JAA
Footballguy
Not true for coaches in the NCAA. See DD from WVU who was in discussions with Indiana halfway through the season. DD even admitted to it on his introductory press conference at Indiana. Where is all the uproar there?
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From Franchise QB to NIL Fugitive: The Nico Story (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter sm8680
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JAA
Footballguy
Schools and TV. They were printing money. In addition even today, live Sports (and reality TV) are the only real money makers in television these days. Everything else is binged/streamed when desired.
JAA
Footballguy
What is your point?
CalBear
Footballguy
As a college sports fan:
There is no other country where institutes of higher learning are monetized for sports in the way they are in the U.S. In Europe, sports are run by sports clubs, generally with loose affiliation to a city, but sometimes known by their own identity within the city (like Arsenal). Those sports clubs include the idea of "revenue sports" which pay for facilities used by minor sports which are mostly more like intramural clubs (badminton, handball, etc.)
We've built a system where the identities of our sports clubs are tied to higher ed institutions, and it's hard to extract ourselves from that. But now that it's been made clear by the courts that the NCAA has never had a legal basis to operate the way it has, we're having to confront it. And frankly, most institutions, including Cal, can't play the NIL game. Our NIL collective just threatened to withhold money from the athletics department unless they have Justin Wilcox report to Ron Rivera instead of to the AD. Cal just can't be part of that kind of extortion, and that's true for most current NCAA universities. Only a handful are willing to let the athletics operations run the institution.
I think the most likely scenario, long-term, is that athletic departments, at least for football and basketball, get split off into independent entities, which may still use aspects of the school branding and maybe facilities on or near campus, but aren't administratively part of the university. A CBA is inevitable, and at least for football and basketball, it will probably wind up being an extension of the existing CBAs for the NFL and NBA, with the college-branded leagues becoming a formal minor league, with graduated rookie contracts starting right out of high school.
Part of the asymmetry right now is that the NFL rookie salary structure makes it more profitable for top athletes to stay in "college" where there aren't any controls. The NFLPA obviously sees this, and the process which led them to create the rookie salary structure will have to extend downwards to cover college athletes. And the answer to "why would the athletes vote for that" is, for the same reason they voted for the rookie salary structure.
I agree with the folks in here who point out that we persecute athletes for their choices in ways we don't persecute coaches or ownership. This may or may not be a good, or honorable move for Nico, but coaches and ownership make bad moves and dishonorable moves all the time.
Semi-related: I don't know what's going on with Cal's football program right now, but the fact that half the offense entered the transfer portal after we brought in fired anti-vaxxer Nick Rolovich on offense is probably not coincidental. Justin Wilcox last year said:
There is no other country where institutes of higher learning are monetized for sports in the way they are in the U.S. In Europe, sports are run by sports clubs, generally with loose affiliation to a city, but sometimes known by their own identity within the city (like Arsenal). Those sports clubs include the idea of "revenue sports" which pay for facilities used by minor sports which are mostly more like intramural clubs (badminton, handball, etc.)
We've built a system where the identities of our sports clubs are tied to higher ed institutions, and it's hard to extract ourselves from that. But now that it's been made clear by the courts that the NCAA has never had a legal basis to operate the way it has, we're having to confront it. And frankly, most institutions, including Cal, can't play the NIL game. Our NIL collective just threatened to withhold money from the athletics department unless they have Justin Wilcox report to Ron Rivera instead of to the AD. Cal just can't be part of that kind of extortion, and that's true for most current NCAA universities. Only a handful are willing to let the athletics operations run the institution.
I think the most likely scenario, long-term, is that athletic departments, at least for football and basketball, get split off into independent entities, which may still use aspects of the school branding and maybe facilities on or near campus, but aren't administratively part of the university. A CBA is inevitable, and at least for football and basketball, it will probably wind up being an extension of the existing CBAs for the NFL and NBA, with the college-branded leagues becoming a formal minor league, with graduated rookie contracts starting right out of high school.
Part of the asymmetry right now is that the NFL rookie salary structure makes it more profitable for top athletes to stay in "college" where there aren't any controls. The NFLPA obviously sees this, and the process which led them to create the rookie salary structure will have to extend downwards to cover college athletes. And the answer to "why would the athletes vote for that" is, for the same reason they voted for the rookie salary structure.
I agree with the folks in here who point out that we persecute athletes for their choices in ways we don't persecute coaches or ownership. This may or may not be a good, or honorable move for Nico, but coaches and ownership make bad moves and dishonorable moves all the time.
