't going to showcase his skills?

I don't think that will have anything to do with an NIL influenced transfer decision. If a program running the wishbone offers $500K, kids will take it even if they're a drop back passer.

The new offense is pass heavy and will absolutely showcase JDL's skills. He's not transferring for that reason. He's QB1 at a Power 5 school who just missed out on playing for the P12 championship. He was named to the conference's all-freshman team. Apart from NIL money, a decision to transfer to another program would be highly inadvisable.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I think it's pretty obvious that between the transfer portal, NIL and conference realignment, college football as we know it is going to be gone in the very near future. The alliance being formed to combat the SEC is great, but realistically, the B1G doesn't care if the Pac-12 is getting screwed and is going to take the steps that best protect its interests.

I do think that as things become more "professional", it is going to become more important that ethical guidelines will need to be established to prevent the active recruitment of players at other colleges. There should be a $250k fine if a NIL sponsor (or other school) initiates contact with a player from one school and they sponsor them (or give them a scholarship) after transferring to a different school. Conversations should only be had AFTER a player has decided to enter the portal and there should be heavy consequences if that is breached. Unfortunately, the NCAA has become less and less relevant and if they try to do too much, they may just disappear as a governing body. The failure to create an FBS playoff decades ago has gutted their leverage on anything. The schools all realize now that as long as they put up a united front, the NCAA can't do anything to anybody anymore.

The foxes are guarding the hen house now and there is no way to unring the bell. Too much money to be made to expect any kind of good behavior.

 

[chugspig]

Kind of messed up but heard the rumor JDL had been asking around. Not sure of the timeline, like if it was directly after Rolos firing or what and he’s since cooled down…..But did hear the rumor involved interest with Oregon and Cristobal before he left. Don’t really want to believe it and would like to believe their coaches wouldn’t contact players on a team but yeah.

 

[BiggsCoug]

The day is coming when staffs may have to decide what they’re going to be. A program that develops kids or a program that is building a roster one year at a time.

NIL deals may need to have a buyout clause where kids have to pay $ if they leave. Same as coaches.

The NCAA may have to ease the graduation standards as kids could wind up being here there and gone. Schools won’t be able to keep kids.

And kids will have to wake up. The dipshit receiver from Oregon in the news now talking about how he is leaving because he never gets touches…. hey dummy, did you not see the stats before you went there??? Why not just be honest and say you chose a school for the facilities and glitz. Then realized you aren’t going pro with 300 yards receiving. Jimmy Lake was right about Oregon.

You cannot get to the NFL without playing time. All the facilities, NIL deals, etc mean nothing if you are trading dollars right now for dollars in the NFL. You are doing more for the program than yourself. It is short money. Get on the field and make plays!!!! The NFL doesn’t care if you looked good wearing team gear around campus or driving your new car from the NIL deal while never playing. They want game film.

It is amazing to me how kids will stockpile themselves at schools. Their eligibility has a short runway. Why would you watch 2 years go by, 50% of your most valuable asset, never playing??? Why wouldn’t you choose a school where you can play all 4 years and march into the NFL combine with as much game film as possible???

 

[Observer11]

The NCAA could fix this in a second.

In exchange for a scholarship at an NCAA institution, athlete agrees to contribute all proceeds from NIL to a pool to be distributed pro-rata basis among all Division 1, 2 and 3 athletes.

D1 could get 60% of the pool
D2 could get something like 30% of the pool
D3 the remaining 10%.

Distribute it among all academically eligible athletes (male and female).

There's no incentive for any one school to load up or turn into a corporate conduit.

If a player doesn't want to participate in the pool, he pays for his own schollie and a designated fee for the services provides by coaches, trainers, academic assistants and so forth. If they want to be business people, they can act like business people, too.

 

[CougPatrol]

The day is coming when staffs may have to decide what they’re going to be. A program that develops kids or a program that is building a roster one year at a time.

NIL deals may need to have a buyout clause where kids have to pay $ if they leave. Same as coaches.

The NCAA may have to ease the graduation standards as kids could wind up being here there and gone. Schools won’t be able to keep kids.

And kids will have to wake up. The dipshit receiver from Oregon in the news now talking about how he is leaving because he never gets touches…. hey dummy, did you not see the stats before you went there??? Why not just be honest and say you chose a school for the facilities and glitz. Then realized you aren’t going pro with 300 yards receiving. Jimmy Lake was right about Oregon.

You cannot get to the NFL without playing time. All the facilities, NIL deals, etc mean nothing if you are trading dollars right now for dollars in the NFL. You are doing more for the program than yourself. It is short money. Get on the field and make plays!!!! The NFL doesn’t care if you looked good wearing team gear around campus or driving your new car from the NIL deal while never playing. They want game film.

