Stewart Mandel ($$) yawns at the “OMG, the boosters!” affect on whatever the new NIL rules ring in.
Of course, there’s the theory out there that some Boone Pickens-type mega-booster at a non-traditional school will just go and buy an Alabama-caliber class by signing them all to six-figure endorsement deals. First of all, a lot of guys still wouldn’t take the deal if they truly want to play somewhere else. Notice the NBA is now paying likely one-and-doners $500,000 to go play in the G-League, and yet plenty are still choosing to go to Duke or Kentucky for “free.” But also, that mega-booster is going to find out really quickly he’s not getting much of an ROI when half those guys either never make it off the bench or transfer before they ever see the field.
I’ll be writing about this subject in more detail later this week, but when all is said and done, I’m guessing that just like in pro sports, a small handful of superstars in their sport (think Johnny Manziel, Zion Williamson, Tua Tagovailoa or Sabrina Ionescu) will be able to get rich in college, but for most, this will primarily be a means to bank an extra $10,000-$20,000 a year through local appearances and sponsored social media posts. Which seems … fairly harmless.
Which is a pretty good sales point in and of itself on the recruiting trail. Just ask Ohio State.
Other than coronavirus, the most-talked about news in college sports last week was centered around the NCAA Board of Governors putting forth its support for rule changes to allow NCAA athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness.
Like most powerhouse programs, Ohio State football’s recruiting team had already made its personal branding opportunities a major staple of its program and a major staple in recruiting pitches. We can expect that to pick up even further in the future, and as pointed out by Eleven Warriors’ Colin Hass-Hill last week, that has already started with Ohio State coaches on Twitter.
When it comes to football and their Buckeyes, Buckeye Nation and the people of Ohio don’t play! If you’re looking to maximize your brand and platform, there’s no better place in college football to do so. Peep the #s. No more lies and fake pitches now, you gotta show it
pic.twitter.com/XTYvPUueti — Weston Zernechel (@WestonZernechel) April 29, 2020
If you don’t think Kirby’s taking notes, you’re crazy.