Can we stay competitive in the NIL era?

[mkemkay]

Texas just announced a new deal for their offensive linemen that takes each player to $150k. They have a multi-million dollar fund that will clearly grow from there. No way Alabama or Ohio State falls behind.

I'm glad we were able to get the TiVo deal for our players, but I don't see a fund or large corporate contract coming to save us (sorry, my nest egg can't quite cover a fund for the team).

So... what happens next? Given the portal now allows immediate eligibility, do we see a seismic shift in 2 years or less? Even if you find a diamond in the rough, they will likely look to transfer if they shine.

Am I doom and gloom or do others see it trending this way?

 

[4shotB]

Great question and I will be curious as to what others say. I have never been a huge NFL guy but I might move there in the long run where there are no pretenses about "amateur vs. pro" and the league is actively involved in keeping things relatively level for the franchises. I guess a worst case scenario is where the top 30 or so teams split and GT finds itself in a league with Vandy, Rice, Duke, Northwestern, Syracuse, BC etc. that might actually be fun but it's hard selling CBA basketball or minor league baseball.

 

[GTZachary]

I guess the good news is there’s only a handful of teams that really could keep up with this in college football. In the ACC, probably just FSU, Clemson.. Miami would love to try. Even those 3 are way behind the big guys like Texas, Texas A&M, Bama, etc.

 

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

Yes, I see the schools with money and willing to spend it rising to the top and the others becoming also-rans. How can it be any different? Kids are going to follow the money

 

[jayparr]

football greatness is over for us! Then maybe a 6 and 6 season may become greatness for us.

 

[jacketup]

NIL has turned college football into pro football with no salary caps. It also threatens academic donations at some schools, where people will contribute to paying football players instead of funding academic scholarships.

It's just BAD.

 

[awbuzz]

It appears that Pandora has left the box...

 

[stech81]

I hate to say it but with the NIL and portal the only way we will be competitive is if D1 divides into 2 groups. 1 those who have money and only care about football and those schools that want student athletes get an education, Kind of sad college football is not college football it's a big business.

​

 

[TooTall]

Well after the first year, there will be several companies rethinking this whole NIL deal. How dumb does Zaxbys look giving a backup qb (who will transfer far far away) all that money?

 

[85Escape]

If someone can find a buyer for a local brewery willing to pony up say...$10B...then I can personally commit to funding a nice $150k/player deal. Otherwise, would $150 be enough?

 

[Jmonty71]

I foresee this becoming a HUGE issue. Practically this now makes the NCAA nothing but a 3 year audition for the NFL. The difference is now, there will be much larger gaps between talent. Meaning the good teams will be better and the not so good teams, will get worse... It will make recruiting very tough for a lot of coaches. Let's put it this way... GT offers a full ride and great education, while UGA offers a full ride, 100K a year in NIL and a somewhat ok education... If you are a kid with not so well off parents, which one do you pick??? GT does not have the fan base, donors nor attendance rates to compete. I think ultimately people should call it for what it is... Some schools and conferences will be basically a minor league system for the NFL. These schools should lose all accreditations, because no longer care about education... I know many don't agree with me and that's fine..

 

[THWG16]

If wake forest can win 10 games we can

 

[InsideLB]

Took awhile.

He did have a big turn in year 3. I am willing that in addition to being a better game day coach than CGC that their SOS was way below GT's SOS this year. Problem is GT's schedule isn't going to let up next year so CGC is toast. Hopefully next guy can keep a lot of guys out of the portal and build something with ingredients left behind.

2014	Wake Forest	3–9	1–7	T–6th (Atlantic)
2015	Wake Forest	3–9	1–7	6th (Atlantic)
2016	Wake Forest	7–6	3–5	T–4th (Atlantic)	W Military
2017	Wake Forest	8–5	4–4	T–3rd (Atlantic)	W Belk
2018	Wake Forest	7–6	3–5	T–5th (Atlantic)	W Birmingham
2019	Wake Forest	8–5	4–4	T–3rd (Atlantic)	L Pinstripe
2020	Wake Forest	4–5	3–4	10th	L Duke's Mayo
2021	Wake Forest	10–3	7–1	1st (Atlantic)	Gator

 

[swarmer]

Maybe the big money donors should start funding NIL deals instead of paying coaches salaries and monster buyouts. Flip the model to where we have coaches that are light on experience but cheaper, and funnel money to get better players — while also avoiding getting stuck under huge buyouts that cripple the program.

 

[augustabuzz]

If wake forest can win 10 games we can

I don't think our supporters are willing to give anyone 8 years. The whining would be too great!

 

[WreckinGT]

NIL and ridiculous coaching salaries are going to cripple us in the long run. Personally, I hope there is some kind of break between the haves and have nots at some point. I think whatever tier is below the top tier will still be entertaining to watch.

 

[TooTall]

The boom of dead money in college sports

What did FBS schools pay football and basketball coaches not to coach? The numbers will surprise you.

www.espn.com

We are top 20 and ranked ahead of uga in something. This does include all buyouts, which means any money paid to a person not coaching. That's why CPJ is listed on there even though he retired. Our books should be cleared of dead money (atleast for another year). This more than NIL or lack of staff or poor facilities hurt us.

 

[augustabuzz]

Took awhile.

He did have a big turn in year 3. I am willing that in addition to being a better game day coach than CGC that their SOS was way below GT's SOS this year. Problem is GT's schedule isn't going to let up next year so CGC is toast. Hopefully next guy can keep a lot of guys out of the portal and build something with ingredients left behind.

2014	Wake Forest	3–9	1–7	T–6th (Atlantic)
2015	Wake Forest	3–9	1–7	6th (Atlantic)
2016	Wake Forest	7–6	3–5	T–4th (Atlantic)	W Military
2017	Wake Forest	8–5	4–4	T–3rd (Atlantic)	W Belk
2018	Wake Forest	7–6	3–5	T–5th (Atlantic)	W Birmingham
2019	Wake Forest	8–5	4–4	T–3rd (Atlantic)	L Pinstripe
2020	Wake Forest	4–5	3–4	10th	L Duke's Mayo
2021	Wake Forest	10–3	7–1	1st (Atlantic)	Gator

Year-in and year-out, no one in the ACC has a tougher OOC schedule than Tech. It would be very unusual for us to be bowl eligible with a less than .500 conference record.

 

[Techwood Relict]

If someone can find a buyer for a local brewery willing to pony up say...$10B...then I can personally commit to funding a nice $150k/player deal. Otherwise, would $150 be enough?

Finding out you are a local brewer makes me feel like we should be better friends . I keep trying to convince my wife to let me open ours (mine). She won't sign off. Something about kids, college, food ..... I don't understand.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

It appears that Pandora has left the box...

Do you mean Pandora has opened the box?