A solution to NIL madness

[UTFranklinVol]

Now that the illusion of the "student athlete" has been completely shattered I have a solution to the issue of players holding teams hostage for money.

Currently there's a supply and demand issue. very few top tier QBs (or other positions) and too many teams that want them. this gives players the ability to come out of high school, never having played a snap of college ball and ask for stupid amounts of money for little in return in the way of on field performance as we saw with Nico.

I think the NCAA could kill the supply issue right now by elimination of all eligibility rules. let players play in the NCAA for as long as they can. If they are good enough to go to the NFL, great. if they suck and get kicked off the team, fine. If they try the NFL and can't hack it, come on back to the NCAA.

There are a TON of players, especially QBs that were fantastic college QBs that couldn't hack it in the NFL, why let that go to waste if they can make a living in the NCAA?

And if the NCAA flooded the market with these players, guys like Nico would be irrelevant out of high school. it would force them to play at least a year or two to prove their worth before being able to demand big bucks.

Offer and education as just one benefit of playing for a school. let them take 1 class a semester if they want. Enough with the "you only get 4 years of playing time and have to go to class full time". If they want their education it's there for them for free, otherwise don't pretend like it actually matters.

give the stupid amounts of money to the players who have actual experience playing well at the NCAA level.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I do believe we are on an inevitable path to where players are no longer students, but rather contract employees. As far as allowing players to have unlimited eligibility, maybe. But at that point College football will be in more direct competition with the NFL for players. I'm not sure if either side wants that. But if eliminating the academic factor happens, unlimited eligibility is probably inevitable. Why impose arbitrary restrictions on player eligibility when academics are no longer part of the equation?

 

[njvols]

 

[UTFranklinVol]

I do believe we are on an inevitable path to where players are no longer students, but rather contract employees. As far as allowing players to have unlimited eligibility, maybe. But at that point College football will be in more direct competition with the NFL for players. I'm not sure if either side wants that. But if eliminating the academic factor happens, unlimited eligibility is probably inevitable. Why impose arbitrary restrictions on player eligibility when academics are no longer part of the equation?

imagine Tim Tebow or Josh Dobbs staying in the NCAA.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

If I understand what you are proposing correctly, if the players do not have to be students then there is no need for shollys either. They just get NIL $ and can pay for their education themselves if they want.

 

[superdave1984]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

If I understand what you are proposing correctly, if the players do not have to be students then there is no need for shollys either. They just get NIL $ and can pay for their education themselves if they want.

the education is free as a benefit if they want it.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

this still doesn't solve the issue of paying too much for an unproven high school QB

 

[superdave1984]

this still doesn't solve the issue of paying too much for an unproven high school QB

No, but it should help with the overall NIL situation. Overpaying for middling talent will be with us forever. You can't fix stupid.
Although we had a cat named Stupid and we got him fixed...

 

[Voltopia]

There has to be some method of enforcement. The instability that comes from the lack of enforcement is tearing the sport apart. Hell even NIL would be manageable if there was some method of enforcement. Eligibility requirements used to serve in that capacity, but players sued to nullify much of that. So now there must be a new system of enforcement, either through ironclad contracts OR congressional action - a combination of both perhaps.

"We agree to follow these rules and compensate you and develop you with a multi-million dollar support staff, while you agree to nothing and do whatever you want" isn't sustainable.

 

[BearBryant]

Now that the illusion of the "student athlete" has been completely shattered I have a solution to the issue of players holding teams hostage for money.

Currently there's a supply and demand issue. very few top tier QBs (or other positions) and too many teams that want them. this gives players the ability to come out of high school, never having played a snap of college ball and ask for stupid amounts of money for little in return in the way of on field performance as we saw with Nico.

I think the NCAA could kill the supply issue right now by elimination of all eligibility rules. let players play in the NCAA for as long as they can. If they are good enough to go to the NFL, great. if they suck and get kicked off the team, fine. If they try the NFL and can't hack it, come on back to the NCAA.

