NIL Nuggets of the Week Thread - (3/10-3/17)
In an attempt to stay tapped into all things NIL, I've sorted through and gathered some interesting NIL-centered news items today, the title of each section will redirect you to the initial article, as I did not translate all of the columns into this page. Just the best cliff notes.
I will continue adding more news as the week unfolds! Please feel free to link any informative or interesting NIL articles in this thread!
Cheers,
1. As other SEC schools reveal revenue-sharing plans, Mitch Barnhart has a different outlook
"Asked why other schools are beginning to share public plans while Kentucky is not in a one-on-one interview with the Herald-Leader this week, Barnhart (Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart) pointed to his work on the national implementation committee working to finalize how college sports will operate if the settlement is approved as evidence there is still far too much uncertainty to go public with final plans."
My Thoughts: An interesting POV, with everyone preparing for next month, I guess nothing is official until the gaval hits hard wood. Kentucky is one of the few teams in the SEC where it's expected that the Basketball team will be fighting for every dollar available.
2. Why did Scot Loeffler leave BGSU for NFL? He reveals the mixed emotions behind 'toughest decision'
Loeffler called leaving Bowling Green “the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.”
“But it made sense,” he said. “We've talked about the chaos in college football right now. Being the head coach at Bowling Green, there's a lot to it. It's not just the X's and O's. It's roster management, NIL, fund-raising, the portal, high school recruiting, it's nonstop."
My Thoughts: BGSU hired NFL Legend and former Tennessee State Head Coach Eddie Georgia as it's 21st Head Coach in Program history on Monday. A Move I expected George to make at some point next year or in 2027, but to a bigger program. George doesn't have the Deion pull in anyway to the broad eye and no top recruit is looking to go to Bowling Green, OH. Unfortunatly.
3. Several Division 1 Schools.... Thinking about RECLASSIFYING out of Division 1?
4. American Athletic Conference becomes first league to set 'minimum standard' revenue share of $10 million
"As part of this “Minimum Investment Program,” schools must share with athletes at least $10 million in cumulative additional benefits over a three-year period, starting with the 2025-26 academic year — a concept driven by commissioner Tim Pernetti and one he describes as an “important moment for the conference,” he told Yahoo Sports in an interview Friday when reached to comment on the league’s decision."
"Schools that fail to meet the $10 million standard at the conclusion of the 2027-28 academic year could be subject to a “review” of their membership status within the conference, Pernetti said. The minimum investment thresholds will not apply to two members — Army and Navy — which are federally funded service academies that are prohibited from opting into the settlement."
My Thoughts: If you are a team that wants OUT of the conference to try and join the Big 12 or ACC one offseason, may it behoove you to fail to meet the standard so you can hypothetically be booted?
5. Stephen Curry joins alma mater Davidson as assistant GM for basketball
“I’m wondering is he going to clean house? Is he going in there and firing everybody? I don’t know, we’ll see, he’s got a big job on his hands,” Steve Kerr cracked before the Warriors hosted Portland on Monday night. “I think he’s kind of busy so I’m hoping it’s a ceremonial role more than anything. If he asks me if he can leave and not play a game so he can go scout some college games, I’m probably going to say no, although it is Steph Curry so I’ll probably say yes actually. But I hope he does not ask.”
My Thoughts: Super Super interested to see how this thing unfolds for Curry being a CURRENT player.
6. College sports and athletic departments don't have a revenue problem. They have a spending issue.
"The next time you hear someone, anyone, from college sports complain about a lack of revenue, laugh in their face.
They'll have you believe those mean, greedy players have sidetracked an amateur sports world of faithful and loyal do-gooders and ransacked it for every dollar it’s worth.
If I had $1,000 for every time a college football coach declared the current world of college sports “unsustainable,” I could pay Luka Doncic’s contract extension.
I blame the entire 70 schools that – are you ready for this? – will make an estimated $7.4 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, and as much as $10.5 billion by 2034-35, according to a declaration filed last week in support of the multi-billion dollar House settlement.
For example, Texas’ total operating athletic revenue for the 2024 fiscal year was $331.9 million, but its figure for the eight categories used for the pool calculation was $172.1 million. Cincinnati's pool calculation was $38.8 million."
My Thoughts: That last sentence.. wow! This is a hell of an article and statement about the state of the sport... greed, Greed, GREED!!
7. The Arizona Board of Regents has announced a strategic partnership with WME Sports. They will assist three ABOR schools (Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona)
"Universities have also partnered with providers to help set themselves up for the future. Altius Sports notably partnered with 40 universities to help advise clients on the House settlement, revenue-sharing and other NIL issues. But WME’s deal with the Arizona Board of Regents allows the agency to work closely with three schools, all of which are under the ABOR umbrella."
