NIL: Players Can Now Use Block M, Winged Helmet
Huge development in NIL: UM has reached a group licensing agreement that will allow student-athletes to use the Block M and Winged Helmet in their NIL deals. Hunter Dickinson had recently complained about this exact issue so it’s great to see progress on this front from the university.
original press release: https://www.thebrandrgroup.com/michigan-news
That is a very good move by Michigan - basically you are helping your athletes secure deals and promoting the school / football program at the same time.
Literally a win/win - no clue why there were previously being obstructive.
Maybe not obstructive...just diligent. You have to be very clear on how the brand is used..what's ok and what is not ok. This is a new landscape and being early/first isn't nec best.
I just think they had plenty of notice to sort that out before now. But anyway, better late than never!
Don't think this is really even late....these are still the really early days of NIL. UM couldn't rush this given all that the Block M and Winged Helmet represent and mean to so many alumni.
Maybe a little slow to the game, but I understand the delay. You don't want the block M on a strip club billboard or a pawn shop. Not saying there is anything wrong with either of those business ventures, but probably not the best look for the university. I think allowing the block M to be used in approved promotions under NIL makes sense, but I get the caution.
Why not? I'd definitely go to that strip club and that pawn shop (but probably not in that order)
Isn't that the likelier order? :)
Think we are in agreement..
When you think how aghast you'd be to see a player endorsing, say, vape pens while wearing the block M and the winged helmet logo, then you'd understand why they were moving slowly.
But, yes, still too slowly.
Hilarious! No, they could have previously decided to allow licensing on review to avoid your vape pen example. That would be easy. But no, what they previously said was no use of the M. There simply is no excuse for the university waiting so long and getting left behind by other schools. Attempts to whitewash the UMs failure to adapt are laughable. Don’t congratulate them now for being slow and stupid when they could easily have done this same thing last year.
Its not that serious, dude.
Yeah, how dare they not know precisely how to navigate a suddenly brand new legal environment, with no possible unforeseen consequences and every contingency planned for, immediately upon its existence.
"The followers and cautious wait and see types"
I think weve found a new motto
If anyone thinks more than a couple days of research was put into this you are crazy. The sitting on our asses constantly is bad enough but the actual "Atta boys" from the fans will keep it that way.
When it comes to Michigan recruiting the next decade when we are averaging the 12th best class year in and year out this will be my go to.
Its not that serious, dude.
-The Michigan Indifference
The ouster of the knish-loving lover man might have something to do with the removal of obstructions.
I’d like a clarification of this to avoid getting genuinely upset.
You missed the whole Schlissel incident?
Is this agreement with The Brandr Group a new partnership or an updated existing partnership? I've never heard of them but their website lists 8 B1G teams (including Sparty and osu) as well as Bama, Georgia, and LSU.
Hopefully, this will help unshackle NIL and the NIL-related recruiting issues.
Some smart people got together and made a few companies really early on to "help schools navigate NIL and get $$ for their athletes" and they are going to make way more $$$ than the athletes.
I can't help but turn this into a negative... That Michigan finally gets out of it's own way, in a small amount, that is miles behind the leaders.
So I won't.
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son...
And neither is being overly pessimistic... baby steps
but you did
The block M and the Winged Helmet are two of the most iconic symbols in history.
This would be a wise time to take advantage of that status.
I give this a thumbs up.
this is great! can't wait to see hunter in the winged...uh...helmet
1. Puts on winged helmet.
2. Changes name to Taco Pants.
3. Signs country's largest NIL deal with Taco Bell.
4. Profit.
Talk about pulling teeth. UM hates letting others use the logo. How do I know, my wife used to be in marketing for the Health System. Every use of the Block M had to go through a giant miasma of approvals and bureaucratic requests.
im glad this happened, but fuck the admin took so long to do what everyone else is already doing. Just shows UM will always be playing catch-up on NIL because they will always be obsessed with “the Michigan way. The “Michigan way” is a mid 2000s Lloyd Carr defense against a spread offense.
Misasma... I had to look it up. It does sound unpleasant.
mi·as·ma
[mīˈazmə, mēˈazmə]
NOUN
literary
-
a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor:
"a miasma of stale alcohol hung around him like marsh gas"
synonyms:
stink · reek · stench · smell · odor · malodor
-
an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere which surrounds or emanates from something:
"there was a miasma of despair over this place"
-
Now this is a word that could be used on RCMB, but they would fuck up the spelling in typical spartan fashion.
I fixed it...
"a miasma of STAEE alcohol hung around him like marsh gas"
Glad to help broaden your vocab!
I am pretty sure that process will still be followed. This just means that Brandr will complete that process instead of each athlete having to do it on their own
The medical center had been insanely protective of the block M until recently when they decided to allow every possible feeder hospital north of Ann Arbor to use it even though they have nothing to do with UM (other than agreeing to send us their complex cases). If there is enough money at stake the block M can be purchased. Sadly the quality of the health care available at these hospitals is no different than it ever was despite the new block M on the building.
Great.
It's not always possible to know what's being though and negotiated behind the scenes, but this feels like a clear and positive step forward.
The university could have announced at the outset that use of Michigan brand elements was permissible *only* upon review and approval on a case by case basis. Why it waited so long is just another mystery of why the institution makes the decisions it does.
Took long enough. Why does this university move like it's in quick sand?