"Horns with Heart" Texas NIL Deal for OL - $50k/yr

Submitted by thatguycharlie on December 6th, 2021 at 4:02 PM

Press Release

"Horns with Heart, a new non-profit entity, has announced their 2022 sponsorship to extend an offer to every University of Texas offensive lineman totaling $50,000.00 in annual financing per player. The program, dubbed The Pancake Factory, will be the first of its kind to support a football position group to participate in charitable endeavors that impact both the University of Texas as well as the community at large.

Horns with Heart was formed specifically to create an avenue by which University of Texas student-athletes can be empowered to make positive impacts on their communities and charities close to their hearts while utilizing their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The new Texas NIL law which went into effect on July 1, 2021 changes an athlete’s ability to use their NIL. This has created a unique opportunity for a charitable program to be created that will benefit players, charitable causes, and the University of Texas all collaboratively, and Horns with Heart was created with exactly that purpose in mind."

JMo

December 6th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^

Their song is just "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad" and they changed the words, and they lose to Maryland at sports all the time, this is not a school you can be proud of.

Also Pancake Factory sounds like a great place for breakfast in Austin. I'll take two stacks please. Their program should probably be called the "L Factory", but I'm not a brand guy.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 21008

Murphy.

December 6th, 2021 at 4:14 PM ^

I don't want to be cynical, but the cynic in me does not view this well. Just pay the damn kids.

If it's about charity, I'm sure an $800k direct payment would be way more effective. If you want to pay the kids, pay the kids. If you want to help charity, help charity. But don't put a bow on a donkey and call it a horse.

Joined: 08/28/2019

MGoPoints: 342

Phaedrus

December 6th, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^

Unfortunately, the vast majority of charities exist primarily to enrich people or, at the very least, give them jobs.

In 1980 Cari Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In 1985, after the organization had achieved Lightner's goals, she objected to the new direction of the organization and stepped down. Once enough people become financially dependent on a nonprofit they will do anything to justify its continued existence, which is why MADD still exists today despite strict drunk driving laws in all 50 states and nationally.

You can actually look at the IRS filings for nonprofits. I recommend doing so before you donate to anyone. Just prepare to be appalled when you do. Most nonprofits are the secular version of televangelists.

At least with this Texas one they're transparently funneling money to football players to build an offensive line. The "charity work" is just to keep them in the clear with the IRS.

Joined: 09/02/2019

MGoPoints: 6532

GoingBlue

December 6th, 2021 at 4:15 PM ^

Probably makes it so you can write off the money people give as a charitable donation too. Michigan needs this for every position group, like right now. 

Joined: 01/04/2017

MGoPoints: 1545

Imjesayin

December 6th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^

Fergodsakes, just pay them already. What a bunch of nonsense. I’m sure those Texas boosters think they are so clever. The NCAA doesn’t care how you pay them off.

At this point, one could just pay a player $50K for the NIL rights to a selfie you took with them and the NCAA ain’t gonna care.

This just gives a bad name to real charities that do real work for folks who deserve help. 

Joined: 08/23/2010

MGoPoints: 5049

Mgoczar

December 6th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^

Michigan should just start paying players. At the very least, F'in come up with a good NIL program and pitch it to every recruit. May be they already do secretly?

Joined: 09/29/2017

MGoPoints: 4198

charblue.

December 6th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^

Wow. That's a long way from movie and pizza money. So, Texas is trying to ensure it has a dynamic running and passing game every year by bribing its front on a permanent basis, on the premise beneficiaries will be donating part of that annual $50k to charity. Well, yeah, to offset the income earned. I guess the form of payment alters taxable consequences. But still...Who said that college football players, if designated NIL recipients, aren't pros?

Working for my school newspapers through college from high school and freelance writing never paid as well.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11404

LDNfan

December 6th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^

With so much money involved I don't know if College Football and Basketball can really co-exist within a University framework...

Think about it...a freshman Olineman making more than his professors? A freshman QB who hasn't thrown a pass making more than his position coach and multiples more than any professor on campus. 

Are schools now going to get into open bidding wars for recruits? And with easy transfers what's to stop bidding wars for players on your team? Xavier Worthy x 1000.  There are no contracts, no guidelines and no rules. What happens when a guy getting NIL money changes schools, Gets passed on the depth chart, Gets in trouble?

People want UM to do the same...but what does that mean...$51,000 per Olineman...but then OSU goes to $60,000...and Bama comes in and goes to $65,0000...and on and on...

Get out the popcorn...

Joined: 09/28/2014

MGoPoints: 10423

bleens ditch

December 6th, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^

Some FB and BB coaches are paid more than the salaries for entire departments at some schools.  Are the athletes not permitted to make money?  That salary competition is what is happening with coaches right now.  

But the best coaches get the most. The question is can you pay athletes different amounts based on performance, and can you fire athletes?  Also since the portal is in effect, athletes can chase pay raises from other teams from year to year?

Joined: 12/19/2008

MGoPoints: 4725

-NTB-

December 6th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^

Does this destroy their DL depth? There have to be several players in that group angling for a position switch. Smart move for anyone not a 4/5 star who doesn't have serious NFL aspirations. 

Joined: 09/08/2016

MGoPoints: 155

FlexUM

December 6th, 2021 at 6:56 PM ^

This is why NIL is stupid. We all agree…pay these boys. We are long past the “they are just amateurs” but doing it via NIL was so stupid. 

all that said, I don’t have the answer. Fortunately, it’s not my job to. 

Joined: 11/05/2011

MGoPoints: 13573

Jon06

December 7th, 2021 at 4:21 AM ^

You might think that allowing universities to deprive players of NIL for no reason when NIL is clearly valuable to the players was a bad thing. 

That said, I'm surprised this setup is allowed. They're not licensing anyone's name and image because of anything about that person except their association with UT. I would have thought that that was the one thing that was still prohibited, as players can't appear in commercials wearing their uniforms or anything.

Joined: 09/19/2009

MGoPoints: 15308

bluecanuk

December 6th, 2021 at 7:17 PM ^

I am reminded about a famous german quote -in making sausage and politics judge the result, but expect to be turned off by the process. I guess the saying gets NIL added to it

for years and years we hated the bagmen - bring it above the table and those who want to compete  can choose to compete. oh and only some of the bagmen go away 

charities pay salaries to all kinds of people - I expect these are taxed if they are income and I expect the IRS won't be charitable so like what other do or not this is real. and for the sake of the players I hope they include income tax preparation for these guys. 

and anyone who has made sausage knows it is not a pretty process.

Joined: 10/15/2021

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