8. Oklahoma QB John Mateer’s NIL deal sits around the $3M mark, @PeteNakos_ reports
My Thoughts: SHEEEESH!!!!
9. Playfly Sports To Acquire Paragon Marketing Group
"Paragon Marketing Group manages over 500 partnerships annually, representing major national brands such as Gatorade, Pepsi, Chipotle, Highmark Health, uniball, UCHealth, PNC Bank, PPG, Pittsburgh Paints Co., Giant Eagle, and Novelis. Originally founded as Halo Sports in 1995, Paragon has built extensive industry relationships across sports, music, cultural arts, lifestyle, and content platforms."
"Since 2002, its collaboration with ESPN has resulted in more than 1,300 live high school telecasts across the network’s platforms. These productions have showcased five future Heisman Trophy winners, nearly 30 NFL Pro Bowl players, over 130 first-round NBA draft picks, and almost 30 NBA All-Stars."
10. Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning: He’s Not All About the Cash
“It’s not about the money necessarily,” Sarkisian said during the Off the Edge podcast at the Sportico House on Tuesday at SXSW. “It’s about [him] wanting to be really good player and wanting to be the quarterback at Texas to bring another national championship back here. I think to him, that’s more important than any of the NIL deals, revenue-sharing or any of the other stuff that goes on.”
11. College coaches write letter urging NCAA to change 'stringent' eligibility requirements for JUCO athletes
"Sixteen national coaches associations have written the NCAA Division I Board of Governors in support of the National Junior College Athletic Association's effort to change decades-long eligibility requirements for junior college athletes. "
In addition, the NJCAA is questioning these "different standards" for JUCO athletes …
"Student-athletes should not be punished or treated adversely because they have enrolled in a two-year institution before transferring to an NCAA institution," the letter asserts.
12. Under an Employment Model, SEC to drop to 16 Varsity Sports
- On March 12, 2015, Greg Sankey was named to replace retiring SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. Sankey had been at Slive's side for 12 years, a time of incredible growth for the SEC that saw it win seven straight BCS titles, create its own TV network and expand with Missouri and Texas A&M.
I think I represent our conference well. I can go back though and point to things now and in the past where I do understand the big picture and I'm trying to balance the challenges that we have as a league, the challenges that we have at the highest competitive end, with the responsibility for leading in a significant role across college athletics. I hope others accept that responsibility.
So I block out that noise. I think people who want to portray something, they make their own decisions. Most of them haven't called me directly. Some will listen to a radio interview and pull a piece rather than think about the developed thought that was presented, and that's their choice. I'm humble in what I do, but I'm proud of the work that we do and the accomplishments we've achieved.
I joked that I’d flip a coin for big decisions this week. We could put eight (games) on one side and nine (games) on the other. I said that on ("The Paul Finebaum Show").
We’ve been asked for some information. The concerning thing to me right now is the outcomes of the College Football Playoff selection committee's decision-making. So you saw an athletic director, an athletic director who I like and respect at Nebraska (Troy Dannen), discontinue a planned series with Tennessee. The CFP selection committee feedback is a reason to do that, that it wouldn't hurt them to not play that game. I think that's a crisis moment.
Our athletics directors are interested in nine games, but also don't want to sacrifice meaningful postseason opportunities. And so we should have a very rapid, deep conversation as CFP leadership about strength of schedule, about how that fits in the selection process, because I don't think we have the clarity we need.
14. How the SEC Became a Men’s Basketball Hub
The conference could break the record for most teams in one NCAA tournament after a historic season of success.
Between 2012 and ’17, the SEC averaged fewer than four bids to the NCAA tournament—long the measuring stick when it came to proclaiming conference superiority—and many were double-digit seeds that snuck into the field. Nonconference losses were a regular occurrence early each season, putting the league in a bind with regard to the typical metrics the selection committee evaluated. Several programs were cited for major infractions in men’s basketball, and many jobs in the SEC became a slew of revolving doors for coaches ushered in and out with regularity.
“Men’s basketball in the SEC gained positive momentum during the last 12 months, but we are not meeting our own expectations,” Sankey said at the time. “As a conference, we seek continuing improvement in the national competitive success of our men’s basketball programs.”
In an attempt to stay tapped into all things NIL, I've sorted through and gathered some interesting NIL-centered news items today, the title of each section will redirect you to the initial article, as I did not translate all of the columns into this page. Just the best cliff notes.
I will continue adding more news as the week unfolds! Please feel free to link any informative or interesting NIL articles in this thread!
Cheers,
1. As other SEC schools reveal revenue-sharing plans, Mitch Barnhart has a different outlook
"Asked why other schools are beginning to share public plans while Kentucky is not in a one-on-one interview with the Herald-Leader this week, Barnhart (Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart) pointed to his work on the national implementation committee working to finalize how college sports will operate if the settlement is approved as evidence there is still far too much uncertainty to go public with final plans."
