NIL hurting college football, Tennessee QB

[matthewb0051]

In case you all haven't been listening for the last several days, Univ of Tennessee QB Nico Irrelevant (red shirt soph) that was paid $8mil before ever playing a down for UT, has left the team and entered the Portal which is just now open.

This genius had a lack luster '24 season and before the Spring Game last Saturday, skipped practice and 'held out' for more money. Essentially, he was wanting $4mil per year vice the $2.4 or whatever they had agreed to 3 years ago.

Now there is even talk that Nico and a bunch of other players from CFP teams were considering striking or whatever you want to call it before the playoffs because there was a belief that the NIL deals they inked were only for regular season games.

Late this afternoon, there is rumor that Nico is going to UCLA. But that news comes after several higher profile programs took a pass. Notably Oregon and UNC. UNC being higher profile due to new HC.

Guy has taken a huge gamble by: a. showing his backside to the nation; b. picking a time to transfer after all the QBs were bought in December; and c. not living up to the hype that got him his first NIL deal.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44682773/nico-iamaleava-transfer-portal-fit-qb-options-tennessee-market

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3542983/nico-iamaleava-has-zero-market-according-to-power-4-general-managers

[stevej37]

Utah to the Big Ten looks like.

[porsche tech]

I used to like college football and I have a daughter and SIL who graduated from UT. I hardly ever watch NFL games anymore because it’s mostly thugs who are just in it for the money. Seems like college football is on the same slippery slope.

[stevej37]

This guy has a good daily podcast....and he's usually right.

[911boost]

Good riddance Utah.

Go get murdered in the Big 10

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

I used to like college football and I have a daughter and SIL who graduated from UT. I hardly ever watch NFL games anymore because it’s mostly thugs who are just in it for the money. Seems like college football is on the same slippery slope.

I’m sadly starting to feel the same way. No loyalty, no sense of team, all about the money.

[WPOZZZ]

Yup. NIL is all about the money. Perhaps if it gets restructured so the athletes live like an actual college student. Maybe a trust that is structured to pay out $xxxx a month. The rest can be accessed after they turn say 25.

[matthewb0051]

Nico's 'family friend' is now saying that his camp wasn't demanding more money. Sure thing, you just left for not greener pastures??? Reports are now coming out that the offers are not pouring in and they are entertaining offers closer to $1mil for one year, less than half of what he was getting at Tennessee.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Nico's 'family friend' is now saying that his camp wasn't demanding more money. Sure thing, you just left for not greener pastures??? Reports are now coming out that the offers are not pouring in and they are entertaining offers closer to $1mil for one year, less than half of what he was getting at Tennessee.

Oops, somebody made a bad business decision.

This is a big part of the issue, everything is under the table. The fact that boosters can just cut checks to kids is totally unacceptable. There need to be some rules and structure around all of this, it can’t continue to be the Wild West. I would also suggest that teams need to have a salary cap to instill some amount of fairness for teams that don’t reside in a major market. Otherwise the school with the most money will always get the best recruits.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Oops, somebody made a bad business decision.

From what I'm reading, most of these kids are represented by 'unregistered' folks and not 'real' agents, not that 'real' agents are any less sleezy. For Nico, that is his father and some guy that is a 'coach' of some sorts and used to do something on Florida staff.

[flatbutt]

It has become nothing more than a money grab for all involved. It is a shame that academic sport has become nothing more than an overpaid training camp for the pros.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

From what I'm reading, most of these kids are represented by 'unregistered' folks and not 'real' agents, not that 'real' agents are any less sleezy. For Nico, that is his father and some guy that is a 'coach' of some sorts and used to do something on Florida staff.

Isn’t that nearly always the case? If it’s not a parent trying to get rich off of their kid it’s a family advisor, former coach, pastor, etc. These kids hit the big time and are being robbed blind by their family and friends. Same reason most pro athletes end up broke shortly after they retire. Really sad because these kids should be set for life.

[Baz]

The final nail in the coffin.

And ultimately why Coach Saban retired.

[Noah930]

Hopefully the kid gets a lot more than just $4 mil and a Bugatti Chiron (what he was demanding from Tenn) when he goes to UCLA. Otherwise he'll find out that the 12.3% CA state income tax is going to add up to a lot more than the 0% from TN. Maybe he can register his car in MT to avoid taxes on that, though.

[911boost]

He was asking for a Bugatti for real?

What an idiot.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Hopefully the kid gets a lot more than just $4 mil and a Bugatti Chiron.

He has already received $8M from a group in TN, not the University. He'll be fine.

The issue is not the players, it is the NCAA: The "system" was broken for 50 years while they stood behind the "student athlete" trope while they allowed unfettered movement of anyone with responsibility for the actual players...promises not kept.

My best friend growing up in California was a remarkable football player and he earned a scholarship to become a Trojan at USC. In those days freshmen could not play varsity in college. After a great season, he suffered a concussion in his last game as a freshman...this was the '70's so all manner of bad medicine was applied. He suffered a second concussion in practice his sophomore year.

He was asked to depart.

I don't think many understand that a 4 year scholarship isn't for four years...bye-bye "student athlete" with little hope of continuing to be a student.

Moving forward is anyone's guess...I have no insight into the machinations of NIL other than it seems like a reasonable idea poorly executed.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Long before the NIL and transfer portal, the idea of "student athletes", in particular basketball and football, was mostly a joke. I was a resident advisor in the dorm system of what used to be a Pac 10/12 school in the early 80s. We had a lot of athletes in our dorms. They got away with so much the average student population did not. The local police were on speed dial from the coaches office. Crimes covered up, tutors paid to keep grades up, you name it, it happened. It's only gotten worse. I pay no attention to college or professional sports. I got to see the sausage being made and it ruined the experience for me.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by 911boost

He was asking for a Bugatti for real?
What an idiot.

Normally, Lambo's are the car of choice in college sports.

.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

We had a lot of athletes in our dorms. They got away with so much the average student population did not. The local police were on speed dial from the coaches office. Crimes covered up, tutors paid to keep grades up, you name it, it happened. It's only gotten worse. I pay no attention to college or professional sports. I got to see the sausage being made and it ruined the experience for me.

I know the drill. After I was hurt, I tutored many "student athletes" as a way of making money until I was let go. Complete scam.

I will say NIL has only made the situation, as you rightly pointed out, much worse.

While I enjoy end of season games, I don't watch college sports much at all...

Quick Sea Story:

When my Dad was at West Point, there was a cheating scandal with the football team...my father was a math wizard and helped tutr the football guys (he was a boxer).

The football guys would find out the problems on upcoming test and then ask my Dad to work these "random" problems.

Thy all got caught...my father would have been expelled but the football players all said, rightfully, he had no knowledge of their subterfuge.

This was in 1949/50, at West Point...imagine the roil at Whatsamatter U

[Baz]