Can we, within the boundaries of Michigan law and U of M / NCAA policy, get money to Ronnie Bell?

Submitted by LSA Superstar on September 8th, 2021 at 2:25 PM

I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer.  I'm also a person who missed two seasons of football due to an injury, which spiraled me in to a depression and made my life miserable in a bunch of other ways.  I want to help Ronnie Bell, because what happened to him is soul crushing, albeit a risk to the game.  So I'd like to find a way to get him cash without violating federal law, Michigan law, University of Michigan or U of M athletics policies, or NCAA regulations.  Let's put our heads together to figure out how.

For a start, read the State of Michigan NIL law, keeping in mind that it's not effective until 2022.  That's available here.

Next, read the University of Michigan Athletic Department's policy on this subject.  That's available here.

Based on the two above documents, here's how I think we could structure some method of getting group-sourced financial contributions to Ronnie:

  • The NIL law doesn't seem to impose very many restrictions.  So I've mostly ignored that.
  • Michigan's policy looks like we need to get a little more specific.  One sticky restriction: "[S]tudent-athletes may not receive compensation which is conditioned or contingent on enrolling at, or continuing enrollment at any specific collegiate institution, or on any specific athletic performance or achievement."  Although it's a bit of a stretch to refer to receiving an injury as a "performance" or "achievement," I think this means we might have trouble providing a straight dump of cash attributable to the injury.  Then again, "conditioned or contingent" appears to anticipate some sort of quid-pro-quo system - and there ain't no quid because we didn't set up this fund prior to the injury.  Thoughts from the crowd are appreciated, but overall I think we have to give the money for something reasonable in exchange.

With that being said, what about this:

  • A partner organization, like MGoBlog or perhaps one of its sponsors (Peak Wealth Management?) sets up a Kickstarter.  It should be somebody trusted so that 100% of the proceeds go directly to Ronnie and it doesn't turn into a Steve Bannon-style scam.
  • Members of the Michigan fandom community donate to it.
  • The host of the Kickstarter, upon the donation period's closing, approaches Bell or Bell's representative and offers to trade the balance of the account for an advertisement or likeness video, maybe even something very simple thanking the fan community.
  • We reduce that to a contract/agreement, and give Bell the 7-day period to clear it through the athletics department.
  • Pending approval, the money is exchanged for the advertisement or likeness video.

Thoughts?

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Ronnie Bell

samsoccer7

September 8th, 2021 at 2:40 PM ^

I've been waiting for someone to organize something like this.  I'm in.  A simple thank you video would be great.

As for autographs, that would mean each person paying at least a certain amount to reach that threshold.  If someone wants to contribute $4 that's not really gonna get an autograph so who takes that $4 and gives it to him?

Joined: 07/08/2008

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nerv

September 8th, 2021 at 2:40 PM ^

If anyone is in the printing game could just make some cheap Ronnie Bell memorabilia to spread around and pay him for his likeness.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

Go Blue Eyes

September 8th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^

I just saw some guy/company is going to pay each MSU football and basketball player $500 per month.  I’m sure you can think of some “Ronnie Bell Sponsor” program and pay him whatever you want!

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 12683

thatguycharlie

September 8th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^

Apparently he is getting 50/50 split of the profits from this t-shirt

 

He asked, we delivered! ??

When @SportsJimShow asked for this @Ronnieb_8 we had no idea it would blow up the way it did, after speaking with him we are happy to offer it to all #GoBlue fans!

Get yours here: https://t.co/U31FCMKiFK pic.twitter.com/FoP5R1MRml

— DC4LCustomTees.com (@DC4LCustomTees) September 7, 2021

 

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 1732

WolvinLA2

September 8th, 2021 at 5:25 PM ^

Sure - but just cutting a kid a check isn't that easy. If you know a way to do that (legally), then go ahead. For those of us who don't, buying a t-shirt that probably puts $5 into his pocket for each one that sells, is more palatable for most fans.  

Either way - having a few options is good.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

dj123

September 8th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^

it's a good idea. I would contribute. 

As far as the quid pro quo, why not pay him to tweet or IG or whatever a short video on what M football means to him. 

Joined: 07/20/2015

MGoPoints: 278

M-GO-Beek

September 8th, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^

I agree, I am good with this, but also like the idea of one of the M-Go-Blog sponsors (or even the blog itself) doing exactly what the OP stated. Then Ronnie gets 100% of the proceeds and the sponsor or blog gets a little free advertising. Everyone wins! I would chip in for that.

Ronnie Bell: "When I want the best analysis of my awesome one-handed grabs (that get robbed by poor officiating) and really all things Michigan sport related, I turn to the M-GO-BLOG!"