My Thoughts: An interesting POV, with everyone preparing for next month, I guess nothing is official until the gaval hits hard wood. Kentucky is one of the few teams in the SEC where it's expected that the Basketball team will be fighting for every dollar available.
2. Why did Scot Loeffler leave BGSU for NFL? He reveals the mixed emotions behind 'toughest decision'
Loeffler called leaving Bowling Green “the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.”
“But it made sense,” he said. “We've talked about the chaos in college football right now. Being the head coach at Bowling Green, there's a lot to it. It's not just the X's and O's. It's roster management, NIL, fund-raising, the portal, high school recruiting, it's nonstop."
My Thoughts: BGSU hired NFL Legend and former Tennessee State Head Coach Eddie Georgia as it's 21st Head Coach in Program history on Monday. A Move I expected George to make at some point next year or in 2027, but to a bigger program. George doesn't have the Deion pull in anyway to the broad eye and no top recruit is looking to go to Bowling Green, OH. Unfortunatly.
3. Several Division 1 Schools.... Thinking about RECLASSIFYING out of Division 1?
4. American Athletic Conference becomes first league to set 'minimum standard' revenue share of $10 million
"As part of this “Minimum Investment Program,” schools must share with athletes at least $10 million in cumulative additional benefits over a three-year period, starting with the 2025-26 academic year — a concept driven by commissioner Tim Pernetti and one he describes as an “important moment for the conference,” he told Yahoo Sports in an interview Friday when reached to comment on the league’s decision."
"Schools that fail to meet the $10 million standard at the conclusion of the 2027-28 academic year could be subject to a “review” of their membership status within the conference, Pernetti said. The minimum investment thresholds will not apply to two members — Army and Navy — which are federally funded service academies that are prohibited from opting into the settlement."
My Thoughts: If you are a team that wants OUT of the conference to try and join the Big 12 or ACC one offseason, may it behoove you to fail to meet the standard so you can hypothetically be booted?
5. Stephen Curry joins alma mater Davidson as assistant GM for basketball
“I’m wondering is he going to clean house? Is he going in there and firing everybody? I don’t know, we’ll see, he’s got a big job on his hands,” Steve Kerr cracked before the Warriors hosted Portland on Monday night. “I think he’s kind of busy so I’m hoping it’s a ceremonial role more than anything. If he asks me if he can leave and not play a game so he can go scout some college games, I’m probably going to say no, although it is Steph Curry so I’ll probably say yes actually. But I hope he does not ask.”
My Thoughts: Super Super interested to see how this thing unfolds for Curry being a CURRENT player.
6. College sports and athletic departments don't have a revenue problem. They have a spending issue.
"The next time you hear someone, anyone, from college sports complain about a lack of revenue, laugh in their face.
They'll have you believe those mean, greedy players have sidetracked an amateur sports world of faithful and loyal do-gooders and ransacked it for every dollar it’s worth.
If I had $1,000 for every time a college football coach declared the current world of college sports “unsustainable,” I could pay Luka Doncic’s contract extension.
I blame the entire 70 schools that – are you ready for this? – will make an estimated $7.4 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, and as much as $10.5 billion by 2034-35, according to a declaration filed last week in support of the multi-billion dollar House settlement.
For example, Texas’ total operating athletic revenue for the 2024 fiscal year was $331.9 million, but its figure for the eight categories used for the pool calculation was $172.1 million. Cincinnati's pool calculation was $38.8 million."
My Thoughts: That last sentence.. wow! This is a hell of an article and statement about the state of the sport... greed, Greed, GREED!!
7. The Arizona Board of Regents has announced a strategic partnership with WME Sports. They will assist three ABOR schools (Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona)
"Universities have also partnered with providers to help set themselves up for the future. Altius Sports notably partnered with 40 universities to help advise clients on the House settlement, revenue-sharing and other NIL issues. But WME’s deal with the Arizona Board of Regents allows the agency to work closely with three schools, all of which are under the ABOR umbrella."
8. Oklahoma QB John Mateer’s NIL deal sits around the $3M mark, @PeteNakos_ reports
My Thoughts: SHEEEESH!!!!
9. Playfly Sports To Acquire Paragon Marketing Group
"Paragon Marketing Group manages over 500 partnerships annually, representing major national brands such as Gatorade, Pepsi, Chipotle, Highmark Health, uniball, UCHealth, PNC Bank, PPG, Pittsburgh Paints Co., Giant Eagle, and Novelis. Originally founded as Halo Sports in 1995, Paragon has built extensive industry relationships across sports, music, cultural arts, lifestyle, and content platforms."
