So what happened to the extra $7 million/year UK was offering Hurley to come here?

[Son_Of_Saul]

It was stated that when UK was courting Hurley for those two or three days, they made him an offer of $12.5 million year. At minimum, UK was prepared to fulfill giving Cal around $9 million next year. In both cases, that's dramatically more money than Pope's $5.5 million.

So here's my question: where's the extra money ($3.5 million more in Cal's case and $7 million more in Pope's case)?

Is any of that extra money going into NIL? Evidently, boosters and the university were willing to give Hurley $7 million more than they gave Pope. My hope is that the money has been reallocated into the basketball NIL fund, especially since the football program is about to enter a nuclear winter.

It still saddens me that we have an AD who doesn't think innovatively when it comes to NIL. I just don't trust him to think beyond the box. I really wish Mitch would step down.

 

[Ron Mehico]

I don’t really understand where your post is coming from? We just signed 2 top 25 recruits and reportedly paid over 1 million for one of them (who happens to be in state and we still paid 7 figures). We signed TWELVE players 3 months before that. We are also still heavily recruiting (currently one is on campus) top HS players and will need portal players next year (who are just as, if not more, expensive than HS players). I guess I just don’t see any indication that we are penny pinching or not paying NIL? Was there some news you heard?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

We literally just bought a team due to the extra NIL money so yeah I'd say it's going to NIL.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don’t really understand where your post is coming from? We just signed 2 top 25 recruits and reportedly paid over 1 million for one of them (who happens to be in state and we still paid 7 figures). We signed TWELVE players 3 months before that. We are also still heavily recruiting (currently one is on campus) top HS players and will need portal players next year (who are just as, if not more, expensive than HS players). I guess I just don’t see any indication that we are penny pinching or not paying NIL? Was there some news you heard?

I've heard our NIL budget was around $3.5-4.5 million annually. Not bad, but also not the best, especially when the program was willing to spend $7 million more/year on a head coach (with none of that money going to NIL, mind you).

We know that around $1 million has come from Club Blue. Another $3 million came from initial pledges from boosters.

So where's the rest of the money we were willing to spend on Hurley? The $4.5 million from boosters/Club Blue is not and was not a part of UK's $12.5 million dollar pledge to Hurley.

Where's the extra $7 million and is any of it being channeled into NIL?

If not, it should be.

 

[TM2013]

I feel like our basketball program has done an excellent job using NIL to load up the roster under Pope. Barnhart is still a chode about it but I don't think he is holding Pope back.

 

[zannmann]

It’s past time for Barney to retire.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

I've heard our NIL budget was around $3.5-4.5 million annually. Not bad, but also not the best, especially when the program was willing to spend $7 million more/year on a head coach (with none of that money going to NIL, mind you).

We know that around $1 million has come from Club Blue. Another $3 million came from initial pledges from boosters.

So where's the rest of the money we were willing to spend on Hurley? The $4.5 million from boosters/Club Blue is not and was not a part of UK's $12.5 million dollar pledge to Hurley.

Where's the extra $7 million and is any of it being channeled into NIL?

If not, it should be.

I get the impression that we are not chasing players who want to be overpaid relative to market value. We probably could throw more money into this fund, but what would it buy us other than some selfish players chasing a paycheck? Haven't we already had that?

 

[Skyguyb27]

I get the impression that we are not chasing players who want to be overpaid relative to market value. We probably could throw more money into this fund, but what would it buy us other than some selfish players chasing a paycheck? Haven't we already had that?

To add to this, I don’t think Mitch is gonna go against the grain, hire Pope like he did then suffocate his recruiting efforts. Mitch absolutely has a vested interest in seeing Pope achieve great things and not stink it up.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I get the impression that we are not chasing players who want to be overpaid relative to market value. We probably could throw more money into this fund, but what would it buy us other than some selfish players chasing a paycheck? Haven't we already had that?

They're all chasing a paycheck.

 

[chroix]

I said I’d put up $5 million for Hurley or Drew but in the end it wasn’t needed.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

They're all chasing a paycheck.

I don't disagree, but many feel like they are worth more than they truly are. I don't think we are targeting those guys for this arms race.

 

[westerncat]

I wish the NIL never was implemented. JMO

 

[TucsonCat]

Means we pay off Memorial Coliseum renovations and new track facility in 12 years instead of 15. Ticket prices and concessions don't go up too much next season.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Means we pay off Memorial Coliseum renovations and new track facility in 12 years instead of 15. Ticket prices and concessions don't go up too much next season.