Semi-related: I don't know what's going on with Cal's football program right now, but the fact that half the offense entered the transfer portal after we brought in fired anti-vaxxer Nick Rolovich on offense is probably not coincidental. Justin Wilcox last year said:
https://bearinsider.com/s/4346/ultimate-insider-podcast-e101-bowl-game-off-week
pinkstapler
Footballguy
Just a reminder that fan is short for fanatic
"marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion" - uncritical being the opportune word doing the heavy lifting here.
Fans (in general) are unapologetically biased, and formulate their beliefs devoid of logical reasoning. You'll just spin your tires endlessly trying to understand why they get mad about student athletes holding a school's feet to the fire, but not the reverse (we view the players as much more integral to team success than coaches/owners). Why it's ok for coaches to bail on contracts but not athletes (unless it's YOUR teams coach of course). Why player A can be a degenerate human being and skate by but player B can't (odds are player A is a future HoFer and player B a rotational guy).
It's both frustrating, and IMO endearing and what makes sports special/fun. It's why, within reason, I love Philly fans who at times can be the pinnacle example. There's a charm about people who knowingly throw logic and reason out the window in an effort to collectively come together and appease the "sports Gods" all to one day watch kids 30 years their junior that they never met and never will hoist a large gawdy cup over their heads and celebrate as though they also played a part in winning it.
"marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion" - uncritical being the opportune word doing the heavy lifting here.
Fans (in general) are unapologetically biased, and formulate their beliefs devoid of logical reasoning. You'll just spin your tires endlessly trying to understand why they get mad about student athletes holding a school's feet to the fire, but not the reverse (we view the players as much more integral to team success than coaches/owners). Why it's ok for coaches to bail on contracts but not athletes (unless it's YOUR teams coach of course). Why player A can be a degenerate human being and skate by but player B can't (odds are player A is a future HoFer and player B a rotational guy).
It's both frustrating, and IMO endearing and what makes sports special/fun. It's why, within reason, I love Philly fans who at times can be the pinnacle example. There's a charm about people who knowingly throw logic and reason out the window in an effort to collectively come together and appease the "sports Gods" all to one day watch kids 30 years their junior that they never met and never will hoist a large gawdy cup over their heads and celebrate as though they also played a part in winning it.
I appreciate the discussion, JAA. My point is that, while some might emphasize offensive schemes as a primary factor in decisions like these, the reality of the NIL landscape suggests financial incentives often play a bigger role. Tennessee's offense was clearly superior last season compared to UCLA, so it's hard to argue the move was primarily about scheme or fit. At the end of the day, players and their families are navigating an era where NIL earnings significantly shape choices, and it's fair to acknowledge that dynamic rather than overlook it.
JAA
Footballguy
I agree with all those things. I think we all can agree with those things whenever a sports figure changes roles. Like Chip Kelly going to be an OC from a HC. I mean, lots of reasons ... but why shine a light on any of this? Who really cares any why? Why specifically is it worthy of discussion when it happens all the time everywhere?
massraider
Footballguy
He wound up with less money, so I guess that reason doesn't fly. He's also from Long Beach.
Don't forget, this story broke, and the way it came out made it seem like it came from the school. It was not flattering to Nico.
His family denied the money angle, and he moved elsewhere for less. So maybe the first story we all were told wasn't the whole story.
The facts are what's interesting to me.
As far as why we care, I think people care about things they're interested in. Most people don't care if doctor leaves one practice and goes to another that pays better. But they care if it's their doctor or it affects their situation or thing they're interested in.
Plus, the NIL thing is still new enough to be interesting to lots of people still.
There's also the possibility that he thought he might get more money somewhere else but wound up with something different.
massraider
Footballguy
That is certainly what we were told from the beginning of this
We were told he wanted 4 million from UT instead of the 2 they were paying and UT said no, thank you.
I think most assumed he would try and get more money from another school.
But yes, maybe the plan all along was to move to another school for the same or less money. I don't truly know.
JAA
Footballguy
I understand. However, no one (im not singling you out, this is to the entire group here) can explain specifically what is more interesting about this athlete and this situation than a coach or GM doing the exact same thing.
Without a plausible explanation, folks like myself are left to speculate. To speculate this situation is more interesting because college athletes don't deserve to be afforded the same privileges every other person are afforded. At least that is the story I am telling myself without some specifics.
Instinctive
Footballguy
1. To act like people aren't interested when coaches do it is silly. Lincoln Riley. Calipari. Nick Saban. Bobby Petrino. Etc.
2. Coaches and GMs have never held out, to my knowledge. They just leave. So that's a key difference. It's not the same thing. I've literally never heard of a coach try to get more money by boycotting meetings and not coaching.
