Michigan’s Athletic Department needs to hire an “Image and Likeness Manager” stat
Preferably several. These people would help kids sign endorsement deals, market their personal “brand”, manage social media, in addition to giving them guidance on basic financial stuff like budgeting, starting a company, investing, etc. Michigan should use all the financial leverage it has with its massive fanbase to turn itself into a gold mine for young superstars. It should be a HUGE selling point for recruits, with the positive spin that they want to teach kids good financial skills and don’t want them to get taken advantage of.
I know this kind of stuff has been talked about here before, and now the door is finally opening. All schools are going to have an official program like this sooner or later, but Michigan should be a pioneer and leader in this area. This law changes literally EVERYTHING about college football and basketball recruiting.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:29 PM ^
IMG is already doing this.
IMG put up the player banners with HONDA ads - without player consent - at Ohio Stadium that Spielman is suing over.
IMG did the same thing at Michigan Stadium with Nissan, StubHub, Jersey Mikes, Dodge, and more, again, without player consent.
IMG is just going to coordinate the same types of deals, only in January 2021 they’ll have to pay the players instead of steal from them.
The guy at IMG who is behind it all actually lives in Columbus, name’s Ray DeWeese.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:40 PM ^
IMG's deal is up next year. 12 year deal signed in 2008. This task will undoubtedly be addressed quickly as the OP suggests, but I doubt IMG will be given the task outright.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:36 PM ^
Too bad Learfield and IMG just merged and now 54 of top 64 teams are controlled by a single, horizontal monopolistic marketing company named Learfield/IMG.
They want to create a vertical monopoly now also.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:31 PM ^
Spielman said he is suing but he giving the money to Ohio St when he wins.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:34 PM ^
He settled with OSU and donated the money; however, he is still aggressively pursuing class action against IMG.
October 29th, 2019 at 11:57 PM ^
This. I would be reluctant to immediately assume this will be a good thing for Michigan. I'm sure there will be "strict" guidelines created, but what is to stop a school that is already illegally funneling boatloads of cash to recruits from partnering with organizations to "legally" start funneling that money to recruits?
This isn't a bash on Michigan, but if they already aren't willing to 'color too far outside the lines' to gain a competitive advantage, what makes us think they will be willing to take the steps to use the available loopholes within the lines to truly turn this kind of thing into an advantage for the athletic program?
Let's face it. As long as there is an available budget and willingness to compensate outside of the rules, there are programs that are and are not willing to go above and beyond those rules in whatever creative ways they can. It's not going to stop just because student-athletes can suddenly have jobs, "jobs," endorsements, or "endorsements." There will still be a LONG way to go before UM can equalize these "opportunities" for student athletes.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:38 PM ^
Yes, double yes.
Let's trademark EVERYTHING.
Instead of Thunderstruck at the stadium, they can switch to MoneyTalks.
Go Blue.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:40 PM ^
Fine, I’ll do it.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:45 PM ^
This sounds like a jorb for WD
Or Brain Cook
October 29th, 2019 at 9:00 PM ^
I’m not sure why being a fat guy with a beard qualifies you for the job, but ok.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:10 PM ^
Not job. Jorb
October 29th, 2019 at 9:21 PM ^
Good point. Those ARE the two men for the jorb.
October 29th, 2019 at 11:33 PM ^
I'M BUYING YOU A PIZZA.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:29 PM ^
Hey I'm a fat guy with a big gnarly caveman beard.
So I'll do it
October 29th, 2019 at 8:46 PM ^
You are right that everyone will eventually do this. UM is at quite a disadvantage being in the midwest though. Schools like USC, UCLA and of course Rutgers must be drooling right now.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:10 PM ^
yeah, the arguably biggest worldwide college football brand outside Texas. Definitely has to worry about being the midwest instead of RUTGERS? do people in Canada even know what a Rutgers is? sounds like some bad beer.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:32 PM ^
Has a post on here about Rutgers ever been made without sarcasm?
October 29th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
I think Rutgers should exit the conference immediately.
There you go.
October 30th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
I get what you're saying but college football is so much bigger in the midwest and south compared to the coasts. Plus we are on tv (both the games and talking head discussing Michigan) all the time.
October 29th, 2019 at 8:49 PM ^
I'm already working on my LLC filing. I'll be starting an advanced payday lending company that specializes in issuing loans to these 5 star athletes so that they can cash in on their future endorsements NOW!!! JJ McCarthy, you want a million dollars right now? No problem! No payments are due until you get your endorsement deal. I'll need some private investors of course.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:21 PM ^
I'd like to invest and will be sending you my ssn and bank info soon. Just wait.
In the meantime, I'm intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:43 PM ^
Are you a Nigerian prince?
October 30th, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
He's identifying as a Nigerian princess. Better response rates.
October 30th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^
This is being done in Minor League Baseball right now—And has long been a staple for speakers bureaus..
It will be done—if you do it—alert the board.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:06 PM ^
Yeah, great. So now we'll have kids who can't afford a car playing on teams with kids who are teenage millionaires. What could go wrong with that?
