Two Kentucky boosters have just pledged $4 million for basketball NIL. Our AD has to put pressure on boosters and alumni for NIL...

[Kinnick 4 Prez]

I’ll buy a few Swarm beers here and there but that’s about it.
Us fans give enough to the university through season tickets, purchasing apparel, buying concessions and so on.
My wife and I aren’t giving our disposable income to a collective so 18-24 year olds can come or stay at Iowa and pull in 6 figures.
If that means the product on the field suffers so be it.
We enjoy all U of I sports for a very simple reason. Spending time with friends/family while enjoying the team we love.
I’m blown away by how much some people give just to see their teams compete for something in the grand scheme of things means very little.
In my younger years I may have thought differently but now I want to enjoy a couple vacations a year, see family/friends, golf when I want and have a savings to enjoy retirement.

 

[Kinnick 4 Prez]

What? That your sports team wouldn't be able to compete anymore? It really sucks as an Iowa fan but the kids deserve to get the money when they're generating millions of dollars.

But kids were being paid by education, housing, tutors, food, travel, and so on. Their scholarships are a form of payment.
John Bacon researched (I think in 2018-19?) that a 5-year Sr at Michigan football received $800k in those items I listed above over his time on the team.
That’s a lot.
And if they value that opportunity to use the education and guidance they receive from the university most will be just fine moving forward.
I understand players want to be paid in cash now (that’s their right), but will they appreciate their experience at a university and grow or just take the money and run and not learn some valuable life lessons? We all know that’s why KF is still around he wants to mold young men and I applaud him for that. That’s what makes him special to most of us. He actually cares about his guys.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Meh

Iowa football and men's basketball was something I loved as a kid and was passionate about as a young adult.
I've changed and those sports have changed. Interest wanes.
I'm invested enough to waste time on here musing about them. I watch, sometimes, when the games are entertaining, competitive and against quality opponents. That happens less often in recent years.
Needless to say, I won't be donating.

 

[uihawk82]

or both basketball and football will die a slow death. Basketball is basically there. I send money monthly to the Swarm, but we need our AD to cultivate some big money.

What type of leverage would AD Beth have to twist the arm or make Big Money donors give to NIL?

In the past the only leverage has been if you want season tickets you pony up a contribution but that is money that comes into the Athl Dept coffers not to NIL.

Someone mentioned the Athl Dept should bite the bullet for a season, since they make uber TV money, and tell people not to make I-Club donations or donations for tickets to the UI but to make them to NIL. But a lot of people wouldnt contribute to NIL if they do not have to show the UI they did.

 

[uihawk82]

the death you are forecasting was perpetuated when it became ok to pay STUDENT athletes. many on here were 100% behind the payments without considering the reality that was bound to follow.

Paying every student the same amount in a stipend for the time they put in practicing and working out in off seasons is totally different than boosters paying high school kids to come to their school.

If every student athlete got a certain stipend for their sport, say $30K for football, $20K for bball, and so on that would have been a workable solution.

Also, if NIL was done where the student athl had to actually show they are doing something to sell their n, i, likeness, rather than just get paid money in a brown paper bag, it might seem not so slimy.

 

[bbwretler]

All the employees at your company aren't getting the money either. Some are perceived to be more valuable. It's no different.

They need to change some rules for sure but I'm not mad players are getting paid after getting nothing all these years.

players have always gotten plenty all those years.

 

[uihawk82]

Why can't we get some corporate sponsors to contribute.....like, State Farm, John Deere, Wells Fargo, Principle Financial Group, Etc., is there some law that prevents them from contributing, instead of begging for hundred bucks here and there.

John Deere and Principal Fin are very tied to Iowa and might make a donation. Not sure about Wells Fargo (they employ a lot of Iowans) as they are not centered in Iowa and State Farm has its big advertising budget for TV and are active in all the states probably.

Not sure what other companies would feel that buying players is in their making profits mission statement. I am sure large, local banks and S and L's wouldn't think it a good use of their profits.