"Since 2002, its collaboration with ESPN has resulted in more than 1,300 live high school telecasts across the network’s platforms. These productions have showcased five future Heisman Trophy winners, nearly 30 NFL Pro Bowl players, over 130 first-round NBA draft picks, and almost 30 NBA All-Stars."
10. Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning: He’s Not All About the Cash
“It’s not about the money necessarily,” Sarkisian said during the Off the Edge podcast at the Sportico House on Tuesday at SXSW. “It’s about [him] wanting to be really good player and wanting to be the quarterback at Texas to bring another national championship back here. I think to him, that’s more important than any of the NIL deals, revenue-sharing or any of the other stuff that goes on.”
11. College coaches write letter urging NCAA to change 'stringent' eligibility requirements for JUCO athletes
"Sixteen national coaches associations have written the NCAA Division I Board of Governors in support of the National Junior College Athletic Association's effort to change decades-long eligibility requirements for junior college athletes. "
In addition, the NJCAA is questioning these "different standards" for JUCO athletes …
- Academic non-qualifiers at a four-year school can regain eligibility after one academic year if they achieve 1.8 GPA over 24 credit hours. A non-qualifying junior college athlete who graduates with a two-year degree must have 48 transferrable credit hours and at least a 2.5 GPA to transfer.
- Transfers between four-year schools have guaranteed scholarships for the remainder of their five-year eligibility clock. Junior college transfers are not guaranteed scholarships for the length of their NCAA eligibility.
- Athletes in various sports are allowed a limited number of scrimmages. Think of baseball and softball participating in "fall ball" before the spring season. If junior college athletes participate in more than two scrimmages at the junior-college level before transferring, that counts as a season of competition.
"Student-athletes should not be punished or treated adversely because they have enrolled in a two-year institution before transferring to an NCAA institution," the letter asserts.
12. Under an Employment Model, SEC to drop to 16 Varsity Sports
13. We asked the SEC commissioner about COVID, NIL and being labeled 'a villain.' Here's what he said.
- On March 12, 2015, Greg Sankey was named to replace retiring SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. Sankey had been at Slive's side for 12 years, a time of incredible growth for the SEC that saw it win seven straight BCS titles, create its own TV network and expand with Missouri and Texas A&M.
Q: You and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti are villainized by lots of people. How do you handle it when people make you out to be the bad guy of college athletics?
A: Tony and I've talked about that. First of all, I'm accountable for what I say. And my first response is, there are a lot of people who write about what they think I think. And they try to interpret what I say, but they've never called me and asked or had a conversation. That's on them, not on me. And if it serves their purpose to paint someone as a villain, that's a decision they made.I think I represent our conference well. I can go back though and point to things now and in the past where I do understand the big picture and I'm trying to balance the challenges that we have as a league, the challenges that we have at the highest competitive end, with the responsibility for leading in a significant role across college athletics. I hope others accept that responsibility.
So I block out that noise. I think people who want to portray something, they make their own decisions. Most of them haven't called me directly. Some will listen to a radio interview and pull a piece rather than think about the developed thought that was presented, and that's their choice. I'm humble in what I do, but I'm proud of the work that we do and the accomplishments we've achieved.
When do you see the SEC making a call on increasing to nine conference games?
Probably by (the spring meetings in Destin, Fla., in late April.)I joked that I’d flip a coin for big decisions this week. We could put eight (games) on one side and nine (games) on the other. I said that on ("The Paul Finebaum Show").
We’ve been asked for some information. The concerning thing to me right now is the outcomes of the College Football Playoff selection committee's decision-making. So you saw an athletic director, an athletic director who I like and respect at Nebraska (Troy Dannen), discontinue a planned series with Tennessee. The CFP selection committee feedback is a reason to do that, that it wouldn't hurt them to not play that game. I think that's a crisis moment.
Our athletics directors are interested in nine games, but also don't want to sacrifice meaningful postseason opportunities. And so we should have a very rapid, deep conversation as CFP leadership about strength of schedule, about how that fits in the selection process, because I don't think we have the clarity we need.
14. How the SEC Became a Men’s Basketball Hub
The conference could break the record for most teams in one NCAA tournament after a historic season of success.
Between 2012 and ’17, the SEC averaged fewer than four bids to the NCAA tournament—long the measuring stick when it came to proclaiming conference superiority—and many were double-digit seeds that snuck into the field. Nonconference losses were a regular occurrence early each season, putting the league in a bind with regard to the typical metrics the selection committee evaluated. Several programs were cited for major infractions in men’s basketball, and many jobs in the SEC became a slew of revolving doors for coaches ushered in and out with regularity.
“Men’s basketball in the SEC gained positive momentum during the last 12 months, but we are not meeting our own expectations,” Sankey said at the time. “As a conference, we seek continuing improvement in the national competitive success of our men’s basketball programs.”
Last edited:
