Michigan's NIL Portal Victors Exchange - Sam Webb Interview with Svoboda
I thought this was a very informative interview and helped to better explain Michigan's platform for student participation in NIL transactions.
NOTE: I read the article through google news no paysite requests popped up
February 13th, 2022 at 8:50 AM ^
There was a lot to read in that story, some of it was even interesting! A lot of info without actually saying anything - a true PR person, is that Kurt Svoboda... Same asked what kind of businesses wouldn't be allowed on the registry, and Kurt's answer was a lot of nothing. They want to protect longtime partners is basically what he said in 600 words. We all know that Fred's House of Gambling and Joe's Stripper Emporium won't be allowed. But my question is, if the UM AD is sponsored by Nike, will they let an athlete sponsor Adidas (or whoever)? I know an athlete wouldn't be able to wear an Adidas uni, but can he/she hawk logo'd shirts on a local TV commercial?
Also, click the 'I'll fix it next time' link in tiny print on the bottom left of the pay-me-now popup to get past the paywall.
February 13th, 2022 at 8:57 AM ^
I thought it was pretty clear the implication that they would not allow direct competitors of their existing business relationships. So no Adidas
February 13th, 2022 at 9:07 AM ^
I'm sure the same is true at almost every major university.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:40 AM ^
ESPECIALLY if it is Joe from "Joe's Stripper Emporium" wearing said Adidas.
February 13th, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
That's interesting. I'm just curious about what that means. So if UM signs an agreement with, say, Coke to sell only Coke products at Michigan Stadium, does that mean that the athletes couldn't do an advert for Pepsi?
I know at LSU that they have been grabbing as much money as possible by signing "official partnerships" with businesses. RoofClaim.com is the Official Roofing Partner of LSU Athletics (seriously), Hancock Whitney is the Official Banking Partner of LSU Athletics, Caesars Sportsbook is the Official Sportsbook of LSU Athletics...
Does that mean that Ja'Marr Chase wouldn't have been able to work with Chase Bank (because of the partnership with Hancock Whitney), for example?
If this is true, it seems like it would be pretty limiting for the athletes and once again schools putting their own money grabbing priorities over the athletes.
February 13th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
We all know that Fred's House of Gambling and Joe's Stripper Emporium won't be allowed.
Is that because of their existing relationship with Big Jim's Boobie Bungalow?
(I drive by this place in Tennessee on my way back to Michigan. The huge billboard always cracks me up for some reason).
February 13th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
? Boobie Bungalow?
Under the heading of "strange questions our brains can ponder": how odd is it having a topless waitress or watching a nude pole dancer who is wearing a mask?
February 13th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
From a "restraint of trade" perspective, student athletes can and should be able to enter into their own "outside the workplace" arrangements. In other words, you play the game in the uniforms the team issues to you and at whatever event and/or photo op is done as a team member. But. You wear whatever branded sneakers you want at the event that is not team arranged, sponsored, identified, funded, or controlled.
It gets damn complicated (hugely) with people channeling their best nitpicking but, the rule is "my private time is my private choice". The athletes own and control their own name, image, and likeness. **And**. They are obligated to respect the contractual arrangements that control their team, stadium, facilities, etc.
February 13th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Yes, I agree. Athletes can mostly like sign with whoever they want, but wouldn't be able to promote competitors of the school's official partners wearing team gear or with the school logo, etc.
February 13th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
1VABLUE1. That's a great question and I'm glad you brought it up ;-)
Short answer is, probably, no. Also, most competing sponsors would know not to cross that line. Their attorneys would horse collar tackle any marketing attempt to do that.
February 14th, 2022 at 2:58 AM ^
Do you really wonder if students can sponsor adidas or whoever? I find it hard to believe you are that dense.
February 14th, 2022 at 8:37 AM ^
And this is the type of stuff that prevents people from asking honest questions. Whether or not YOU understand something doesn't mean everyone else does. Also, your question doesn't even make sense OR is it assumed that everyone should know what you are asking despite your errors?
February 13th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
The question/situation that is not asked/presented is the case of a business opportunity that provides remuneration above (or far above) fair market value. Mr Svoboda uses the term compliance several times without specifics or definition. It seems that INFLCR should be able to provided the data necessary to determine FMV and to some degree help the NCAA determine what offers are compliant....or am I just wishing.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
I bet no limits on FMV if the deal is south of the Mason-Dixon line.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
You're "just wishing" for clarity but, I really think that it is too early in the NIL era to know what reality, regs, or case law will set as FMV. Only certainty? That value line will creep (or leap) ever higher.
February 15th, 2022 at 9:51 PM ^
FMV is going to be really hard to prove in many cases.
February 13th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
At first glance, sounds like the NIL police program to me. As long as you don't take money out of our pockets then we will most likely be OK with that but it will be on a case by case basis.
Great questions Sam...over and over again raises the red flag. Makes it sound like the AD wants total control who gets paid what.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
Slightly off-topic, but the Super Bowl ads made me think that our society has fallen:
- Hard Seltzer = Zima
- Gambling = Sin
- Crypto = Fraud/Gambling
- Electric Vehicles = o.k. EV is cool, but only because our planet is dying and they might prolong the throes of death.
Advertising is slimy. While it helps inform people about purchasing decisions, it mainly creates desire for stuff we don't want or need. NIL is open corruption. Glad it is at least in the open.
February 14th, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
I view advertising as just messaging. It's a) the intent of the message that can get slimey and b) the product or peddler of the product that can be slimey.
About society. I suspect that it's always been this "fallen" but the modern ease of communication has made the "fallen-ness" more apparent and obvious. That same ease has also brought some genuine positives too.
People have been trying to get people to buy stuff they don't really need for a very long time. The planet dying? Well, it's ours to inhabit as best we can, without screwing it up for ourselves or the kids and grandkids we love.
NIL is a can of idunnowhat we just opened. Going to be interesting watching how it changes the college sports dynamic. I liked the "old way" where a scholarship was considered sufficiently valuable to play sports, but NIL kind of became necessary to level the playing field with "bagmen". We'll see where this goes.
February 15th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
I agree with the sentiments of many questioning what it means that Michigan will protect longtime partners in approving student deals. That sounds...questionable from a legal perspective given that the kids have to be separate from the school in "performing their work" for the cash in these NIL arrangements (e.g., can't wear UM TMs).
But the overall sentiment is good. UM is embracing this new NIL reality with open arms, which means the money cannon can start firing.