 

Joined: 02/03/2015

MGoPoints: 5638

MadGatter

September 8th, 2021 at 2:59 PM ^

1. Start a Kickstarter

2. Collect money

3. DM Ronnie on Twitter and offer to pay him that amount of money in exchange for a Cameo message

4. Give him a script to say "Stop having John O'neil officiate Michigan football games" in front of a camera

5. Give him Kickstarter money

I dont think any of that is illegal

Joined: 03/29/2020

MGoPoints: 8297

MGoFoam

September 8th, 2021 at 3:01 PM ^

First, just to be "that guy," his injury is a risk OF the game, not TO the game. They're not going to stop football because another guy got his knee blown out. 

But to the point, your premise, based on personal experience, is that a season-ending injury is "soul crushing," but money will make it better. Maybe just write him a letter, offering emotional support.

I wonder what is more soul crushing, a physical injury or all the people who piled on him after he dropped that pass against Penn State.

Joined: 04/11/2014

MGoPoints: 12157

oriental andrew

September 8th, 2021 at 3:04 PM ^

Not sure how a kickstarter would make sense for your specific idea. KS is intended to fund a product of some sort and reward the participants/investors. We would get... warm fuzzies?

What might work is the autograph idea - each person at the $50 level gets a 3x5 picture autographed, 4x6 for $75, $150 for a letter size, and $250 for a poster - or something like that. Or maybe one of them snazzy shirts with an autograph. It's still not a start-up, but it could work within the constraints laid out by KS. 

Then again, why wouldn't a student-athlete just do this him/herself? Man, that's actually not a bad idea. He could do a KS for the art on his t-shirt - put it on other things, sign it, and Kickstart it. 

A GoFundMe seems to make more sense in terms of how you're structuring the idea. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 56196

1WhoStayed

September 8th, 2021 at 3:11 PM ^

I like how so many people on this blog think the answer is always money. It SUCKS that Bell got injured. Hopefully, he’ll fight his way back and be even better than before (i.e. Hutchinson, Chris).

Hard work ahead. Keeping involved with the team all the way. Throwing money at him doesn’t help him. It’s called adversity.

Joined: 09/07/2015

MGoPoints: 12097

s1105615

September 8th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^

Not a lawyer and barely skimmed through the post.

That being said, if he has to “do” something for the NIL money, have him sign a jersey at a private event (ie. him and the person who is funneling the funds to him) to be auctioned off for charity.  The business then lists it as a business expense, a charity gets a donation, and Ronnie collects his payday.  
 

Seems like that should work, but I don’t know anything and don’t care to research it’s legality.

Joined: 03/01/2014

MGoPoints: 8603

Sllepy81

September 8th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^

Mgoblog donations to fund a ad that features him hold a mgoblog sign that they use as a diary headline photo. Boom,done. Used his likeness to promote the diary area.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 7976

Sambojangles

September 8th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^

Or, in exchange for using his image on the cover of HTTV. 

There must be some rule among the maze of IP laws that allows MGoBlog to use the player's image and Universitiy's trademarks to sell a separate product. Possibly because the photographer has copyright to a picture he took? Is there a fair use exception for use in a journalistic publication? I'm not accusing them of doing anything wrong, I'm sure they have everything checked out, I've just always been curious how they can sell the HTTV magazine without the university trying to shut them down 

Maybe next year the Kickstarter can include an extra section for people to contribute to a fund to compensate all the players featured in the magazine (so, all of them) for use of their NIL inside. I don't want anything to come out of Brian/Seth's pocket, but I'd gladly have whatever I paid for the T-shirt this year go to the players instead.

Joined: 12/15/2008

MGoPoints: 10996

St Joe Blues

September 8th, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^

What if that money was used to pay Bell to write a weekly column/story for MGoblog? Give us some insights into being a Michigan Man, how surgery and rehab is going if he so chooses, etc. Who knows, he might even be able to get some academic credit for it. I wrote for the A2 News sports section when I was there and used that experience to pick up 2 credits that finished off my degree.

Joined: 01/08/2017

MGoPoints: 33847

Booted Blue in PA

September 8th, 2021 at 4:10 PM ^

Lets get a big bell and have it in the back of the endzone....  everytime Michigan scores a TD at home some one rings the "Ronnie Bell" and $100 is donated to the MGOBLOG foundation which sponsors various players, including Ronnie Bell, the namesake for the TD Bell.

 

keep in mind, all ideas aren't good ideas.

Joined: 12/18/2018

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readyourguard

September 8th, 2021 at 4:23 PM ^

Round up the money.  Whatever the amount is, he can be the official endorser of the JDue51 Sunday morning "Low hanging fruit" video review.  Every penny raised will go to Ronnie.

 

Joined: 08/21/2008

MGoPoints: 40986

brad

September 8th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^

Post the Kickstarter link here, I'll fire the brad money cannon at it.

I'd also suggest the same for a bigger handful of student athletes.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 15805