I just cant think of too many rich Iowa Alums who are sports nuts and want to donate. How about reaching out to Tom Arnold and Ashton Kutcher, sort of a joke.

Grinnell College has the Robert Noyce fund and Iowa St has Denny Albaugh. Many rich Iowa Alums donate directly to the university for areas that are dear to them and it is not sports.

Iowa had Carver and Bandag money. Does that family still donate to Iowa sports?

 

[uihawk82]

After 4 tuitions, FB and BB season tickets in my family since the 70's, I-Club donations, and now I have to pay the players as well?

No thanks

Correct, especially for the athletes on a full scholarships which is worth a lot of money. I have no problem with the schools and donations paying all students a stipend of cash for their offseason and extra in season workout and practice time. The stipend might be based on the amount of money that sport generates and the number of players in that sport with a minimum of maybe $5k a year or something like that. Maybe football players would get $30K for their time.

I think there could still be NIL but I think the rules have to really be tightened up to get rid of BUYING high school players to go to a certain school and paying brown bag cash to buy transfer players.

Make NIL tied to a contract for producing something tangible in the area of name, image, or likeness. Tangible items like commercials, speeches, clothing, pictures, etc. not just cash in a brown bag.

 

[uihawk82]

I liked it better when there was no NIL and the boosters handed over cash in a brown paper bag. The open market pay-to-play has just pushed the price up to unsustainable levels. Iowa couldn’t compete before and they’re struggling to do so now. In that way it’s not much different. It’s still bribery; it’s just legal these days. The ones who did it the old-fashioned way are better at it because they’re more practiced at it.

Yes, and the brown paper bad had long ago been replaced by the high paying summer job where the player didnt even have to work.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

Does Iowa have any big time donors that could and would donate to our NIL like this. I know I've seen where the family that owns the casinos has donated like $500K before.

 

[amahawk]

Soon NCAA titles will become meaningless. In a roundabout way, they will become effectively sold to the highest bidder. In this wacky world, I would like to see a meaningful minimum ACT or SAT score needed to play "College" athletics.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I don't contribute and don't plan to. I think that NIL is nonsense and madness.

First of all, it's not "Name, Image, Likeness", it's pay for play.

Second, it's professional sports now. Would you give money to the Packers or the Bulls so they could get better players?

Next, it has destroyed whatever parity was left in college football and basketball. Even the pros have rules that make it hard to stockpile talent. Not "college" sports!

And possibly the worst part, players have become hired guns. They are after money (not that I blame them), not the college "experience". Players for hire.

And the irony is, schools like Iowa are now swimming in money thanks to TV revenue. So, now they can pay coaches unimaginable amounts and build football buildings that are simply 5 star hotels. All while colleges and universities are rummaging through the sofas looking for loose change.

It's absurd.

 

[GOHOX69]

I enjoy watching you idiots giving your hard earned money to thugs who are here to play a game, bang chicks and go to the next team.

How stupid are you people? It does make me laugh.

 

[GOHOX69]

All the employees at your company aren't getting the money either. Some are perceived to be more valuable. It's no different.

They need to change some rules for sure but I'm not mad players are getting paid after getting nothing all these years.

Make them compensate the value of their free ride and benefits. They aren't insubstantial.

 

[Capital1Hawk]

Does Iowa have any big time donors that could and would donate to our NIL like this. I know I've seen where the family that owns the casinos has donated like $500K before.

Brad & Bruce donated $500k each w/ match stipulation up to $1m for $2m aggregate. Don't even think they even hit that with the casino making up $500k of it. That is so sad... Surely there are 1,000 hawk fans that could pony up $1,000 each. Feel bad for Brad, he spends countless hours for free to make the IA NIL be successful and the Iowa fans are a joke for not supporting Swarm and him.

If you have ever served on boards before then you know it's a thankless job for no pay, work a ton of pro bono hours and are expected to donate significantly while raising money from others. I'm so glad I'm not on any boards anymore. We need to support Brad and get behind him. Need a deep run in football this year to get donors excited again. If the offense turns it around then it will happen. Men's basketball is going to take a miracle.