3. GMs and Coaches don't play. Players are inherently more interesting because you see them play.
That was just the off the top of the head sub five minutes of thinking about it response. There's probably more and better stuff. Also...
Come on, your first conclusion is really "people think players don't deserve to be treated like other people" ???
Like you couldn't come up with a bunch of "plausible explanations" let's at least pretend not to be disingenuous.ETA: Can you point to a scenario where a coach left purely for more money? It's basically always, when I see it, leaving for a better situation to win. So that's different too.
JAA
Footballguy
Thank you for the response.1. To act like people aren't interested when coaches do it is silly. Lincoln Riley. Calipari. Nick Saban. Bobby Petrino. Etc.
2. Coaches and GMs have never held out, to my knowledge. They just leave. So that's a key difference. It's not the same thing. I've literally never heard of a coach try to get more money by boycotting meetings and not coaching.
3. GMs and Coaches don't play. Players are inherently more interesting because you see them play.
That was just the off the top of the head sub five minutes of thinking about it response. There's probably more and better stuff. Also...
Come on, your first conclusion is really "people think players don't deserve to be treated like other people" ???
ETA: Can you point to a scenario where a coach left purely for more money? It's basically always, when I see it, leaving for a better situation to win. So that's different too.
I think thats my point. Show me to the pages and pages of headlines when Chip Kelly left to be OC? Where is the outrage and storylines? He made a decision which was best for him and his family. Lets have a dialogue and move on. Yet here we are still talking about this do nothing, nobody, college athlete. Why?
And no offense meant with this next statement, but I would call someone naive if they didn't recognize the elephant leaving the room which is the "they are college athletes and don't deserve the same rights as every other person in the world" bit. I mean, this literally had to go to the Supreme Court to get resolved, so to say it is implausible for folks to have this opinion is what would be disingenuous IMHO.
Instinctive
Footballguy
I kind of feel like you ignored me pointing out the answer to this. It is because you aren't making a good point.Thank you for the response.1. To act like people aren't interested when coaches do it is silly. Lincoln Riley. Calipari. Nick Saban. Bobby Petrino. Etc.
2. Coaches and GMs have never held out, to my knowledge. They just leave. So that's a key difference. It's not the same thing. I've literally never heard of a coach try to get more money by boycotting meetings and not coaching.
3. GMs and Coaches don't play. Players are inherently more interesting because you see them play.
That was just the off the top of the head sub five minutes of thinking about it response. There's probably more and better stuff. Also...
Come on, your first conclusion is really "people think players don't deserve to be treated like other people" ???
ETA: Can you point to a scenario where a coach left purely for more money? It's basically always, when I see it, leaving for a better situation to win. So that's different too.
I think thats my point. Show me to the pages and pages of headlines when Chip Kelly left to be OC? Where is the outrage and storylines? He made a decision which was best for him and his family. Lets have a dialogue and move on. Yet here we are still talking about this do nothing, nobody, college athlete. Why?
And no offense meant with this next statement, but I would call someone naive if they didn't recognize the elephant leaving the room which is the "they are college athletes and don't deserve the same rights as every other person in the world" bit. I mean, this literally had to go to the Supreme Court to get resolved, so to say it is implausible for folks to have this opinion is what would be disingenuous IMHO.
Show me the pages and pages of headlines when Dillon Gabriel left UCF for OU or OU for Oregon. Show me the pages and pages of headlines for the 7+ players moving in and out of OU right now in the spring window. You can't.
Why is that, you ask? Because that's normal and an accepted way of doing business, for both players and coaches.
Why are there headlines sometimes? Because this kid did something that rubbed everyone the wrong way. He kind of seems like he was a jerk about it. A ****. Not a good teammate. Not understanding his own value. Etc. He's breaking the deal he made (whereas I guarantee Chip's deal specifically had a clause that let him go to the NFL penalty free, so he did everything above board). Chip Kelly is a terrible example. It doesn't help your argument. Chip Kelly leaving for the NFL is more like a Junior declaring for the draft instead of staying for his senior year.
It's not just players either. Remember when Lincoln Riley left OU for USC? I can show you all the pages and pages of headlines. I can show you the outrage and storylines. Because it was underhanded and rubbed people the wrong way. That's what happened here. Nobody is upset because it's a player and not a coach.
Your point is horrible. Because there are obvious reasons why this case had tons of headlines, just like the other HUNDREDS of transfer portal and NIL-related players who don't have any headlines or outrage because they do things the right way. Heck - when Caleb Williams kind of drug it out to leave OU and go to USC, there wasn't even close to this level of "outrage."
