Gene Smith soliciting NIL donations from fans

Submitted by guthrie on December 8th, 2022 at 6:13 PM

https://twitter.com/GriffinStrom3/status/1600891520772493317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1600891520772493317%7Ctwgr%5E16cd635469ca10a38848c451770b8b222fbad58a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthespun.com%2Fmore%2Ftop-stories%2Ffootball-world-reacts-to-ohio-state-athletic-directors-message

MGoBoard
Football
Gene Smith
Ohio State
NIL

guthrie

December 8th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^

https://twitter.com/GriffinStrom3/status/1600891520772493317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1600891520772493317%7Ctwgr%5E16cd635469ca10a38848c451770b8b222fbad58a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthespun.com%2Fmore%2Ftop-stories%2Ffootball-world-reacts-to-ohio-state-athletic-directors-message

 

Joined: 09/23/2009

MGoPoints: 2322

WeimyWoodson

December 8th, 2022 at 7:42 PM ^

What a wild world college football is. Living in Columbus, it’s funny to hear all the OSU fans complain about how they should win every game and how it’s been unacceptable they haven’t won a title since the first playoff. 
 

Regarding money, I love Michigan football. “Sadly” so much of life revolves around it. I’m here 10x a day, read all the articles, know all the players, make it up to a few games a year with my dad, and all that stuff. Despite my love for this sport and team, I couldn’t imagine donating my hard earned money to an NIL pool for high school kids and college kids. It’s feels gross. If businesses want to do it in exchange for advertising and stuff, that’s awesome, but just giving away my money…to each their own I guess. 

Joined: 08/25/2015

MGoPoints: 14734

Rather be on BA

December 9th, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^

I respect but disagree with this take. Most of us spend money on silly shit every day- clothes for our pets; $12 Starbucks coffees; 10 different streaming channels etc etc. I don’t see spending $10-$20/month as a recurring NIL donation as any stranger than those things.  Michigan sports is my biggest hobby. If it helps us stay competitive in this new landscape I’m fine with it. Imagine 50,000 fans contributing $10/month. That’s $6,000,000 per year simply from normal folks, not businesses or mega boosters.  That can be big for a program. Cancel one of your eight streaming services or stop buying that weekly Starbucks and support your team instead, IMO. 

Joined: 08/29/2010

MGoPoints: 1808

Blue Vet

December 8th, 2022 at 7:59 PM ^

Smith made a mistake in the first line of his begging, when he referred to "the Ohio State Buckeyes." 

It doesn't seem a mistake because that's how anyone would normally say it: "the Ohio State Buckeyes." 

BUT in their petty attempt to seem more important, they're insistent that "the" is part of their school's name, hence, "The Ohio State University" and "The Ohio State."

Soooooo, to be consistent, he should have written "the The Ohio State Buckeyes." 

Joined: 05/08/2012

MGoPoints: 71215

swn

December 8th, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^

It's gross and feels a bit pathetic, but this is the world we live in now. I can't say it's stupid when Ohio is the 7th most populated state and loves OSU.

Joined: 08/29/2017

MGoPoints: 8105

bluebyyou

December 8th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^

I hate to be the contrarian but I wish Michigan's leadership were as actively involved as Smith in terms of raising NIL money.  One way or another, players are going to go to schools that cross their palms with silver.  Let's hope our new president can change what we believe the culture to be.  That would make recruiting lots easier.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18566

DonAZ

December 8th, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^

Someone help me here ... I thought the university could not be directly involved in NIL.  The athletic director of a university soliciting funds for specific NIL campaigns seems like "direct" to me.

EDIT -- so I'm no lawyer, but this article from a law firm seems to describe things fairly well.  Two points: (1) it's a shifting landscape; and (2) from my reading -- again, no lawyer -- the key is the university has to stay out of the contract between athlete and sponsor.  But because of (1) and (2) there seems a fair bit of latitude for things like what Smith is doing here.

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16763

aa_squared

December 8th, 2022 at 6:48 PM ^

1.)  It is unbelievable that he needs to do a request of that nature. Do THEy not have big time donors? Do THE big time donors not believe in THE runner on third base?

2.)  If he actually needs to do a request like that, does it imply that THEy are in financial distress?

Just asking.....

Joined: 07/19/2019

MGoPoints: 8126