Definitely can use all the 4* DL we can get. Nicely done, staff! Don't know how this affects our rankings but landing another quality DL can only be a good thing.
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He’s absolutely right about that. In my opinion, all of Matt Jones’ “sky is falling” comments have been irresponsible and counterproductive.
It was never as bad as Jones was insinuating, nor were the current NIL challenges unique to UK, nor was JMI doing anything unusual, nor was UK as far behind as Jones was asserting.Jones & KSR will say (and did say a month ago at early signing) that some big time deep money boosters stepped in and helped save the class & NIL funding. After Stoops had to reach out personally for help..
But that was very short term, can't count on that yearly. which is why it is vital to get broad based huge participation NIL collectives in gear. Can't count on 3 guys giving a million bucks each. we need 10000 giving $30! Hopefully things are looking up, and being figured out, the event this Sat looked great.
HS coach said he texted him at 3:45 this morning with his decision. His coach said that if he keeps working hard and gets stronger he could play early in his college career and could be a Sunday player. Said he is athletic for his size. Sounds a little like Deone Walker.Definitely can use all the 4* DL we can get. Nicely done, staff! Don't know how this affects our rankings but landing another quality DL can only be a good thing.
I do believe the JMI concerns are overblown. But, you have to ask yourself this question, "Did a few boosters come to UK's rescue this year?" The answer is "yes." So, the NiL concerns are not overblown.The only thing Jones did accomplish is to stir up a bunch of unnecessary angst among the fan base.
Yup. Why some want to deny reality is strange. We lost 1 starter, due 100 to NIL. Def could have been A LOT. a this isn't from KSR, Mark damn Stoops commented in Nov that his starters were getting offers, were getting tampered with.I do believe the JMI concerns are overblown. But, you have to ask yourself this question, "Did a few boosters come to UK's rescue this year?" The answer is "yes." So, the NiL concerns are not overblown.
Ark lost 8 underclassmen starters to transfer portal!!!! Let that sink in. Starters!!!! Imagine this board if UK lost 8 returning starters to the portal!!!!! It wasn't a culture problem, coaching change, etc... Stoops went to some key boosters to prevent this from happening. That is not a long-term solution.
Today, I believe the collectives are functioning and getting healthy. But, some boosters prevented UK from being gutted like Ark and a few other schools. (BTW - I think NIL in the future will be about keeping current players more than it will be about recruiting,)
All that said, Gilbert is a great flip. Lots of big time programs after this player. We can never have too many excellent DL players!
I don't think we have to be at top of NIL, but we can't be at the bottom!Whether or not NIL resources did this, I'm good. Brohm leaving had to help too. Regardless, I just don't see UK having the resources to win in the NIL wars long-term. Too, too many richer alumni bases out there. Of course I hope I'm wrong.
I just read a few articles and haven't researched it in detail. But, most of these transfers (I'm just referring to previous starters) ended up in top programs. SC also lost several top returning players.Didn't realize Arkansas lost 8 starters. You would think with Walmart and Jerry Jones, they would have plenty of NIL money. Were they all related to NIL money?
Winning to me is 9-3/10-2 seasons. if NIL is the major determinate of that, I doubt we can hold there.I don't think we have to be at top of NIL, but we can't be at the bottom!
I agree with @UKnCincy premise that many schools are struggling with same issue. But, there's a difference between being at the bottom of that mix and being comparable with the other schools that are not at top of NIL.
Coaches today have to do so much more than coach football. Stoops has done excellent job of building relationships with boosters. I do believe he went to some boosters to prevent mass poaching of our returning players.
I also believe our collectives are in much better shape than late fall.
Yes, in attitude.Sounds a little like Deone Walker.
There's no disputing the importance of coaches building relationship with boosters, and the importance of healthy collectives.Winning to me is 9-3/10-2 seasons. if NIL is the major determinate of that, I doubt we can hold there.
Yeah.Stoops and Marrow going on media blitzes twice last yr begging begging for NIL help didn't happen.
Well, only one Stoop’s Class, prior to NIL, initially compared to the best of those since NIL (2014), at least based upon average Star ranking.Winning to me is 9-3/10-2 seasons. if NIL is the major determinate of that, I doubt we can hold there.