I promise you at least 70% of UK fans would rather have someone like AJ Dybantsa every season than any of that stuff you mentioned.

 

[Skyguyb27]

It was stated that when UK was courting Hurley for those two or three days, they made him an offer of $12.5 million year. At minimum, UK was prepared to fulfill giving Cal around $9 million next year. In both cases, that's dramatically more money than Pope's $5.5 million.

So here's my question: where's the extra money ($3.5 million more in Cal's case and $7 million more in Pope's case)?

Is any of that extra money going into NIL? Evidently, boosters and the university were willing to give Hurley $7 million more than they gave Pope. My hope is that the money has been reallocated into the basketball NIL fund, especially since the football program is about to enter a nuclear winter.

It still saddens me that we have an AD who doesn't think innovatively when it comes to NIL. I just don't trust him to think beyond the box. I really wish Mitch would step down.

You come off as greedy AF. If the boosters were willing to give 7 million to ensure the program excels then great but if it isn’t needed they should absolutely be able to keep their own money. (Again you sound like a greedy politician). So far it appears Pope’s recruiting is top notch and the boosters were able to save 7 million, so this thread seems to reflect your unappreciative they are willing if they need to.

Personally, I think they should keep their money if the program is excelling, perhaps there is another sport that might require their services soon to help the University out.

 

[bowfreak]

70% of UK fans just want to win. They don’t care who the players are if they win.

 

[BlueSince92]

I said I’d put up $5 million for Hurley or Drew but in the end it wasn’t needed.

Happen to have any of that left lying around? I can do a damn good Drew impression.

 

[ukcatz12]

I said I’d put up $5 million for Hurley or Drew but in the end it wasn’t needed.

Thank you for your service. If you still need a home for that $5 million I'm willing to accept it.

 

[ukcatz12]

I promise you at least 70% of UK fans would rather have someone like AJ Dybantsa every season than any of that stuff you mentioned.

Boosters don't donate money for the sole purpose of making UK basketball fans happy. They donate to help the athletic department as a whole, or to their own pet projects, or in ways they think is more useful. The world of booster money doesn't revolve around UK basketball, there's more to the athletic department and University.

 

[Zissou87]

Maybe they planned to use that NIL funding for future seasons.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Happen to have any of that left lying around? I can do a damn good Drew impression.

Draw your picture for a dollar……

 

[UKBB4Ever]

There was not an offer made to Hurley.

 

[UKBlueBlood]

I wish the NIL never was implemented. JMO

I wish NIL was what it is actually supposed to be… the freedom for players to consider and accept promotional opportunities that utilize their name, image, and likeness in exchange for compensation without concern for their eligibility.

It’s not supposed to be universities essentially acting as agents for recruits securing promises of payments and deals in exchange for the player attending for a particular school.

But everyone knew where this thing was heading.

 

[swflakat]

Contracts for coaches have nothing to do with NIL. The extra $$ for coaches come from outside sponsorships/payola.

 

[bigbluedon]

There was not an offer made to Hurley.

Brad’s back. Wow. It’s been a while.

 

[WildcatNC]

Mitch has been eyeing a new state of the art women's Lawn Dart arena.

 

[Mark80]

Thank you for your service. If you still need a home for that $5 million I'm willing to accept it.

Put me on that list 😂😂😂

 

[sk73]

It was stated that when UK was courting Hurley for those two or three days, they made him an offer of $12.5 million year. At minimum, UK was prepared to fulfill giving Cal around $9 million next year. In both cases, that's dramatically more money than Pope's $5.5 million.

So here's my question: where's the extra money ($3.5 million more in Cal's case and $7 million more in Pope's case)?

Is any of that extra money going into NIL? Evidently, boosters and the university were willing to give Hurley $7 million more than they gave Pope. My hope is that the money has been reallocated into the basketball NIL fund, especially since the football program is about to enter a nuclear winter.

It still saddens me that we have an AD who doesn't think innovatively when it comes to NIL. I just don't trust him to think beyond the box. I really wish Mitch would step down.

I am joking but maybe a lot of this years money meant for a Hurley hire ended up going toward Popes introduction ceremony. At the time, you will remember, the Pope announcement was not very popular. Barnhart was hoping the intro would calm the waters and get people off his ass. It did. I agree, Barnhart needs to go.

 

[KAB Cats]

I’m not sold we were serious about Hurley in the first place, but also, this is kind of like my wife returning a dress and then claiming she got the money back for free.

