$20-$40m rosters?

[txbo]

After this season, I will probably find something better to do with my time. No whining.

I think a good chunk of the core college football fan base will have similar thoughts.

When QB1 is cruising campus in his BMW and Joe Common can't afford his season tickets anymore, college sports will lose it's luster for him.

 

[volfan102455]

The article alludes to a cap of 20.9 million. I did a quick search online as to how many students athletes does the University of Tennessee have. Not sure of the year but the stats:

- 698 student athletes
- 152,662,164 total revenue with all of it being accounted for with expenses. We are probably one of the few schoools where the revenue can cover the expenses.
- The average sports related financial aid per male student is 25,689 and for women it is 24,791. The average per student is 25,248.

That totals 17,623,104 million dollars of financial support.

If you take 20.9 M and share it across the 698 students, none of them are making millions.

And before you say ... well they should get more from the 152 million - that would imply cuts elsewhere - to facilities, supporting staff, supplies, travel expenses, uniforms, etc.

The money is just not there to pay the players. And if you cut sports, you lose the revenue from those sports and while most of them don't bring in what the football program does, they do bring in dollars that will disappear from the revenue line.

 

[OrangeParker]

I attended an ETSU fundraising event a few weeks back called “Inside the Huddle” with new Head Coach Healy. He mentioned at the event, that he was at a speaking engagement at UT recently and they said that our fall football roster was 45 million. I don’t know if that was just NIL or the total budget for the team after travel, nutrition, etc but I was really surprised to hear that number. Well not really that surprised I guess lol.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

The article alludes to a cap of 20.9 million. I did a quick search online as to how many students athletes does the University of Tennessee have. Not sure of the year but the stats:

- 698 student athletes
- 152,662,164 total revenue with all of it being accounted for with expenses. We are probably one of the few schoools where the revenue can cover the expenses.
- The average sports related financial aid per male student is 25,689 and for women it is 24,791. The average per student is 25,248.

That totals 17,623,104 million dollars of financial support.

If you take 20.9 M and share it across the 698 students, none of them are making millions.

And before you say ... well they should get more from the 152 million - that would imply cuts elsewhere - to facilities, supporting staff, supplies, travel expenses, uniforms, etc.

The money is just not there to pay the players. And if you cut sports, you lose the revenue from those sports and while most of them don't bring in what the football program does, they do bring in dollars that will disappear from the revenue line.

Many of those 698 students will find their non revenue program quietly axed. You'll see an article or two, maybe some brief outrage, then football or basketball or baseball season will overshadow that.

Businesses axe areas that don't make money and, sadly, schools are choosing to treat sports like a business now. If your kid is in a non revenue, not often televised sport, expect that their program will go away.

Shutter programs, up the talent fee, charge more for premium boxes, whatever it takes but they will get the money to pay athletes bringing in $152M a year.

 

[GVF]

I think the big donors will stick around longer that the many little guys that contribute to collectives on a monthly basis.

Yeah, all those car delaerships up and down the road, or Big Boy BQQ down in the back alley. They will all fade away, when they are donating appearance money, and get ghosted, and they got people at their business to see someone that snubs obligations. Nico may not have been the norm in that regard, but he probably hasn't been the only one either.

 

[GVF]

I attended an ETSU fundraising event a few weeks back called “Inside the Huddle” with new Head Coach Healy. He mentioned at the event, that he was at a speaking engagement at UT recently and they said that our fall football roster was 45 million. I don’t know if that was just NIL or the total budget for the team after travel, nutrition, etc but I was really surprised to hear that number. Well not really that surprised I guess lol.

I seriously doubt that was just NIL. Heck tOSU was only $20 mil for their natty roster alone. I'd suspect that's their entire football budget for the season, NIL included.

 

[GVF]

The teams that will stay on top will be theo nes that can pay for the roster, and maintain that roster longer than one season. FSU demonstrated handily just how implosive a portal roster can be. The best route to dominance is building and re-supplying. Saban perfected that model, whether it was under the table or not. If your NIL is fluid, and you have a coach that maintains some continuity, that school will be your next dynasty. And you may have someone sneak in a natty here and there. We all know a team can falter at odd times. But, you prob have maybe 6+ schools that can pay and keep a roster somewhat intact year to year.

Now if the AD's and HC's quietly band together across the board and stiffen up like UT did, they can reset the market values and calm things down a little.

I think the real winners will be G5 & FCS programs that are already competitive. You still got alot of guys in the portal untouched that need places to play to try and keep their careers going, and they will be upgrades to a decent group of smaller programs.

Guys like Maverick McIvor that followed his DC from Texas Tech to HC at ACU in FCS as QB, quietly racked up very impressive stats over 2 seasons, and will finish up at WKU. This was a pretty darn good QB, that probably coulda got on higher than WKU if anyone had known who he was.

 

[txbo]

Yeah, all those car delaerships up and down the road, or Big Boy BQQ down in the back alley. They will all fade away, when they are donating appearance money, and get ghosted, and they got people at their business to see someone that snubs obligations. Nico may not have been the norm in that regard, but he probably hasn't been the only one either.