It is amazing to me how kids will stockpile themselves at schools. Their eligibility has a short runway. Why would you watch 2 years go by, 50% of your most valuable asset, never playing??? Why wouldn’t you choose a school where you can play all 4 years and march into the NFL combine with as much game film as possible???

It's interesting because the NIL deals are going to be predicated on playing time. That's the plan, anyway. Nobody's going to pay for an autograph for the 4th leading receiver on a college team or offer a glitz deal to a QB who doesn't see the field.

I don't know if the rumors about JDL were true or not, but I bet he ended up realizing the risks of trading in a QB1 job and some likely great stats as a 3 year starter. You start at QB for WSU for 3 years and you're getting invited to an NFL camp at the very least.

 

[Brent H.]

There was a (hopefully) unsubstantiated rumor floating around on talk radio and the web that JDL might be considering the portal, and it got me thinking about how different the college football landscape is going to be if there aren't some regulations put in place regarding the NIL.

Look at JDL for instance. A kid from Hawaii who grew up without a lot of financial means. What happens if a marketing branch of U of Texas or Alabama floats a $500K NIL offer his way. Fans would be furious if he left, but could you blame him? What would I tell my kid?

This type of scenario is a matter of when not if. Not just for WSU, but for all programs. What if a Nationally regarded recruit signs a big NIL with Ohio State and transfers out 2 years later to Oregon and signs another deal? They better start working on closing up the loopholes or this is going to get ugly fast.

Jed Collins was on with Ian the other day and he talked the NIL and how Wazzu needs to be proactive in this. Said that CougFirst had a webinar with about 70 Coug owned business owners the other day to talk about specifics and getting kids involved. It went from "No, don't talk to them at all" to "please talk to them and give them money". Sounds like this is something that Wazzu knows they need to be on par with the rest of the conference with. Will you see deals like at Alabama and Ohio State? No, but I can see kids getting taken care of.

 

[CougEd]

The NCAA could fix this in a second.

In exchange for a scholarship at an NCAA institution, athlete agrees to contribute all proceeds from NIL to a pool to be distributed pro-rata basis among all Division 1, 2 and 3 athletes.

D1 could get 60% of the pool
D2 could get something like 30% of the pool
D3 the remaining 10%.

Distribute it among all academically eligible athletes (male and female).

There's no incentive for any one school to load up or turn into a corporate conduit.

If a player doesn't want to participate in the pool, he pays for his own schollie and a designated fee for the services provides by coaches, trainers, academic assistants and so forth. If they want to be business people, they can act like business people, too.

This problem doesn't get solved until the NFL creates a developmental league. Pandora's box has been opened and if JDL leaves like I believe he will, WSU is now the team that puts Oregon or Georgia or another team shy one or two players over the top. WSU then will raid other schools in lower divisions like the QB from Morris' school that will fill our roster. Its an ugly cycle. Oregon needs a QB...where better to get one than your own conference.

 

[Suudy]

The NIL facilitates the same kind of thing that occurred before scholarship limits. Indeed, they become de factor scholarships without the NCAA calling it a scholarship. Enough boosters float some money to some fund that are used to attract the best. They then get to sit on the bench for 4 years, but they got a great paycheck.

I know a guy that played for OSU at the same time as OJ was at USC. He went to high-school with a highly recruited running back. That guy went to USC because of the glamor, glitz, benefits, etc. He then preceded to sit on the bench for 4 years behind OJ. Had he gone to OSU (where this old timer I know pushed him to do), he would have been a starter and probably had an NFL career. The point, he contends, was to keep top talent away form the competition, and keep them in reserve for injuries, etc.

Seems to me the NIL could do the same thing. Offer all the benefits, perhaps including some sort of "salary" based on some hokey playing cards, photo shoots, etc., and you do the same. You get all the studs on your bench and away from your competition.

 

[BiggsCoug]

The NIL facilitates the same kind of thing that occurred before scholarship limits. Indeed, they become de factor scholarships without the NCAA calling it a scholarship. Enough boosters float some money to some fund that are used to attract the best. They then get to sit on the bench for 4 years, but they got a great paycheck.

I know a guy that played for OSU at the same time as OJ was at USC. He went to high-school with a highly recruited running back. That guy went to USC because of the glamor, glitz, benefits, etc. He then preceded to sit on the bench for 4 years behind OJ. Had he gone to OSU (where this old timer I know pushed him to do), he would have been a starter and probably had an NFL career. The point, he contends, was to keep top talent away form the competition, and keep them in reserve for injuries, etc.

Seems to me the NIL could do the same thing. Offer all the benefits, perhaps including some sort of "salary" based on some hokey playing cards, photo shoots, etc., and you do the same. You get all the studs on your bench and away from your competition.

What happens when Alabama starts signing 25 kids on LOI day…. all of them high end players… then takes another 25 kids that are 3 star kids on NIL deals????

