🏅 Charlie Baker has Little Sympathy for Complaining Coaches

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There’s no better feeling in March than some top seeded blue-blood program falls to a school you’ve never heard of — upsets are what make the college basketball tournament must-watch TV. But what if mid-major schools got phased out of March Madness? That’s a real concern for many in college basketball, and it has NIL implications. Keep reading to learn what’s going on.

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KICK-OFF

Charlie Baker Talks Turnover in College Sports

When NCAA commissioner Charlie Baker sat down for an interview with ESPN last week, he let loose on everything NIL – from the transfer portal to coaching turnover.

In his opinion, the rapid movement within college athletics isn’t actually as much of a problem as many believe it to be. “[Student athletes] actually transfer less than students who aren’t student athletes do,” he said, contending that player movement has more to do with macro-trends among young people than college sports.

Baker wasn’t exactly sympathetic to coaches who complain about NIL and the portal either: “One of the things I hear from kids when I talk to them about this issue is, ‘Coaches walk out on their contracts. What about us?’” he said. That’s an issue we covered in depth earlier this week if you wanted to dive deeper. (More)

Florida D-Lineman Gives Back

One Florida Gators freshman was able to give a present to someone special on Valentine’s Day – and no, it wasn’t his girlfriend getting chocolates. Thanks to NIL earnings, defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson gifted his mother a whole house:

Robinson, who signed with Florida’s NIL collective a week prior, was one of the top ranked players in 2024’s defensive line class. A lifelong Gators fan, his NIL valuation currently sits at $110K. (More)

Judge Grants Injunction in Tennessee Lawsuit

Some big news broke yesterday in the Tennessee vs. NCAA case when a federal judge suspended the NCAA’s restrictions on NIL. That’s super good news for Tennessee — essentially, the judge is siding against the NCAA. The ruling also means that the NCAA can’t enforce NIL restrictions until the case resolves.

"The NCAA's prohibition likely violates federal antitrust law and harms student-athletes," Judge Corker said in his ruling.

"(W)ithout the give and take of a free market, student-athletes simply have no knowledge of their true NIL value," Corker continued, "It is this suppression of negotiating leverage and the consequential lack of knowledge that harms student-athletes." (More)

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BEST PRACTICES

Checklist for the First NIL Check

NIL is providing many student-athletes with financial security they’ve never experienced before. However, when NIL money starts flowing into an athlete’s bank account, it’s important for them to have a financial plan to safeguard their newfound earnings. Here’s a few things to keep in mind as the first NIL checks roll in.

• Create a financial plan: The very first step after getting an NIL check is to sit down with some trusted people — parents, siblings, or even a financial advisor — and start planning the best use of your money.

• Invest in tomorrow: As much as we may want to start spending money immediately, keeping a long-term outlook for your money is important. Nothing is guaranteed — health and performance can fade, so make long-term investments so your money doesn’t become a flash in the pan.

• Bless those who blessed you: When someone wins the lottery, everyone wants a piece of the pie. A good rule of thumb is that, if you’re going to financially bless anyone, pay it back to someone who’s done the same to you. Like D’Antre Robinson.

Of course, we’re not financial advisors. But we’ve been around the NIL world long enough to know these are some pretty good principles to commit to when getting a rapid influx of cash. Don’t fall for the usual traps — you don’t need nice cars and Gucci flip flops. As long as you stay committed to your long-term financial plan, you’ll be golden.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

HEYDUDE Becoming Major NIL Player

Shoe brand HEYDUDE has been very aggressive so far in the NIL world, and their most recent signings have signaled they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. They just signed five deals with athletes from five of the biggest brands in college sports: Duke, North Carolina, Miami, Kentucky, and Texas A&M.

In the recent past, the brand struck deals with football stars like Texas QB Quinn Ewers and Heisman winning LSU QB Jayden Daniels. Their pivot to the biggest names on the biggest brands in college basketball — adding three hoops bluebloods in Duke, UNC, and Kentucky — should come as no surprise. The deal was coordinated by NIL marketing agency Postgame. (More)

• Florida’s high school athletics association is discussing NIL at their next board meeting. If a resolution passed, Florida would join California as the two biggest states to allow NIL in high school.

• Could declaring athletes as employees actually make sense for a college president? One writer thinks there are benefits for whoever is the first to declare them so, as 67% of Americans are in favor of athletes getting direct payments from their school.

COLLECTIVE 101

CSU’s New Sheriff is an NIL Wizard

Colorado State’s Athletic Director Joe Parker stepped down from his post this week, but his replacement is what we’re interested in. Parker asked John Weber to step in as interim AD for the time being. Weber’s last role? Executive Director of CSU’s NIL collective, The Green and Gold Guard.

“John is engaged on the national level with the fast-changing intricacies of NIL and seeking new and innovative ways to support all of CSU’s student-athletes and programs,” Parker said of his replacement.

The real story here is that, when facing down the uncertainty of the college sports landscape, Parker looked at a former NIL director as the right man for the job. NIL expertise is no longer an optional part of an athletic director’s role; in fact, it may be the most important piece of the puzzle moving forward. (More)

• Oklahoma State basketball coach Mike Boynton says recruiting demanded more effort before NIL: “What I did to get Cade Cunningham here was way more difficult than what it takes now.”

• Iowa State’s Athletics Department is thriving despite NIL collective giving, but they’re not ruling out a potential negative impact on future funding: “There’s only so many dollars to go around.”

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Emma Utterback

Hailing from Greenwood, Indiana, Emma Utterback is leading the charge for University of Vermont's basketball team. Emma's success on the court is unmatched, averaging 14.7 points per game. But her impact extends far beyond basketball. Leveraging her social media platforms, Emma has secured lucrative NIL deals with companies like SVI Sports Wear and Dunkin' Donuts, showcasing her savvy entrepreneurial spirit. 

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins launches NIL investment platform

♦️ Collectives are playing a role in Ohio State’s basketball coaching search 

♦️ Adidas signs four OTE hoopers to NIL deals

♦️ Baylor’s Mack Rhoades: “None of us have crystal ball… about NIL”

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will the NCAA probe into Tennessee change their recruiting effectiveness?

• Yes - 65%

• No - 35%