True but I’m thinking of the blue collar guy sending Sprye $50 a month. They’ll move on.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Now if the AD's and HC's quietly band together across the board and stiffen up like UT did, they can reset the market values and calm things down a little.

Besides the greed factor that kicks in when a team really wants a player and breaks the deal, I think the term you're looking for isn't "quietly band together across the board" but "engage in illegal market collusion."

 

[GVF]

True but I’m thinking of the blue collar guy sending Sprye $50 a month. They’ll move on.

In a heartbeat. IMO, those players already get a free $100K +- degree, free premium sports food program, free lodging, free perks around town, never pay a cover charge or for drinks, free upscale groupie followings, McDonald's bags, etc. They were never going to get $50 a month from me. I'm caught between being old school and seeing merit in some plan of financial award for the players that help draw the money into the schools. But, that is tiered and heavily favors the big boys. And not all P4 schools are money makers even. Profit starts falling off around the mid-point of the conferences I'd imagine. I'd make an educated guess that a good bit more than 50% of just the football programs alone break even or post profits, largely because the overall expenses of a football program are so much higher than BBall or Baseball. There's still a fair cluster of smaller schools in D1 sports other than football that do not field football for that reason.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

In a heartbeat. IMO, those players already get a free $100K +- degree, free premium sports food program, free lodging, free perks around town, never pay a cover charge or for drinks, free upscale groupie followings, McDonald's bags, etc. They were never going to get $50 a month from me. I'm caught between being old school and seeing merit in some plan of financial award for the players that help draw the money into the schools. But, that is tiered and heavily favors the big boys. And not all P4 schools are money makers even. Profit starts falling off around the mid-point of the conferences I'd imagine. I'd make an educated guess that a good bit more than 50% of just the football programs alone break even or post profits, largely because the overall expenses of a football program are so much higher than BBall or Baseball. There's still a fair cluster of smaller schools in D1 sports other than football that do not field football for that reason.

Don't you think if you're not supporting Spyre, a major portion of our recruiting now, that you're essentially saying I don't care if UT is competitive in the SEC?

It's difficult to feel I have a right to expect good recruiting if I'm not supporting that recruiting now that I can. Previously only the rich could get access to slip money to players but now we all can.

It's not as though this hasn't been "the way" elite recruiting has been done in the SEC for decades.

 

[txbo]

Don't you think if you're not supporting Spyre, a major portion of our recruiting now, that you're essentially saying I don't care if UT is competitive in the SEC?

It's difficult to feel I have a right to expect good recruiting if I'm not supporting that recruiting now that I can. Previously only the rich could get access to slip money to players but now we all can.

It's not as though this hasn't been "the way" elite recruiting has been done in the SEC for decades.

If it takes enriching an 18 year old kid with my money, to be competitive, then I don't care if we are competitive. I'll find other entertainment.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

If it takes enriching an 18 year old kid with my money, to be competitive, then I don't care if we are competitive. I'll find other entertainment.

It's actually been like that for some time. I've said repeatedly and posted a video of Joe Namath talking about being offered more than his Dad made in the factory + a new car to play.

In 1960.

Surely you don't believe our 90s teams were recruited with nothing?

 

[GVF]

Don't you think if you're not supporting Spyre, a major portion of our recruiting now, that you're essentially saying I don't care if UT is competitive in the SEC?

It's difficult to feel I have a right to expect good recruiting if I'm not supporting that recruiting now that I can. Previously only the rich could get access to slip money to players but now we all can.

It's not as though this hasn't been "the way" elite recruiting has been done in the SEC for decades.

And it was doing it without my $50 a month then too. Bottom line, I have a two jobs, and fixing to start a 3rd, and other folks want my donations. Been a Vol fan for well over 40 years, and aside from attending 5 games in my life and some orange, have never dropped a dime on a player. And have no guilt cheering just as hard as the next guy. Supporting a kid on a free ride is not my gig. I paid for my grad school, and have a son in college. I support more than plenty already.

The secret is, I know things cycle, and I know there will be stretches where UT is great, and when they're not so great. And I will cheer either way. And for over 10 years, alot of under the table money didn't change their standing in the SEC. And I also know that $2mil QB didn't give donors their money's worth or even honor the things he was supposed to do for that money around town. I can name 4 coaches that didn't have a dollar in those McDonalds bags and it got them nothing on the field. These abhorent contracts for these young men will ruin more lives in the long run than they will help.

Today's college sports issue is not so much the NIL money. It's the unrestricted portal, and the indifference of the NCAA to coaches doing what pisses people off when the players do it.

 

[GVF]

It's actually been like that for some time. I've said repeatedly and posted a video of Joe Namath talking about being offered more than his Dad made in the factory + a new car to play.

In 1960.

Surely you don't believe our 90s teams were recruited with nothing?

And our 2000's & 2010's team were spending jack too. How competitive were they ?

Everybody knows the big boys were always getting paid something. Anyone that thinks that never happened, or that their favorite school was clean is quite naive. SMU just did a bad job of hiding from the NCAA, and the NCAA thought that crucifying one school would solve the problem. You may have kids like the Mannings that didn't need it, and likely didn't take it, but they're the exception.