 

[ncaaky]

The assistant coaching staff is at least $2 million a year cheaper also now.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

I've heard our NIL budget was around $3.5-4.5 million annually. Not bad, but also not the best, especially when the program was willing to spend $7 million more/year on a head coach (with none of that money going to NIL, mind you).

We know that around $1 million has come from Club Blue. Another $3 million came from initial pledges from boosters.

So where's the rest of the money we were willing to spend on Hurley? The $4.5 million from boosters/Club Blue is not and was not a part of UK's $12.5 million dollar pledge to Hurley.

Where's the extra $7 million and is any of it being channeled into NIL?

If not, it should be.

It’s sitting in a Swiss Bank account, I believe the name on that account is Craft

 

[Aike]

Feels like a bit of chicken and egg to me.

In theory, Pope will make a lot more in future contracts if he’s successful.

If boosters blow all their cash on NIL, was it Pope or the money causing the success?

If you then up Pope’s salary but need to cut NIL, do you go the other direction?

Seems like we are in a decent test phase with great fan support. Pope is here on a reasonable salary, and recruiting at a level which should make us highly competitive.

We are going to get a good idea of Pope’s capabilities. If we are doing well but not quite over the hump, we should be in position to do that little extra to max out our potential.

Anyway, that feels like the plan to me. Looking forward to seeing it on the court.

 

[bbncal02]

I wish the NIL never was implemented. JMO

Same, but here we are. And that genie isn't going back in the lamp.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I've been eagerly awaiting to see if UK would finally start a Women's beach volleyball team. My daughter is committed to play at UNCW but she would have gone to UK if they started a program.

5 million bones could build a helluva sand volleyball complex.

 

[Creed Bratton]

So according to the Herald Leader article linked below most of Cal's salary was from media rights. I would assume if they don't have to pay 8.5 million for media rights they don't still donate that to the NIL but I have no idea.

"Starting in July 2025, Calipari’s $9 million annual salary would pull him even with Stoops. Calipari’s base salary from the school is only $400,000, with the bulk of his yearly pay coming from multimedia rights and other “university agreements.” How does that work? UK enters into multi-million dollar agreements for exclusive TV, radio and digital deals in addition to contracting with suppliers of athletic gear and equipment. Calipari grants UK his “rights of endorsement” in all of those areas and is compensated from that fund. Stoops earns most of his money the same way."

Read more at: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/article279902939.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Creed Bratton]

I’m not sold we were serious about Hurley in the first place, but also, this is kind of like my wife returning a dress and then claiming she got the money back for free.

My wife refers to that as "girl math". 🤣

 

[NC Weasel]

Schools can't pay players directly. So that money CAN'T go to NIL. Schools DO pay coaches, as employees (well, athletic depts, associations, etc.).

So until players are employees and not "student-athletes", businesses and marketing groups funded by boosters are the ones buying players.

 

[Edgarman]

It was stated that when UK was courting Hurley for those two or three days, they made him an offer of $12.5 million year. At minimum, UK was prepared to fulfill giving Cal around $9 million next year. In both cases, that's dramatically more money than Pope's $5.5 million.

So here's my question: where's the extra money ($3.5 million more in Cal's case and $7 million more in Pope's case)?

Is any of that extra money going into NIL? Evidently, boosters and the university were willing to give Hurley $7 million more than they gave Pope. My hope is that the money has been reallocated into the basketball NIL fund, especially since the football program is about to enter a nuclear winter.

It still saddens me that we have an AD who doesn't think innovatively when it comes to NIL. I just don't trust him to think beyond the box. I really wish Mitch would step down.

Going to use the $7M plus $$$$$ to buy out Stoopid.

 

[Fox2monk]

It was stated that when UK was courting Hurley for those two or three days, they made him an offer of $12.5 million year. At minimum, UK was prepared to fulfill giving Cal around $9 million next year. In both cases, that's dramatically more money than Pope's $5.5 million.

So here's my question: where's the extra money ($3.5 million more in Cal's case and $7 million more in Pope's case)?

Is any of that extra money going into NIL? Evidently, boosters and the university were willing to give Hurley $7 million more than they gave Pope. My hope is that the money has been reallocated into the basketball NIL fund, especially since the football program is about to enter a nuclear winter.

It still saddens me that we have an AD who doesn't think innovatively when it comes to NIL. I just don't trust him to think beyond the box. I really wish Mitch would step down.

I believe they couldn’t legally put that money into it until next year, I mean most probably came from donors so I see your point but rich people always like to have other pay for what they can. It’s how they stay rich. They usually use their own money to make more.