NILs

[Otto]

The new NIL rules are changing college sports forever, and immediately. So many questions arise, and there are countless more that I haven’t considered. But what crosses my mind:

1. How many schools will lose out on a local kid who grew up dreaming of playing for that school, simply because the financial opportunities can’t compete with what is available elsewhere?

2. Is recruiting for star players ALL about NIL deals now? Does it become irrelevant that a school has a great business school or pretty campus or strong network of alumni, and all about how many local pizza places and dry cleaners will pay a player for endorsements?

3. All NIL deals are supposed to be reported to the school’s compliance office. Just as some things (payments, cars — whatever) weren’t reported back in the day, how many will go unreported now?

4. What happens when a high-profile star at a big-bucks school makes more than his coach? Nick Saban doesn’t have to worry about that, but what if the coach at some small directional school has an in with a stud player … and connections to businesses with very deep pockets?

5. When a star recruit signs with a school and lands NIL deals, but then doesn’t live up to recruiting expectations, how will coaches deal with businesses who call and say “my next donation to the athletic department depends on you playing the kid who endorses my business”? Then the AD has to weigh the coach’s assessment of who plays against the athletic department’s bottom line. Have fun with that.

6. What are the shoe companies’ roles going to be? Are they going to start signing high school seniors and instructing them that they only can consider schools that use the right shoes/gear? What’s THAT money going to look like?

7. If Reggie Bush gets his Heisman Trophy and records back, shouldn’t SMU’s performance during the 1980s be recognized as national championship-level?

8. Is there any way this DOESN’T widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots? Huge schools with endless money — Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, etc. — should be able to land entire classes of players who walk on campus with signed deals already agreed upon.

9. Connecticut women’s basketball could end up with a team of all professional players. How many will take a pay cut when they go to the WNBA?

10. Agents are supposed to stay off campus. Yeah, right.

11. How long until high schools are forced to abandon their claims of amateurism and kids start signing with companies before they even choose a college?

[Arkpony]

All valid questions. The Pandora’s Box has been opened and now we reap the wild wind that will surely follow.

[Hilltopper]

3. All NIL deals are supposed to be reported to the school’s compliance office. Just as some things (payments, cars — whatever) weren’t reported back in the day, how many will go unreported now?

Has anyone seen a documentation of what happens if it is discovered that athletes are getting deals that go unreported? And is there ANY chance (hint: no) the NCAA enforces whatever penalties that might involve?

[PonyTales]

Someone on the radio raised the question of who will be the first college player to make seven figures, and suggested that it's not too far in the future.

NCAA is stubborn and clinging to any shred of importance. Very unlikely Bush or SMU gets forgiven.