 

[txbo]

It's actually been like that for some time. I've said repeatedly and posted a video of Joe Namath talking about being offered more than his Dad made in the factory + a new car to play.

In 1960.

Surely you don't believe our 90s teams were recruited with nothing?

Even our teams in the 1980's got booster money. I saw it first hand.

But that's nothing close to what we are seeing now.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Even our teams in the 1980's got booster money. I saw it first hand.

But that's nothing close to what we are seeing now.

So it's the AMOUNT of money? Has nothing else gone up in your life for the last 45 years?

 

[txbo]

So it's the AMOUNT of money? Has nothing else gone up in your life for the last 45 years?

Sure lots. Certainly you aren't comparing this to normal inflation, are you? Kids weren't living in luxury. They had a few comforts. T. Rob drove a Porsche but he lived in a dorm room.

 

[GVF]

Don't you think if you're not supporting Spyre, a major portion of our recruiting now, that you're essentially saying I don't care if UT is competitive in the SEC?

It's difficult to feel I have a right to expect good recruiting if I'm not supporting that recruiting now that I can. Previously only the rich could get access to slip money to players but now we all can.

It's not as though this hasn't been "the way" elite recruiting has been done in the SEC for decades.

A kid that has the gumption to be competitive with or without the money is the only kid that deserves the money. These players threatening to sit out to get more money can kiss my sweet a**. They better not offer me a HC job. I'd be on the sidelines with 25-30 hard working kids and all the little b*$%&es would be home in bed by mid-season.

 

[GVF]

So it's the AMOUNT of money? Has nothing else gone up in your life for the last 45 years?

Not to the point that an 18 year old ain't proved nothing ninny is worth $2mil, much less $2K.

I had to reach goals and get proper performance reviews to advance and get raises.

These kids are getting paid millions to just suck slightly better than the girl in the bathroom at the club.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

And our 2000's & 2010's team were spending jack too. How competitive were they ?

Everybody knows the big boys were always getting paid something. Anyone that thinks that never happened, or that their favorite school was clean is quite naive. SMU just did a bad job of hiding from the NCAA, and the NCAA thought that crucifying one school would solve the problem. You may have kids like the Mannings that didn't need it, and likely didn't take it, but they're the exception.

Money doesn't assure winning but no money assures losing. Lousy coaching is always a killer. Alabama has done well with good coaching and lots of money.

My issue is that now I have a chance to contribute. I would've before because I knew how it worked and the best I could do was support businesses I knew supported the Vols.

If you can't do it financially, I completely get it. There was a time I would've been doing my family a disservice to give much to the program.

But to blame this mess or blame the players for growing up and this being the system that's in place isn't right. The continual dissing of the players when it's only a few who are d*cks, most seem to take their NIL quietly and without fuss.

Nico is an a$$. Mathews is probably our next problem child. Boo Carter seemed to want to talk about how he felt he could help the team.

Other than that, I might've missed one or two, about 100 players didn't do anything to deserve to be dissed.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Not to the point that an 18 year old ain't proved nothing ninny is worth $2mil, much less $2K.

I had to reach goals and get proper performance reviews to advance and get raises.

What's your 40 time? What's your special talent?

 

[GVF]

Money doesn't assure winning but no money assures losing. Lousy coaching is always a killer. Alabama has done well with good coaching and lots of money.

My issue is that now I have a chance to contribute. I would've before because I knew how it worked and the best I could do was support businesses I knew supported the Vols.

If you can't do it financially, I completely get it. There was a time I would've been doing my family a disservice to give much to the program.

But to blame this mess or blame the players for growing up and this being the system that's in place isn't right. The continual dissing of the players when it's only a few who are d*cks, most seem to take their NIL quietly and without fuss.

Nico is an a$$. Mathews is probably our next problem child. Boo Carter seemed to want to talk about how he felt he could help the team.

Other than that, I might've missed one or two, about 100 players didn't do anything to deserve to be dissed.

Tell that to Wisconsin Whitewater or GRand Valley State.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Tell that to Wisconsin Whitewater or GRand Valley State.

Find a winner in a real conference with no money.

Imagine UT if we put Vandy money into paying players over the years. Likely VN would have about 1/3 or less of the traffic.

Winning matters. In the SEC winning requires money and quite a bit of money.

 

[txbo]

Money doesn't assure winning but no money assures losing. Lousy coaching is always a killer. Alabama has done well with good coaching and lots of money.

My issue is that now I have a chance to contribute. I would've before because I knew how it worked and the best I could do was support businesses I knew supported the Vols.

If you can't do it financially, I completely get it. There was a time I would've been doing my family a disservice to give much to the program.

But to blame this mess or blame the players for growing up and this being the system that's in place isn't right. The continual dissing of the players when it's only a few who are d*cks, most seem to take their NIL quietly and without fuss.

Nico is an a$$. Mathews is probably our next problem child. Boo Carter seemed to want to talk about how he felt he could help the team.

Other than that, I might've missed one or two, about 100 players didn't do anything to deserve to be dissed.

I get wanting to be a part of it. For those, like you, that contributing brings them joy, I say have at it.

I don't blame the players. I simply don't want to participate.