Should The Gators Over-pay for Players?

Winning championships is rare. Other than Bama, most programs struggle to remain on top. I don’t have unreasonable expectations but want to be competitive in all our games. IMO, there were two games last year we absolutely should have won. Coaches made poor decisions in those games partially resulting in our losses. Still comes down to relationships in recruiting. There is a reason we are more successful in recruiting certain positions compared to others. In college you need both relationship builders and developers. Can’t be a great P5 program without having great position coaches and recruiters. It is my belief that S&C is critical. We finally have a great one. Stoops took our S&C coach with him to Oklahoma and changed their program. Urban took our S&C coach to Ohio State and changed their program. Billy made a great decision here that will benefit us with patience. We can’t compete with Texas in NIL. Not possible with their war chest and wealthy boosters Will have to invest in other items and be content with the outcome IMO. Academics, facilities, development, quality coaches, and getting in kids, parents and HS coaches early in 10th grade to build relationships. Can’t have coaching changes in season every 3-4 years. Need stability as well.

 

I think UAA and our boosters are gambling that the NIL situation will implode and things will return to "normal."

What if it doesn't?

 

Some early overpay adopters are imploding (Texas A&M) but some have had success (Tennessee, Texas). It’s not a game I wish was around but there is no doubt it’s here to stay. Might as well buy a championship.

 

I know the disagree bacons will be coming, but "the Gators" are not allowed to pay anyone--not UAA and not the university-affiliated boosters. UAA manages funds going towards buildings. If I had to reword the question it would be, "Should more Gator fans, rich or poor, be donating to Florida Victorious and perhaps other, "legal" collectives so there is more money available to Gator athletes?" Florida really only has a handful of super rich football fans, but Florida does the 14th-largest fan base at 5.9 million. I am not here to peddle Florida Victorious, but if all fans donated $15 a month that would put a lot of cash into the collective. I know the counter will be, "What about the super rich donors and boosters?". Florida already is in the top 4 for endowments to a university, so they are already pulling their fair share. I would argue they are floating the collective when there is not enough participation in Florida Victorious.

 

Overpaying when it keeps you from signing multiple other players would not be smart as many holes as we have. If we had all the bases covered, which we don’t, overpaying for Lagway may be the way to go. You can’t win without talent but it takes an entire roster.

 

Ole Miss supposedly diverted money from renovations from boosters to nil. It can be done. I’d assume a chunck of our 400 mil renovation is still in boosters bank accounts and can go wherever they decide.

 

It wont

 

A billion dollars a year to play games? LOL.

 

I think the current brain trust desires our boosters fund the UAA over these collectives. They don't promote them at all.

Facility renovation and funding non revenue sports seem to be their priority.

 

I don't see why we shouldn't overpay for players since we are currently overpaying for coaches

 

Of course they want the money in their coffers. We want a winning product and they mainly just want the cash flow. If they can continue to sellout games with a 5-7 record, nothing will change. I paid to sit on the fifty for Tenn and it was with it. I didn’t even consider the road trip later in the season.

 

Pay to Win = Play to Win

 

On this subject, there's a lengthy NY Times piece from last year that goes into the NIL challenges at UNC. Their AD is alarmed at the amount of money he is losing to NIL funding, and it will eventually cost them some of their championship level women's program.

It doesn't answer any questions though. What we're left with is the question of whether we want a championship level football program or not? So far, the answer from UAA is No.

 

My weekend work schedule keeps me from attending games most seasons.

However, with the way things are at the moment, I doubt I would bother to go to a game or pay a lot for the privilege of seeing us get smacked if I could.

Another year or two of this lack of progress (or whatever you call it) and you will see a lot of people lose
interest in the program. UAA will learn this lesson the hard way if they keep refusing to step up.

 

Football funds it all so sucking at football makes it much harder. Texas just made 271 mil because they don’t suck.

 

When you lose your class over money, right or wrong, people lose interest. I still love the gators but I’m not paying 2-3 k to watch us get spanked. I hate watching us lose badly and why would I pay for a negative exp. I went to Bama a couple years ago and we lost but it was still good. Getting blown out in the swamp 5-6 years ago by fsu was a miserable experience.

 

Yes, if UF wants to win. They don’t have the foundational success that some of the other programs do so they can’t wait and see. They can try and build a foundation on recruiting but if it still leads to losing seasons then what? It’s kind of a chicken before the egg. Ws will lead to more money which leads to the ability to pay. However, we got no Ws and I think it’s clear not a lot of hope.

I’ll point out as long as there is a big divide amongst fans (you see it here on GC) on NIL then UF will probably not be all that successful in the current landscape.

 

While I like this, very much, I just don’t believe it’s the reality today, at least with the top flight players in general. The definition of recruiting has drastically changed and the word “commitment” is virtually useless and hollow now, means very little. Except to seal clap and say look at our list, until that day in late Dec arrives.

Here’s a sobering exercise. Speaking strictly about the very talented upper tier recruits, supposed 4&5* guys. Rank in order of priority the 5 or 6 things they look for in program they consider and ultimate sign with. Up near the top, now, will be $$$$, league pipeline, professional type setting and development and surrounded by other top-shelf talent. There are obviously exceptions to this, but they’re few and far between. Unfortunately, UF doesn’t check many of those boxes, imho.

 

Its sad how fast we got left in the dust.

I really feel sorry for Napier who was brought in to rebuild this program the "right" way and two years
into the process, his way has become obsolete.