Good point. Anwar is the total package: UK Star in the late 90’s; lengthy and highly successful career in the CFL; hard working coach and recruiter.Re the DL, want to tip the hat to Anwar Stewart.
Those pleas that Stoops and Marrow made for increased NIL support are no different than the same pleas that other coaches at top programs have been making over the past 12 months.Yup. Why some want to deny reality is strange. We lost 1 starter, due 100 to NIL. Def could have been A LOT. a this isn't from KSR, Mark damn Stoops commented in Nov that his starters were getting offers, were getting tampered with.
Recruiting class finished strong! NIL things looking better! But I'll be damned if I EVER agree it wasn't looking bad, there were problems last yr. Some of y'all want to pretend Stoops and Marrow going on media blitzes twice last yr begging begging for NIL help didn't happen.
In terms of a few boosters coming to the rescue, my point is not to deny that. My point is that the same thing is happening at other schools, and that those other schools are also recognizing that cannot be sustained. Our situation is far from unique.I do believe the JMI concerns are overblown. But, you have to ask yourself this question, "Did a few boosters come to UK's rescue this year?" The answer is "yes." So, the NiL concerns are not overblown.
Ark lost 8 underclassmen starters to transfer portal!!!! Let that sink in. Starters!!!! Imagine this board if UK lost 8 returning starters to the portal!!!!! It wasn't a culture problem, coaching change, etc... Stoops went to some key boosters to prevent this from happening. That is not a long-term solution.
Today, I believe the collectives are functioning and getting healthy. But, some boosters prevented UK from being gutted like Ark and a few other schools. (BTW - I think NIL in the future will be about keeping current players more than it will be about recruiting,)
All that said, Gilbert is a great flip. Lots of big time programs after this player. We can never have too many excellent DL players!
Yes.Almost every school is worried they are significantly behind.
Absolutely. Like you, I question just how sustainable NIL's at the current set up can be sustained. These gad-zillionaires didn't become gad-zillionaires by pissing away their money on unproven 18 y/os.In terms of a few boosters coming to the rescue, my point is not to deny that. My point is that the same thing is happening at other schools, and that those other schools are also recognizing that cannot be sustained. Our situation is far from unique.
There are definitely things we can improve, there’s no doubt there. But the concerns that we’re somehow significantly behind other major schools are drastically overblown.
Almost every school is worried they are significantly behind.
Absolutely. Like you, I question just how sustainable NIL's at the current set up can be sustained. These gad-zillionaires didn't become gad-zillionaires by pissing away their money on unproven 18 y/os.
AgreeIn terms of a few boosters coming to the rescue, my point is not to deny that. My point is that the same thing is happening at other schools, and that those other schools are also recognizing that cannot be sustained. Our situation is far from unique.
There are definitely things we can improve, there’s no doubt there. But the concerns that we’re somehow significantly behind other major schools are drastically overblown.
Almost every school is worried they are significantly behind.
They dont want no part of BBN in a worry wart race - We aint even got started!Yes.
But I’m more worried than they are.
Yes, that’s subjective: I don’t have solid numbers on how worried they are compared to my numbers, but I am very worried about being behind on NIL, as opposed to bringing slightly concerned, modestly disturbed or briefly sickened about most other subjects.
We can’t tolerate a “worry-wart gap” in this arms race!
I’ve known UK fans my whole life. And we are good enough, smart enough, and worry as good as the best of them!They dont want no part of BBN in a worry wart race - We aint even got started!
Rowlands point brings an interesting fact out. I haven’t done the homework, but I do trust he has. Is the NIL sky falling? It doesn’t appear so. I will withhold opinions right now on this but I think he is on the right track. Nevertheless, I love quality players from the portal and other younger players playing for Big Blue! I really believe there is something special happening here, short of us cheating, I could care less why. I will thank the coaches as it happens. Go Big Blue! I will continue to contribute with my fandom and figure the best way to share in that as I feel comfortable.
That’s the issue. No one is going to be able to afford to pay every starter 500k. That’s 11 million not counting other considerations lol.Call me naive, but I think that with the exception of some determined mercenaries, most kids are going to be happy as long as they like the school and program, are relatively assured of six figures out of collective activities if a starter, and see that if a personable, bona fide star like Levis, they might log $500k or more out of serious individual brand activity. I get the sense we aren't too far off that standard already. Let others compete for the self-declared guns for hire. That's my opinion.