 

[longliveCS40]

players have always gotten plenty all those years.

"plenty"? So if Caitlin Clark got a Bronco under the table, that's fair compensation for bringing 10 million+ eyeballs to watch a game?

No, it isn't.

 

[bbwretler]

"plenty"? So if Caitlin Clark got a Bronco under the table, that's fair compensation for bringing 10 million+ eyeballs to watch a game?

No, it isn't.

free education, free medical, books, training table, travel, coaching, opportunity to do what they love. bottom line they are not forced to play.. that is their decision.

 

[CookyMonster]

Brad & Bruce donated $500k each w/ match stipulation up to $1m for $2m aggregate. Don't even think they even hit that with the casino making up $500k of it. That is so sad... Surely there are 1,000 hawk fans that could pony up $1,000 each. Feel bad for Brad, he spends countless hours for free to make the IA NIL be successful and the Iowa fans are a joke for not supporting Swarm and him.

If you have ever served on boards before then you know it's a thankless job for no pay, work a ton of pro bono hours and are expected to donate significantly while raising money from others. I'm so glad I'm not on any boards anymore. We need to support Brad and get behind him. Need a deep run in football this year to get donors excited again. If the offense turns it around then it will happen. Men's basketball is going to take a miracle.

Yes poor Brad the millionaire trying to boost up college sports teams lmao.

 

[SB_SB]

I'll continue to donate. I don't have many loves in my life and the Hawks are one of them. Just wish we could afford a decent roster in this new college world we live in...

What's really sad is what I loved about college sports was the sense of family. That's why I watched college sports over professional. With NIL it just feels like we're having to buy our family, which ruins it for me. I'm not against an athlete actually using NIL to make money, like CC does with State Farm, but I'm against having to create a fund to basically buy a athlete. At this point professional players are more loyal and play more as a team.

 

[longliveCS40]

But kids were being paid by education, housing, tutors, food, travel, and so on. Their scholarships are a form of payment.
John Bacon researched (I think in 2018-19?) that a 5-year Sr at Michigan football received $800k in those items I listed above over his time on the team.
That’s a lot.
And if they value that opportunity to use the education and guidance they receive from the university most will be just fine moving forward.
I understand players want to be paid in cash now (that’s their right), but will they appreciate their experience at a university and grow or just take the money and run and not learn some valuable life lessons? We all know that’s why KF is still around he wants to mold young men and I applaud him for that. That’s what makes him special to most of us. He actually cares about his guys.

A full ride scholly golfer or academic gets all that money as well. Do they contribute to a compelling sport that brings millions of dollars to the university via TV, fan attendance, and apparel sales? No.

That's the difference.

 

[GOHOX69]

"plenty"? So if Caitlin Clark got a Bronco under the table, that's fair compensation for bringing 10 million+ eyeballs to watch a game?

No, it isn't.

Look that's all well and good. Just don't call them student athletes.

 

[longliveCS40]

Look that's all well and good. Just don't call them student athletes.

Why not? Caitlin Clark, and others, go to classes and will graduate from the university with their degree. They are students.

 

[the24fan]

I don't contribute and don't plan to. I think that NIL is nonsense and madness.

First of all, it's not "Name, Image, Likeness", it's pay for play.

Second, it's professional sports now. Would you give money to the Packers or the Bulls so they could get better players?

Next, it has destroyed whatever parity was left in college football and basketball. Even the pros have rules that make it hard to stockpile talent. Not "college" sports!

And possibly the worst part, players have become hired guns. They are after money (not that I blame them), not the college "experience". Players for hire.

And the irony is, schools like Iowa are now swimming in money thanks to TV revenue. So, now they can pay coaches unimaginable amounts and build football buildings that are simply 5 star hotels. All while colleges and universities are rummaging through the sofas looking for loose change.

It's absurd.

