MGO Difference Maker NIL?

Submitted by BigVig on July 6th, 2021 at 8:48 PM

I know Brian has mentioned this before, maybe somewhat joking, but he's raised money for EDSBS and for Ace before so I'm sure he knows a good way to do it - when are we kicking off a program to raise money for difference maker players?   If we move quickly, we can get a lot of attention - look at that guy at Miami.  I know this board could squabble about it for the next 5 years so it is better that Brian just chooses a path and goes with it but I'd propose that Brian does something like hires 3-5 Brand Ambassadors for MGoBlog in the 2022 class or just skip to 2023, if we feel like it is too late.  The requirements for the role are a top 50 (or top 25 or top 100 or top 10) in 24/7 and the first one to accept a scholarship and agree to a deal with MGo gets it.  Brian fundraises among the readers - using whatever site he used for Ace or whatever for ' MGO DT, MGO CB, MGO LB, MGO OL MGO Any position and people donate to whatever fund we want so if we really need a DT - instead of people bitching about it, we just raise $100K for that.  I think it is realistic that we could fund all of them at at least 25K with 50-100K for the serious needs (DT, CB).  If we don't land a top 10 or top 25, etc guy that qualifies, it rolls over to the next year - as the need will be even greater and it will give something for the coaching staff to recruit with.  

I'm not suggesting this is a perfect idea - mainly just proposing that Brian/Seth/etc. come up with a plan quickly and let us load the money cannon and see if there is something there.  I would be totally fine with MGo taking a small cut for organizing and presumably they could use the players for appearances, content, etc. to make additional money for the site from this partnership.  I also think just announcing a program would be amazing exposure for the site.

 

BoFan

July 6th, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^

This is not a comment on MGoBlog sponsorship,…

It seems there will be no limits on a fan that owns a company to provide unlimited NIL opportunities to players at a university.  And when one rich alum opens the checkbook at a university, how do others not follow? Feels like a shitshow is about to happen. What are the limits?  Too many loopholes.  

BoFan

July 6th, 2021 at 9:46 PM ^

Sure, but now it will be completely out of control and in the open.  Imagine the NFL or NBA with no salary cap. 

Some rich guys could literally pick a small college and fund a final four basketball team.  It would be more fun and cheaper than buying an NBA team. The college would love it because most colleges these days are financially on the edge and a great basketball team gets their brand out and can dramatically impact enrollment. 

BigVig

July 6th, 2021 at 10:44 PM ^

I think it could be a base that they could see $25K waiting for them when they sign, and then they will go out and get other deals.  Just like the Miami guy is basically promising $6K.  I think that $25K, $50k, $100K, would be easy to accomplish for this site - something like $250K for a key need is doable.  If the media covers it, M alums that aren't as big of recruiting nerds as us but still love M football and want to say that they helped pay for that DT will go to whatever fundraising site is set up and donate.  While I'm sure we have our share of big $ readers, I suspect that there is a bit of an inverse relationship in general between time spent reading about recruiting and your tax bracket.   The $100K for Ace was raised with just the core of the MGoBlog community and for something that probably isn't as meaningful as a Top 100 DT to many of us.  This has the potential to reach my much more successful former B school finance classmates that don't visit the site 5-10 times a day but if they see something about M on ESPN.com will want to get involved. 

OwenGoBlue

July 6th, 2021 at 10:31 PM ^

People talk about the rich Michigan grads but crowdfunding will be a key piece. Lots of $$ to be had and also increases the attention on NIL benefits - the perception of which school best gets guys paid is going to matter. 

I'm looking for somewhere to set a recurring donation. 

vablue

July 7th, 2021 at 7:12 AM ^

I agree, but I still think it would get a bad reaction.  You see it among boosters that suddenly think they are part of the program because hey give money.  This would be the robin hood version of boosters for an athletic department.  Just saying it may not be all roses.  If I was a recruit I would stay away from crowd funding.

1VaBlue1

July 7th, 2021 at 8:31 AM ^

Yeah...  So if you're a recruit that grew up in a low-income neighborhood, with crime all around you, and some web site says it'll give you $100K to play football in Ann Arbor, you will stay away because someone might get mad at you someday.

Sure thing...

M Go Cue

July 6th, 2021 at 10:34 PM ^

I’m almost always happy to give some $$ to the money cannon for a charity.  
I will not be giving any money to the money cannon if it’s repurposed to give money to an athlete.

I don’t care if others want to do that, but that’s just me.

HenneGivenSunday

July 6th, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^

The only thing I don’t fully grasp about the NIL situation is how it relates to what have traditionally been referred to as “boosters”.  I’d guess that a fair amount (maybe not a majority) of us MGoUsers are season ticket holders.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we have been classified as boosters in the past.  Does that even apply now?

LMV

July 7th, 2021 at 9:10 AM ^

It's just a shell [company] game.

The Miami booster gets around any issues because he is creating a new company specifically for the purpose of distributing money to players for NIL. Because the company has never donated to the U before, it is not a problem within the state of Florida NIL law. I think--mostly-- all of the states with NIL laws are set up similarly, and the federal law, too, for states without their own.

"Although Lambert is a Miami booster, Florida’s NIL law don’t prohibit Bring Back The U from facilitating endorsements because it’s a new business that has never donated to the university."

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article252611798.html

The Process

July 7th, 2021 at 12:38 AM ^

I love it.  Have the recruit I mean MGoBlog Brand Ambassador sell kickstarter type rewards.  $50 for a custom and autographed MGo Collectible Trading card, $100 a signed Jordan hat.  Brian, help us get Walter Nolan paid, yo

JVANVEEL

July 7th, 2021 at 6:13 AM ^

IMO, we should raise money, every year, for the starting holder. Someone who otherwise may not have an opportunity to get into the NIL action. We can present him with a oversized mgoblog check every year when the starting holder is announced.

Who was that guy a few years ago who was making highlight films of his holding prowess? That guy would have been a great ambassador for mgoblog!

PrincetonBlue

July 7th, 2021 at 2:12 PM ^

Finally we can actually affect what is happening on the field!

One thing that I’d maybe wonder about is the amount of power the recruiting sites will have (rivals, 24/7, ESPN) in determining how much fans want to pay a player.  And they aren’t necessarily great scouts as compared to real college coaches.  May be helpful to have an independent Mgoranking of recruits we should be prioritizing our funding for, or even have Harbaugh just publish his recruiting board for us.