On a related note, are the millionaire teenagers allowed to give money to players on the team who aren't good enough to be millionaires; can they now pay their friend's way? Because nothing could go wrong with that, either.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:08 PM ^
We live in a society
October 29th, 2019 at 9:32 PM ^
I love how people think people/companies are just going to start throwing millions at 17-18 year old kids.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:38 PM ^
Ever heard of the Kardashians?
when I was in school Drew Henson got millions from the Yankees. He had an Escalade.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:38 PM ^
The Trevor Lawrences and the Lebrons of the world will be getting decent deals.
Maybe not millions but expect shoe deals for 5 star future top picks. and Heisman hopefuls will be getting tons of interest.
And not to mention Autographs kids can now maybe afford something other than Noodles.
October 29th, 2019 at 9:38 PM ^
Or that there aren’t vast economic background disparities on the team already. However will we keep the kids away from each others’ throats?!
October 29th, 2019 at 9:50 PM ^
I'm curious - what makes you think they won't throw millions at these kids? Kevin Garnett's rookie contract was millions of dollars straight out of high school, and that was 25 years ago.
Is it because it's college and not pro? Granted 'pro' won't be quite as much of a distinction anymore, but regardless, I don't think college vs. pro will preclude huge earnings by college players. I feel like the Wolverine fanbase is at least as big as the Timberwolf fanbase, for example.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
It's simple I could walk up to shea Patterson on the street and have no clue who he is. These pro's build their brand and have teams paying them to be at that forefront.
These pros are getting contracts from teams and maybe a shoe deal or something but your not going to see shea Patterson getting paid 400k for a subway commercial.
Maybe a few car dealerships and autograph sales will be big-time things. but for the majority of decent players, this is maybe an I can get a free sandwich or $100 bucks for showing up somewhere or I can make $1500 a month selling my autograph online. It basically takes a lot of cheating away and makes the NCAA's job easier while also allowing the players who are going to the NFL to still make money. and Allowing kids to make money without the NCAA sniffing. Remember that Kicker who had to quit school because of his youtube channel? This is actually pretty good progress if it doesn't get out of hand.
Oh yeah it also mean NCAA football 2021 coming soon to PS5 and Xbox 100
October 29th, 2019 at 10:41 PM ^
I am not so sure about that.
It is one thing to make a deal with NFL players association. It is another beast all together to sign individual deals with thousands of college athletes. You may see a game with handful or even dozens of players, but you are not going to see the entire roster filled out.
October 30th, 2019 at 7:03 AM ^
If only there were some way for groups of people to pool their NIL rights for licensing purposes...
October 30th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
I think you will. It could be a way to see that every player on an NCAA college roster profited to some degree if the profits for sales of that game and games based on other profit sports are distributed evenly between every player on the roster. Even if half the players any team on the video game are just generic players, the profits could be split among the players evenly.
October 30th, 2019 at 6:45 AM ^
The kicker who quit football didn't have to because of his YouTube channel. He chose to. He could have stayed a kicker and kept his channel, so long as he didn't drag his athletic status and school into his channel. I suspect his quitting football was more do to lack of time than because he was pissed that he couldn't mention that he was a backup kicker for UCF.
October 31st, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Wasn't he required to de-monetize it?
October 30th, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
Emoni Bates is on the cover of Sports Illustrated RIGHT NOW and he's 15 years old. You're crazy if you think the money cannon isn't pointed right at him.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:49 PM ^
Ha! I think it is hilarious that this is the issue that has made you aware of income inequality.
How is that any different than the rest of our society?
October 29th, 2019 at 9:56 PM ^
I’m quite sure they have it covered. They don’t call us the leaders and the best for nothing!!! Or do we call ourselves that? ?
October 29th, 2019 at 10:09 PM ^
Dave Brandon is available.
Oh, you wanted a competent person?
October 29th, 2019 at 10:13 PM ^
They should offer a class on it for credits.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:23 PM ^
Imagine how much more pressure the higher ranked recruits are going to feel knowing that their current on field performance will directly impact the different likeness deals that they receive. That’s going to be interesting. And everyone will now come up with a schtick like Denard “shoelaces”. It’s going to be a self-promotion free for all.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
Ummm, don’t you think the higher ranked recruits already feel that pressure since every play is being watched by NFL scouts?
Their play on the field is the difference between tens of millions in guaranteed contracts or $80k as a UFA. I don’t think the endorsement deals are going to add a lot more pressure.
October 29th, 2019 at 10:26 PM ^
NCAA2020 GET AT MEEEEEEEEE
October 29th, 2019 at 10:47 PM ^
Who wants a Zeke "the Freak" Marshall swoosh t-shirt? ($30)
If you want the Jordan version ($40).
Start a change.org to make US money blue ink going forwards as well.
October 29th, 2019 at 11:32 PM ^
If this is the world we're entering, as much as I want players to have everything due to them, this just seems... icky.
October 30th, 2019 at 12:26 AM ^
100% agree.
October 30th, 2019 at 8:15 AM ^
This is a great idea. Plus have the Ross B-School (funded by a Ross donation) offer a series of classes to athletes on how to maximize one's NIL and then manage the money - great life skill courses to help prepare them for professional careers.
October 30th, 2019 at 9:10 AM ^
The job should be posted already. We should be hiring a team of people. This will revolutionize recruiting and give Michigan a major competitive advantage if we're willing to be creative and exploit the letter of the law. Which we should.