Post of the year about NIL
All of this times a million
It’s ruining the competitive balance in college to a such an unfair level it’s become like MLB with no salary cap

 

[MikeyHawk]

Get a new head coach. not a lot of excitement to donate to a stale declining program

 

[RicoSuave102954]

Small annual donations from thousands of fan would be ideal. I read out of all football tickets holders only 400 contribute. It’s an awful number

Unfortunately, it will take Iowa to hit rock bottom in sports before the dimwits figure out that supporting SWARM is the ONLY way we are going to compete.

Those who say I buy season tickets and go to the games isn't that enough don't have a clue how this works.

The genie is out of the bottle and it isn't going back anytime soon.

Getting no stars, 1 star and 2 star players and coaching them up is going to get you about 2 - 3 wins a year in football in this new era.

 

[RicoSuave102954]

I’ll buy a few Swarm beers here and there but that’s about it.
Us fans give enough to the university through season tickets, purchasing apparel, buying concessions and so on.
My wife and I aren’t giving our disposable income to a collective so 18-24 year olds can come or stay at Iowa and pull in 6 figures.
If that means the product on the field suffers so be it.
We enjoy all U of I sports for a very simple reason. Spending time with friends/family while enjoying the team we love.
I’m blown away by how much some people give just to see their teams compete for something in the grand scheme of things means very little.
In my younger years I may have thought differently but now I want to enjoy a couple vacations a year, see family/friends, golf when I want and have a savings to enjoy retirement.

Fine but don't you dare open your mouth and complain when the winning stops.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

But kids were being paid by education, housing, tutors, food, travel, and so on. Their scholarships are a form of payment.
John Bacon researched (I think in 2018-19?) that a 5-year Sr at Michigan football received $800k in those items I listed above over his time on the team.
That’s a lot.
And if they value that opportunity to use the education and guidance they receive from the university most will be just fine moving forward.
I understand players want to be paid in cash now (that’s their right), but will they appreciate their experience at a university and grow or just take the money and run and not learn some valuable life lessons? We all know that’s why KF is still around he wants to mold young men and I applaud him for that. That’s what makes him special to most of us. He actually cares about his guys.

College FB and MBB players are no longer "student athletes" ...education has been secondary (at best) to the majority of them for a couple decades now. Doesn't matter if they make it in the pros or not, the majority of them think they will and become instant millionaires. NIL has only decreased their interest in getting a quality education, especially at SEC schools and powerhouse schools like Ohio State, Oregon, Clemson, etc.

There are only a few elite programs/schools I can think of where maybe the majority of FB/MBB players care about getting a quality education. (ND, Michigan, ??) Sure, at places like N'western, Vanderbilt, Virginia, etc. the majority are still students first and "semi-pro" second. Those programs will never be powerhouses.

For the "Iowa's" of the world, we are stuck trying to figure it all out and hope that some regulations are implemented soon so we can remain competitive while leveraging our strength in being a developmental program for kids who still mostly put academics first.

 

[Capital1Hawk]

Unfortunately, it will take Iowa to hit rock bottom in sports before the dimwits figure out that supporting SWARM is the ONLY way we are going to compete.

Those who say I buy season tickets and go to the games isn't that enough don't have a clue how this works.

The genie is out of the bottle and it isn't going back anytime soon.

Getting no stars, 1 star and 2 star players and coaching them up is going to get you about 2 - 3 wins a year in football in this new era.

And then after you coach them up they will leave for NIL and bigger platforms. I feel horrible for the ND States and such. They coach up a star and they don't get rewarded they lose the talent and then have to replace it. It's an awful system we are in now.

 

[Tom Paris]

I always think back and laugh at how vehemently people argued with me just 15 years ago when the topic came to paying players.


To them, it was a fun little way to get on a soapbox and champion for something even they probably didn't think would happen, but argue as if it were this so tightly-held belief that they'd be willing to kill for it, they did................



All because someone told them they were wrong.

It's really unfortunate that so many cases in life come down to people having to learn their lessons about reality the hard way...........

💯

 

[Tom Paris]

but ALL the kids aren’t getting the money. these kids are gaming the system……one transfer after another always looking for a bigger payday. how about the seniors in high school who become millionaires? they haven’t done anything to generate income.

