I don't think this was already posted. I found it interesting what it will take to win in the NIL era. I do not think this is sustainable - relying on a few donors to fund the salaries of college football players. There is no return on this investment and I have to believe most fans (me included) would rather give their disposable income to a family member or buy something tangible. I want the Gators to win a championship as much as any fan, but damn...
It would be strange for an NFL team to ask fans to directly pay players' salaries. Or have rich fans (boosters) give large sums with no return.
Its his take, but I have to say I dont agree and feel that his post amounts to nothing more then setting the premise of making excuses. I'll provide a simple reason for this and why I feel a organization, that exsist separtely from the University of Florida is capable of generating millions of dollars on a annual basis.........one already exsist, and it alone sets in place the basis for how and why a organization can be created capable of providing revenue for NIL The University Athletic Association was incorporated in 1929 with impetus from university president John J. Tigert to oversee the construction of Florida Field. Since then, its mission has grown to include operating and improving all of the school's athletic programs and facilities. As of the 2017–18 academic year, the UAA had an annual operating budget of $128 million which is funded entirely through its own revenues with additional support from Gator Boosters, the fundraising arm of the athletic department. The UAA does not depend on the University of Florida's state funding for financial support, and has contributed over $80 million to the school's academic programs since 1990.[3] No reason why some folks in a position to do this, havent already begun setting up a organization specifically designed for NIL and it be highly successful with its collective mission......I dont buy the excuses. While the organization may initially experience humble beginnings, its ability to eventually operate at levels sufficient to keep the University of Florida competitive with NIL on a national level cant be excused away forever!
Too many unknowns Amount of funds No bidding wars Culture fit Coaching staff Lack of wins Lots of interconnected data points we don’t have info on. Waiting for recruiting exit poling and interviews by the gambling sites to better their odds But it isn’t sustainable unless your big 5 have serious fun money and just want to win
Sorry but I would believe what Hal is saying vs you. NIL is extra to the UAA budget which is already at that dollar amount because of Gator boosters. I would also mention that the budget is for ALL sports, not just football. These same boosters are also the ones getting hit up to fund NIL. I think the underlying point of his post is if you aren’t donating something to help the cause, you have zero right to complain about spending more. I 100% agree. Further, it wouldn’t take much from each of us to get there.
Asking fans to pay salaries directly is shit. The universities are pro franchise owners... . Sell tickets, merchandise and collect media money like other pro sports.
Ivys and many other colleges have a monstrous amount of wealthy donors. They aren't spending money on college football players. Maybe our Alumni are just too smart with their assets/investments? It is crazy to think, though, if you had a single billionaire alumni who just loved gator sports, you could compete for nattys in every sport across the board he or she wanted to.
100%, I'd rather the sport die out than support this current nonsense with my cash. They are barely hanging onto my eyes for the TV ratings, let alone get my cash with this current NIL/Portal model.
The same people would be footing the bill even if the schools paid the athletes directly. That’s how colleges have always worked. Both the academic side and the athletic side. Fans/alumni pay for nearly everything. Facilities, athletes, coaches, players. It may be bullshit, but it’s the way it’s always been. The courts and legislatures are the ones saying the schools can’t pay the athletes directly, but imo, it won’t change much even if they do.
It's been thousands here and there. A job for mom or dad if you really wanted the kid. Now it can be a million for a single player. Big difference. It's going to collapse anyway. Best to just save your money till its revamped.
At first it was we need to win. Mullen won and then it was we need new facilities. We build new facilities and now it’s NIL fundraising. It feels we are always a step behind and unprepared. I don’t know whose fault it is but it is frustrating.
It’s a free market. The dollar amounts are what they are because the fans are willing to pay that much. I think it’s stupid, but people can do whatever they want with their money. If the schools are allowed to cut the checks, then they’ll be able to add tv money and other revenue to help, but the heavy loads of the university athletic departments has always been on the shoulders of the fans/alumni. I don’t see that changing.
All it takes is for the big money booster to reallocate their contributions from the UAA to the collective. The problem is are these collectives trustworthy? If not, someone with credibility needs to create or manage one and schmooze the boosters with tacit approval from the UAA. The question then is will the UAA do it? I think that’s where the problem is…my 2cents
Two collectives have already been ousted and the Florida Victorious collective arose from the ashes with much more input from the UAA. The UAA, or UF itself, wasn’t really allowed to be very involved in the original collectives because of state laws. When the laws got changed, the new collective was established almost immediately. Our heavy hitters were placed at the top of the new organization. Simply asking donors to reallocate all funds from the UAA to the collective is going to cause a lot of other financial issues for the UAA in the near future. I think a large portion of the money is already being directed to NIL, but asking all of it to be redirected is going to create other problems. Those top guys also like seeing their names on buildings, and all the other benefits that go along with those UAA donations. It’s their money, they can spend it how they choose.
We're also not talking 100's of millions of dollars here, by Hal's own admission we'ew only talking 10's of millions of dollars. You're free to except the "why not's", I've worked closely enough with the business community as well as organizations and how fund rasing works......I see it as bottom line excuse or at worse a conscience choice on the part of thedecision makers to not put the work in necessary to make it happen.