Kids will take the NIL deal for a shot to play at Alabama. If it doesn’t work out they enter the portal and start all over.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

What happens when Alabama starts signing 25 kids on LOI day…. all of them high end players… then takes another 25 kids that are 3 star kids on NIL deals????

Kids will take the NIL deal for a shot to play at Alabama. If it doesn’t work out they enter the portal and start all over.

The NCAA could fix it easily if they wanted to (and if schools were willing to comply). Make it a rule that a player can't participate in a game unless they are on scholarship. They can be on a roster but they can't compete unless the school is willing to give them that scholarship designation. They could raise the scholarship limit to 30 per year if that got buy-in.

They could also make it a rule that all NIL deals pay a 30-40% tax that is used to provide "universal basic income" for athletes that don't have NIL deals. Similar to what observer11 suggested but still rewards the players that are actually driving the NIL discussion.

They could also make it a rule that NIL deals are only allowed on an individual basis. No universal deals for entire teams.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

The NCAA could fix it easily if they wanted to (and if schools were willing to comply). Make it a rule that a player can't participate in a game unless they are on scholarship. They can be on a roster but they can't compete unless the school is willing to give them that scholarship designation. They could raise the scholarship limit to 30 per year if that got buy-in.

They could also make it a rule that all NIL deals pay a 30-40% tax that is used to provide "universal basic income" for athletes that don't have NIL deals. Similar to what observer11 suggested but still rewards the players that are actually driving the NIL discussion.

They could also make it a rule that NIL deals are only allowed on an individual basis. No universal deals for entire teams.

I don't really mind players having a little more power in a system that is profiting off of them, after all they are the product. However, this has become essentially free-agency and even in the professional ranks that has its limits.

If a player has signed a contract for 2 years (with a scholarship being the collegiate sports equivelant) then that team possesses the "rights" to that player for that length of time. You can choose to sit out, but another team cannot sign you until that term expires.

So if you agree to accept a scholarship to a school (lets say with a 2-year minimum for arguments sake) and after one year you want to enter the transfer portal- fine - but you cannot play until that second year is up. It would be going back to the "sit out" one year rule. Taihtsat

 

[BiggsCoug]

I don't really mind players having a little more power in a system that is profiting off of them, after all they are the product. However, this has become essentially free-agency and even in the professional ranks that has its limits.

If a player has signed a contract for 2 years (with a scholarship being the collegiate sports equivelant) then that team possesses the "rights" to that player for that length of time. You can choose to sit out, but another team cannot sign you until that term expires.

So if you agree to accept a scholarship to a school (lets say with a 2-year minimum for arguments sake) and after one year you want to enter the transfer portal- fine - but you cannot play until that second year is up. It would be going back to the "sit out" one year rule. Taihtsat

It also forces the school to keep a player on scholarship when it might not want to.

I have no sympathy for men that have made themselves wealthy and created generational wealth on the backs of others now having to figure out a way to hold onto the talent that made them that way.

Wanna level the playing field? Have a scholarship limit & roster limit. No ability to stockpile talent on NIL deals running your roster numbers up. No ability to stockpile talent with 85 scholarships. What’s that number??? Open for discussion.

The NFL has a roster limit, a salary cap and a draft to distribute talent in as fair a way as possible.

College football has no roster limit, no salary cap and the best teams essentially pick 1-100 on draft day.

NFL and college football is a tv show with a live audience. If you want to maximize the dollars you should prob try and put on the best show you can. Drama, suspense, excitement get viewers. Do what it takes to make that happen across the country, every week, down the stretch of the season and you will see trillions of dollars flow.

 

[Fab5Coug]

I wish I didn't like sports, because we as a society give way too much power and influence to the sport's machine.

Pro sports lost me years ago, and I kind of wish my interest in college sports would go away too. I just don't like the direction of any of it.

God, I couldn't have put it better myself. I find myself a little more disenchanted with college football every year. If the Pac12 breaks up and WSU ends up in some hybrid version of the MWC, that might just be it for me. Or, maybe it will just be a fun, lower stress league, where we don't have to pretend to care what the B1G and SEC are doing.

 

[BiggsCoug]

God, I couldn't have put it better myself. I find myself a little more disenchanted with college football every year. If the Pac12 breaks up and WSU ends up in some hybrid version of the MWC, that might just be it for me. Or, maybe it will just be a fun, lower stress league, where we don't have to pretend to care what the B1G and SEC are doing.

There are a lot of teams just like WSU. Saying good bye to SC and Oregon to a super league won’t matter. Plenty of P12 schools will want to play.

And I have zero issues calling up the remaining Tier 1 research schools in the West.

I cheer for WSU. They could be playing a team of nuns, I want the score run up.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

It also forces the school to keep a player on scholarship when it might not want to.