No offense meant here either. Your point is literally just bad. It is incredibly obvious that this is different. Where's the outrage for Carson Beck? He obviously left a great program with national title contention to go to a mediocre one purely for money. Why isn't there outrage? Because he wasn't under a contract, he didn't lie to anyone, he wasn't a bad teammate, he didn't duck meetings, and he had an accurate understanding of his value. It's not some "nothing nobody college athlete" who just made a decision best for his family. It's a guy who claimed to be a leader betraying his teammates, going about things in a way that was deliberately aggressive and underhanded.
What would lead to no headlines or outrage? How could he have done this differently? He could have been authentic, and honest. He could have said "I want more money and I'm therefore entering the portal and I am going to see what I'm worth." Instead he tried to hold a team hostage and didn't uphold his responsibilities in practice while he did so, at an important time for the team (spring game). And, by the way, he didn't get more money. Which any remotely intelligent agent would have known before starting this mess if more money was out there. So maybe he wanted to be closer to home. He could have said that! And just entered the portal to go home. He didn't.
There are obvious differences here. It's either incredibly disingenuous or completely naive to claim you don't see that.
osubuckeyeman
Footballguy
Looks like the story had a good ending after all. He (Nico) went to another big-time program for a little less than he was making at UT, if all the reports are correct.
The good news for Nico is that the ball is in his court as to how this all ends. He can focus on just playing football in the Big Ten.
UT gets to move on as well under Josh Heupel and perhaps a new portal quarterback. And all is back to a garden of fresh roses.
The good news for Nico is that the ball is in his court as to how this all ends. He can focus on just playing football in the Big Ten.
UT gets to move on as well under Josh Heupel and perhaps a new portal quarterback. And all is back to a garden of fresh roses.
Good for him and I hope it works for him. I'm not sure a 30% paycut and gaining a 13% state income tax was what he had in mind when he was seeking a 100% pay increase. But a fresh start may be what he needs to get things going.
osubuckeyeman
Footballguy
Allegedly, a 100% increase request was made, or was that confirmed? And has the 1.75 been confirmed? It might be less. Has the compensation information been released? I'm curious. I have no idea. The media has reached a point where I no longer trust what is reported. I listened to the entire Aaron Rodgers interview and am still unsure what to believe. (a joke.)
massraider
Footballguy
No, and no.
His family has denied the 4 mill ask.
It's interesting that the first report is taken as gospel, tho.
Super interesting
ESPN and Yahoo reported the 4 million. Not sure how interesting that is.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nico-iamaleava-4-million-nil-182914383.html
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44703683/ucla-talks-qb-nico-iamaleava-less-money
osubuckeyeman
Footballguy
Thanks Joe.
I'm sure we'll get clarity at some point. This is not confirmed but I'm hearing buzz that some of the holdup is UT and NIL pre paid appearance money they are looking to claw back and that affects the UCLA deal. There's also some other angles there as Iamaleava's brother bailed on UCLA late in the signing process to go with another school.
I'm sure we'll know more soon. For UT fans, it's pretty trivial as our situation is clear - we have to move on to what's next. Be it one of the very young QBs on the roster or trying to do something with what's left in the Portal.
I'm sure we'll know more soon. For UT fans, it's pretty trivial as our situation is clear - we have to move on to what's next. Be it one of the very young QBs on the roster or trying to do something with what's left in the Portal.
On3 and Tennessee should not have been surprised.
Talking to a friend that is close with our NIL collective, this has been in the works since January.
Talking to a friend that is close with our NIL collective, this has been in the works since January.
This is how most I'm hearing from see it as well.
pinkstapler
Footballguy
Bold prediction:
Nico is one of the four Heisman finalists come the end of 2025 in his first season at QB for UCLA.
Meanwhile Tennessee regresses from it's 2024 10-3/6-2 conference record.
Fans upset with this will cling to "well he still made a bad decision" as he enters the 2026 NFL draft as a projected top 8 selection.
Nico is one of the four Heisman finalists come the end of 2025 in his first season at QB for UCLA.
Meanwhile Tennessee regresses from it's 2024 10-3/6-2 conference record.
Fans upset with this will cling to "well he still made a bad decision" as he enters the 2026 NFL draft as a projected top 8 selection.
BassNBrew
Footballguy
Bold Prediction
The Dating Game is resurrected from the ashes and he goes on to be a successful contestant in 2027. He then disappears into oblivion for the next 13 years until he is arrested in 2040 in Knoxville as an alleged serial killer. In a plea deal he is sentenced to community service as a QB coach for Knox Kiffin at Ole Miss.
pinkstapler
Footballguy
I would watch that eventual movie. Especially if they brought back Anna Kendrick to be in this new one too
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