Name, Image and Likeness has taken center stage in college athletics, with many players across different sports raking in deals. Many coaches whose programs haven’t yet taken advantage vow they will, while others are still trying to figure out.
Even more are laughing openly at colleagues who are promising the corporations surrounding their campuses will make them the NIL kings of the Midwest (for example).
"I love listening to all the coaches in the SEC and the guys before me … ‘We've got the best opportunity of NIL in Evanston, in Chicago,’” Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said with a laugh. “We're all trying to figure this thing out, so we need to get off thinking we have all got the best and work hard to educate our young men, educate their families, and then eventually put things in place to educate from the NCAA and the Big Ten level perspective student-athletes and their families.
… “I think as we sit here at this time next year, I think we're all going to have a really good idea where this is at. I just think it's comical listening to all of us head coaches talk about how great our fan bases and our Twitter handles are for NIL for our players. It has nothing to do with it … but it's been humorous to watch.”
Like it or not, though, it’s going to be an important part of the landscape going forward, and programs that have been preparing for it are already a step ahead. Alabama’s Nick Saban sent shock waves throughout college football when he announced quarterback Bryce Young was already approaching $1 million in endorsements.
There are likely plenty of coaches who aren’t thrilled about it, of course, especially those whose programs don’t have the resources. If they don’t like it, though, they’d probably never admit it.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh insisted it was a ‘positive thing’ for the game while at the recent Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
“It was designed to be a positive thing, and I think it’s going to be,” he said. “So much stuff was thrown at these guys and gals, the college students last year. So many things swirling, and high school and grade school kids (too) … I think they’ve bounced back, but it’s also pretty darn tough, too.
“NIL has come along, and that’s a real positive thing. It’s good consequences for doing good; really good rewards for being a good football player or good athlete, good student, good person. Those things those young men and young women … putting their best foot forward, having a chance to have good consequences. I think it’s a really good thing.”
But is U-M in good position against the ‘Bamas, Ohio States and Clemsons, for example?
Harbaugh believes so.
“I want our guys to be in position to have all those tremendous opportunities,” he said. “We’re doing those things. [New hire] Sydney Sims I think is doing a really good thing. Maybe call me old, whatever, but she’s young, knows the ways of Tik Tok and Instagram and twitter. Those opportunities, if you’re talking about those, no question social media is a big deal.”
But when he talks about somebody’s ‘brand,’ he said, the film is still the best promotion.
“Your tape is still your brand as a football player. So still, go get really good at football,” he said. “Your grades are your brand as a student. Get really good grades. How you treat people with respect, how you conduct self with integrity, therefore to be respected … that’s still your brand as a person.
“In some ways, some of the old things, the soul of the old things, still stand true. You’re a college athlete. Go get the best grades, win the most awards, excel at sports and there will be really good consequences for those.”
Is it naïve? Maybe, as it pertains to recruiting. Michigan has apparently lost out on a chance for an elite defensive player due to NIL “guarantees,” which still qualifies as an illegal recruiting inducement (but just another thing the NCAA won’t do anything about, and now with the new rules, probably wouldn’t have any idea where to start).
In addition, a recent recruit who had U-M in its top three said the Wolverines were the only one of the trio that didn’t really have an NIL plan.
That’s not really on the coaches as much as it is the conservative nature of the administration when it comes to inducements, etc. It just is what it is, despite the program having an insane amount of resources and boosters willing to help.
But it’s clear, regardless of the talk about those wanting to help, that U-M isn’t a ‘Leader and Best’ here, and it’s time to make up some ground.
Even more are laughing openly at colleagues who are promising the corporations surrounding their campuses will make them the NIL kings of the Midwest (for example).
"I love listening to all the coaches in the SEC and the guys before me … ‘We've got the best opportunity of NIL in Evanston, in Chicago,’” Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said with a laugh. “We're all trying to figure this thing out, so we need to get off thinking we have all got the best and work hard to educate our young men, educate their families, and then eventually put things in place to educate from the NCAA and the Big Ten level perspective student-athletes and their families.
… “I think as we sit here at this time next year, I think we're all going to have a really good idea where this is at. I just think it's comical listening to all of us head coaches talk about how great our fan bases and our Twitter handles are for NIL for our players. It has nothing to do with it … but it's been humorous to watch.”
Like it or not, though, it’s going to be an important part of the landscape going forward, and programs that have been preparing for it are already a step ahead. Alabama’s Nick Saban sent shock waves throughout college football when he announced quarterback Bryce Young was already approaching $1 million in endorsements.
There are likely plenty of coaches who aren’t thrilled about it, of course, especially those whose programs don’t have the resources. If they don’t like it, though, they’d probably never admit it.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh insisted it was a ‘positive thing’ for the game while at the recent Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
“It was designed to be a positive thing, and I think it’s going to be,” he said. “So much stuff was thrown at these guys and gals, the college students last year. So many things swirling, and high school and grade school kids (too) … I think they’ve bounced back, but it’s also pretty darn tough, too.
“NIL has come along, and that’s a real positive thing. It’s good consequences for doing good; really good rewards for being a good football player or good athlete, good student, good person. Those things those young men and young women … putting their best foot forward, having a chance to have good consequences. I think it’s a really good thing.”
But is U-M in good position against the ‘Bamas, Ohio States and Clemsons, for example?
Harbaugh believes so.
“I want our guys to be in position to have all those tremendous opportunities,” he said. “We’re doing those things. [New hire] Sydney Sims I think is doing a really good thing. Maybe call me old, whatever, but she’s young, knows the ways of Tik Tok and Instagram and twitter. Those opportunities, if you’re talking about those, no question social media is a big deal.”
But when he talks about somebody’s ‘brand,’ he said, the film is still the best promotion.
“Your tape is still your brand as a football player. So still, go get really good at football,” he said. “Your grades are your brand as a student. Get really good grades. How you treat people with respect, how you conduct self with integrity, therefore to be respected … that’s still your brand as a person.
“In some ways, some of the old things, the soul of the old things, still stand true. You’re a college athlete. Go get the best grades, win the most awards, excel at sports and there will be really good consequences for those.”
Is it naïve? Maybe, as it pertains to recruiting. Michigan has apparently lost out on a chance for an elite defensive player due to NIL “guarantees,” which still qualifies as an illegal recruiting inducement (but just another thing the NCAA won’t do anything about, and now with the new rules, probably wouldn’t have any idea where to start).
In addition, a recent recruit who had U-M in its top three said the Wolverines were the only one of the trio that didn’t really have an NIL plan.
That’s not really on the coaches as much as it is the conservative nature of the administration when it comes to inducements, etc. It just is what it is, despite the program having an insane amount of resources and boosters willing to help.
But it’s clear, regardless of the talk about those wanting to help, that U-M isn’t a ‘Leader and Best’ here, and it’s time to make up some ground.