I have no sympathy for men that have made themselves wealthy and created generational wealth on the backs of others now having to figure out a way to hold onto the talent that made them that way.

Wanna level the playing field? Have a scholarship limit & roster limit. No ability to stockpile talent on NIL deals running your roster numbers up. No ability to stockpile talent with 85 scholarships. What’s that number??? Open for discussion.

The NFL has a roster limit, a salary cap and a draft to distribute talent in as fair a way as possible.

College football has no roster limit, no salary cap and the best teams essentially pick 1-100 on draft day.

NFL and college football is a tv show with a live audience. If you want to maximize the dollars you should prob try and put on the best show you can. Drama, suspense, excitement get viewers. Do what it takes to make that happen across the country, every week, down the stretch of the season and you will see trillions of dollars flow.

Agree with this! However I would add one exception to my earlier thought, if there should be a coaching change either through a firing or a fleeing to another school then the players should be released from any commitment free of penalty. Taihtsat

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

It's interesting because the NIL deals are going to be predicated on playing time. That's the plan, anyway. Nobody's going to pay for an autograph for the 4th leading receiver on a college team or offer a glitz deal to a QB who doesn't see the field.

I don't know if the rumors about JDL were true or not, but I bet he ended up realizing the risks of trading in a QB1 job and some likely great stats as a 3 year starter. You start at QB for WSU for 3 years and you're getting invited to an NFL camp at the very least.

I'm guessing David Vik would have garnered some local NIL dollars, just sayin'.

LONG LIVE VIK-FU!

 

[BiggsCoug]

Agree with this! However I would add one exception to my earlier thought, if there should be a coaching change either through a firing or a fleeing to another school then the players should be released from any commitment free of penalty. Taihtsat

Yes.

If your program is offering kids a legitimate opportunity to be successful… you prob won’t have any issues. If your program is asking kids to exhaust 50%~75% of their eligibility before the opportunity (playing time) appears, you’re gonna see kids leave.

Kids have been fooled by fancy facilities, lured by the success of players before them, given a lifestyle of luxury…. all of that means jack squat if you are not maximizing your 4 YEARS of playing time.

Your eligibility is your most valuable asset. Why would you go somewhere you cannot maximize it’s potential???

 

[Observer11]

I'm guessing David Vik would have garnered some local NIL dollars, just sayin'.

LONG LIVE VIK-FU!

From Weight Watchers?

 

[random soul]

It also forces the school to keep a player on scholarship when it might not want to.

I have no sympathy for men that have made themselves wealthy and created generational wealth on the backs of others now having to figure out a way to hold onto the talent that made them that way.

Wanna level the playing field? Have a scholarship limit & roster limit. No ability to stockpile talent on NIL deals running your roster numbers up. No ability to stockpile talent with 85 scholarships. What’s that number??? Open for discussion.

The NFL has a roster limit, a salary cap and a draft to distribute talent in as fair a way as possible.

College football has no roster limit, no salary cap and the best teams essentially pick 1-100 on draft day.

NFL and college football is a tv show with a live audience. If you want to maximize the dollars you should prob try and put on the best show you can. Drama, suspense, excitement get viewers. Do what it takes to make that happen across the country, every week, down the stretch of the season and you will see trillions of dollars flow.

The standard roster size is what, 105 or so? 85 scholarships plus 20 or so walk-ons? Just firm that up and it won't change how player development currently works, while not letting anybody stockpile kids that could be on scholarship somewhere else. 20 extra is a lot, yes, but that's basically 4 extra kids per class that are more or less unofficial. It's not great for underdogs, but it's not doom

 

[BiggsCoug]

The standard roster size is what, 105 or so? 85 scholarships plus 20 or so walk-ons? Just firm that up and it won't change how player development currently works, while not letting anybody stockpile kids that could be on scholarship somewhere else. 20 extra is a lot, yes, but that's basically 4 extra kids per class that are more or less unofficial. It's not great for underdogs, but it's not doom

I was thinking 60 scholarships and 60 player roster limit. Spread the talent across the nation.

 

[95coug]

The NCAA could fix it easily if they wanted to (and if schools were willing to comply). Make it a rule that a player can't participate in a game unless they are on scholarship. They can be on a roster but they can't compete unless the school is willing to give them that scholarship designation. They could raise the scholarship limit to 30 per year if that got buy-in.

They could also make it a rule that all NIL deals pay a 30-40% tax that is used to provide "universal basic income" for athletes that don't have NIL deals. Similar to what observer11 suggested but still rewards the players that are actually driving the NIL discussion.

They could also make it a rule that NIL deals are only allowed on an individual basis. No universal deals for entire teams.

That's very socialist of you. Check outside your window and see if the right is in your front yard with torches & pitchforks.

 

[Wazzubrooz]

CF is going down the toilet, $$$, flush!