There are a TON of players, especially QBs that were fantastic college QBs that couldn't hack it in the NFL, why let that go to waste if they can make a living in the NCAA?

And if the NCAA flooded the market with these players, guys like Nico would be irrelevant out of high school. it would force them to play at least a year or two to prove their worth before being able to demand big bucks.

Offer and education as just one benefit of playing for a school. let them take 1 class a semester if they want. Enough with the "you only get 4 years of playing time and have to go to class full time". If they want their education it's there for them for free, otherwise don't pretend like it actually matters.

give the stupid amounts of money to the players who have actual experience playing well at the NCAA level.

You need to stick to the NFL.

 

[jeff1vol]

That's called the UFL.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

I love this idea!

 

[hog88]

Just eliminate the spring transfer portal and move the winter one to after the playoffs.

It can't happen without legislation and I don't want congress involved at all but I'd love to see the P4 form it's own division and set it's transfer rules:

1. Player gets 1 free undergrad transfer within the P4 division
2. Players can transfer down or up divisions every year if they want

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Now that the illusion of the "student athlete" has been completely shattered I have a solution to the issue of players holding teams hostage for money.

Currently there's a supply and demand issue. very few top tier QBs (or other positions) and too many teams that want them. this gives players the ability to come out of high school, never having played a snap of college ball and ask for stupid amounts of money for little in return in the way of on field performance as we saw with Nico.

I think the NCAA could kill the supply issue right now by elimination of all eligibility rules. let players play in the NCAA for as long as they can. If they are good enough to go to the NFL, great. if they suck and get kicked off the team, fine. If they try the NFL and can't hack it, come on back to the NCAA.

There are a TON of players, especially QBs that were fantastic college QBs that couldn't hack it in the NFL, why let that go to waste if they can make a living in the NCAA?

And if the NCAA flooded the market with these players, guys like Nico would be irrelevant out of high school. it would force them to play at least a year or two to prove their worth before being able to demand big bucks.

Offer and education as just one benefit of playing for a school. let them take 1 class a semester if they want. Enough with the "you only get 4 years of playing time and have to go to class full time". If they want their education it's there for them for free, otherwise don't pretend like it actually matters.

give the stupid amounts of money to the players who have actual experience playing well at the NCAA level.

OR the NCAA can let their NIL agreements be true pay for play contracts that tie a student to a school for a time period.

If student wants to leave they have to get released from their contract Or wait until the one year agreement expires.

There solved.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

Not legal without congress exemption

 

[goldvol]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

The only way a salary cap will work is if there is a union representing the players. That's how it happens in every other professional sport, and otherwise would not be allowed.

 

[ptcarter]

the education is free as a benefit if they want it.

It's not just the students. I think Nico's dad learned something free.. well let me rethink that, it just might have cost something.

 

[Carp]

Salary cap.
Limit the number of times you can enter the transfer portal.
Change the transfer window to AFTER the playoff has completed.
Make players contract employees and have tight buyouts so they don't ditch you during spring camp.

You can't cap NIL. It's literally just endorsement deals. And every player is able to make as much money as they possibly can. They can't be capped any more than Pat Mahomes can be capped with his endorsement deals with State Farm, Subway, or DraftKings.

 

[Volfanstucknga]

Allow the Universities to pay the athletes and kick the NIL collectives to the curb. $50K per scholarship athlete per year (OG complaint was they didn't have a car or date money). Allow schools to pay non-scholarship players $12K. Players can enter contracts with private pay advertisement deals that must be submitted for approval. Thus NIL actually allowing the student athlete to receive legitimate funds for the name, image, and likeness. Those funds cannot exceed another $50K per year (total). If the player is found to exceed the amount, player is fined for first offense. Second banned from college football.

Bring back the 1 time transfer without penalty outside of conference. Inside conference the player must sit one year and can only earn half of the University pay-out.