They’re millionaires and they aren’t even elite. Paid like pros and a lot of them are just mediocre. Yet nurses, cops, teachers can’t get paid well. I said I was done going to games when Iowa athletes got paid more than me.

 

[Tom Paris]

Paying every student the same amount in a stipend for the time they put in practicing and working out in off seasons is totally different than boosters paying high school kids to come to their school.

If every student athlete got a certain stipend for their sport, say $30K for football, $20K for bball, and so on that would have been a workable solution.

Also, if NIL was done where the student athl had to actually show they are doing something to sell their n, i, likeness, rather than just get paid money in a brown paper bag, it might seem not so slimy.

That’s how people were sold on NiL. All the lines about starving players and not being able to take their girlfriends out was all bullshit. I bartended in IC for 16 years…athletes went on dates. It wasn’t an issue.

 

[uihawk82]

That’s how people were sold on NiL. All the lines about starving players and not being able to take their girlfriends out was all bullshit. I bartended in IC for 16 years…athletes went on dates. It wasn’t an issue.

Correct, since these athletes on full rides dont pay any dough their parents, even some who dont have even an avg income, can probably give them some date money etc

 

[the24fan]

the nuclear option for me will be to further distance myself from the college game.
If it's gonna be all pay for play I'll stick to professional sports.
I imagine for many fans of teams that will be left out this will be the final nail in the coffin.

 

[RicoSuave102954]

That’s how people were sold on NiL. All the lines about starving players and not being able to take their girlfriends out was all bullshit. I bartended in IC for 16 years…athletes went on dates. It wasn’t an issue.

You must have set an all-time record for the amount of time it took you to get through your 4 year degree.

 

[nu2u]

players have always gotten plenty all those years.

You’re right but the US Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that it is unconstitutional to prohibit student-athletes from gaining income from NIL.

Go read Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s opinion in NCAA vs. Alston where he rips the NCAA a new asshole for arguing that college athletics is “amateurism”.

In Alston, the Supreme Court saw college athletics as a business model. Justice Gotsuch, who wrote the majority opinion, ruled that the NCAA (and its member institutions) is a commercial enterprise.

NIL is here to stay. You either endlessly cry about it or do something to compete and, more specifically, to level the competition.

 

[Kinnick 4 Prez]

Fine but don't you dare open your mouth and complain when the winning stops.

Not a problem. I haven’t complained or been mad/sad about an athletic event in over 15 years. I realized long ago there is much more important things in life then worrying how 18-24 year olds play.
I will celebrate the good times with friends and family and after loses I’ll move on. It’s just a game to me.

 

[bbwretler]

You’re right but the US Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that it is unconstitutional to prohibit student-athletes from gaining income from NIL.

Go read Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s opinion in NCAA vs. Alston where he rips the NCAA a new asshole for arguing that college athletics is “amateurism”.

In Alston, the Supreme Court saw college athletics as a business model. Justice Gotsuch, who wrote the majority opinion, ruled that the NCAA (and its member institutions) is a commercial enterprise.

NIL is here to stay. You either endlessly cry about it or do something to compete and, more specifically, to level the competition.

doesn’t alter the fact that college athletes received benefits prior to nil. which is what I stated.

 

[HIWILLE]

or both basketball and football will die a slow death. Basketball is basically there. I send money monthly to the Swarm, but we need our AD to cultivate some big money.

How much?😉

 

[GOHOX69]

Why not? Caitlin Clark, and others, go to classes and will graduate from the university with their degree. They are students.

For every cc, there's a proctor. You think he was here for academics? What world do you live in?

 

[Tom Paris]

the nuclear option for me will be to further distance myself from the college game.
If it's gonna be all pay for play I'll stick to professional sports.
I imagine for many fans of teams that will be left out this will be the final nail in the coffin.

I have gone to more pro sporting events in the last 3 years than the rest of my life combined. If they are going to be paid like pros I will go watch pros...not minor leagues. I think my last of several hundred Iowa games was in 2021. I even went to the Michigan State game the covid year. I've been to NBA, MLB, MLS, NWSL since then.