Schools would be on equal playing ground and teams would have to recruit the old fashion way.

 

[Special Ed]

 

[HeuperDrive]

I think removing the spring portal would solve half of the issues. Would be a lot harder for players to holdout and demand more money if they can’t just say “I’ll transfer out in April if my demands aren’t met”.

Beyond that, there needs to be some form of collective bargaining and contracts. Salary caps sound good in theory, but I don’t think that’s actually possible, as other posts in here have noted.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Now that the illusion of the "student athlete" has been completely shattered I have a solution to the issue of players holding teams hostage for money.

Currently there's a supply and demand issue. very few top tier QBs (or other positions) and too many teams that want them. this gives players the ability to come out of high school, never having played a snap of college ball and ask for stupid amounts of money for little in return in the way of on field performance as we saw with Nico.

I think the NCAA could kill the supply issue right now by elimination of all eligibility rules. let players play in the NCAA for as long as they can. If they are good enough to go to the NFL, great. if they suck and get kicked off the team, fine. If they try the NFL and can't hack it, come on back to the NCAA.

There are a TON of players, especially QBs that were fantastic college QBs that couldn't hack it in the NFL, why let that go to waste if they can make a living in the NCAA?

And if the NCAA flooded the market with these players, guys like Nico would be irrelevant out of high school. it would force them to play at least a year or two to prove their worth before being able to demand big bucks.

Offer and education as just one benefit of playing for a school. let them take 1 class a semester if they want. Enough with the "you only get 4 years of playing time and have to go to class full time". If they want their education it's there for them for free, otherwise don't pretend like it actually matters.

give the stupid amounts of money to the players who have actual experience playing well at the NCAA level.

Your opening premise is wrong, Franklin.

The "student athlete" hasn't been killed by NIL. The "college amateur" has, but not the student.

The older members of VN.com have spent our entire lives thinking of college athletes as both students and amateurs. That was the mantra. It was the code. It was in the very marrow of the model. So we never really thought about them actually being two separate ideas.

But they are. As NIL has proven.

College sports always had two key differentiators from the pros. Now they only have one. But it's the more important one, the one that goes straight to the heart of what a university is.

The NCAA (not the bureaucratic offices, but the collective will of the universities) will never give that one up. And no one is trying to take it away from them, far as I can see.

I don't see your idea ever gaining any traction. At all. Anywhere.

They may now be professionals, but they remain students.

Go Vols!

 

[901 Orange]

The best way to deal with NIL and transfers is to simply add a buyout clause in these NIL contracts. Coaches can leave whenever they want but it does come with a price. I'm all for these kids getting paid. At the same time if you're jumping ship for more money or a better opportunity like a coach would, u should have to pay some sort of buyout just like a coach does. While this won't stop a guy from transferring it definitely will slow down the backdoor negotiations. If Nico had 5mil left on his deal, give me 2.5mil, you pay him whatever u want, and you can take him with zero complaints from me.

 

[volfan411]

Allow the Universities to pay the athletes and kick the NIL collectives to the curb. $50K per scholarship athlete per year (OG complaint was they didn't have a car or date money). Allow schools to pay non-scholarship players $12K. Players can enter contracts with private pay advertisement deals that must be submitted for approval. Thus NIL actually allowing the student athlete to receive legitimate funds for the name, image, and likeness. Those funds cannot exceed another $50K per year (total). If the player is found to exceed the amount, player is fined for first offense. Second banned from college football.

Bring back the 1 time transfer without penalty outside of conference. Inside conference the player must sit one year and can only earn half of the University pay-out.

Schools would be on equal playing ground and teams would have to recruit the old fashion way.

I agree with this!!! The collectives have created this mess and i am not sure why the fans do not see it. We have to stop this paying players up front for an anticipated value. Imagine how much money Spyre lost on Nico by him bailing early and skipping events that were intended for the collective to recoup some of their funds.