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Post by acutrackfan on Apr 24, 2024 7:46:28 GMT -6
No doubt that we would love to be in a conference that generates more revenue The elephant in the room, however, is NIL. I don’t know how much, if any, our sports make. I believe WBB has a small NIL package. Don’t know about MBB. An SFA source says that the Jacks have been paying basketball players about $15k each. One SFA player transferred to UNT who pays $75k per year. I don’t know if this is accurate. Coach G says that P4 women typically make around $30k. So to recruit that level player we need about a half million in outside money. I spoke to Coach G recently and she realizes that it will be rare to have an athlete stay with you for all 4-5 years of a career. It is more important than ever to recruit the portal hard. I hate it, but it is a reality. I do see NIL as an even bigger problem. Programs like ACU and other private and/or faith-based schools depend heavily on donated money to pay for the program. Raising NIL money to pay the athletes (on top of the scholarship money) puts the athlete in direct competition with the university. The ability to write off gifts that pay NIL for a specific person is a very murky area. It does appear that NIL is here to stay, but college athletics will look forever different because of it. |
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Post by Outsider on Apr 24, 2024 8:26:25 GMT -6
No doubt that we would love to be in a conference that generates more revenue The elephant in the room, however, is NIL. I don’t know how much, if any, our sports make. I believe WBB has a small NIL package. Don’t know about MBB. An SFA source says that the Jacks have been paying basketball players about $15k each. One SFA player transferred to UNT who pays $75k per year. I don’t know if this is accurate. Coach G says that P4 women typically make around $30k. So to recruit that level player we need about a half million in outside money. I spoke to Coach G recently and she realizes that it will be rare to have an athlete stay with you for all 4-5 years of a career. It is more important than ever to recruit the portal hard. I hate it, but it is a reality. I do see NIL as an even bigger problem. Programs like ACU and other private and/or faith-based schools depend heavily on donated money to pay for the program. Raising NIL money to pay the athletes (on top of the scholarship money) puts the athlete in direct competition with the university. The ability to write off gifts that pay NIL for a specific person is a very murky area. It does appear that NIL is here to stay, but college athletics will look forever different because of it. That right there is one of the key challenges for ACU. GCU has found it's way, but it has done so by being a for-profit institution and funneling money into its athletics. Now, it is common for non-profits to have a for-profit side. ACU is taking advantage of that now. The question is how does ACU continue to take advantage of that ethically while still keeping the relationship between athlete and student complementary? I think the answers lie beyond donors at this point, as well as beyond reliance on media money. How for-profit sponsorships come into play will be an important piece of ACU's athletic future. This is about more than individual sponsorship and doing it on a larger scale. How do you do that and NOT put the athlete in competition with the school? I don't have the answers. |
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Post by ybp80 on Apr 24, 2024 17:58:09 GMT -6
I really enjoy all the comments and prognostications from the members of this board. There are so many possibilities in coming years that it’s hard to comprehend all options (at least for me.) My one point would be that moving back to the SLC would, to me, be the equivalent of moving from high school back to Jr. Hi. I see ACU moving forward and not backwards.
I certainly don’t know all the behind the scenes things taking place with the higher ups, but who would have guessed that we would be where we are (think new stadium and coliseum) 10 years ago. 10 years from now will certainly be interesting to see. Add a certain member’s nuclear project and the future looks to be amazing.
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Post by ACUmultisportfan on Apr 24, 2024 19:26:07 GMT -6
What he just said. But, I’ll still be an ACUmultisportfan and supporter - either way. Go Wildcats!
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Post by Oscar P on Apr 25, 2024 0:59:38 GMT -6
Hello Cats! Tarleton guy here. Hoping SFA does not bail to go live in the basement, but I think that is what they will do. Personally I highly doubt Tarleton and ACU follow suit, ( I will join the pitchfork and torch mob in front of our Prez's house ( Trogdan House on campus) if he even hinted at going to the Southland) both have bigger aspirations and our dignity. I understand UTRGV leaving, they had no hope of competing in the WAC in most sports, especially Basketball and now Football. But SFA going back to Southland is just waving the white flag and giving up. I thought they were better than that, but I guess not. With the G5 now talking about its own playoff I am hoping ACU will go with Tarleton to FBS in a year or 2 or 3 or whenever that happens. If they do not and the WAC folds then I see ACU ( and Tarleton) go to either the Summit or MVC, but I think the WAC will survive if WTAMU ever gets their heads out of the sand and Angelo decides to make the jump as well. But Thornton needs to go and the WAC needs to find a competent commissioner ASAP that is for sure.
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Post by Outsider on Apr 25, 2024 6:34:54 GMT -6
Oscar P, I agree with you. SFA is too good, and has way too much history, to go to the SLC. I also think both Tarleton and ACU want to keep moving forward but won't make a move until they know they have a plan and it isn't quicksand. I am curiously watching the G5 world as it tries to navigate the squeeze as it will be interesting to see what happens. I am not sure about my faith in the WAC leadership.
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Post by Outsider on Apr 25, 2024 10:58:29 GMT -6
Not able to post the tweets right now, but it looks like SFA has hired Michael McBroom to be their next AD. McBroom comes from WTAM and has a pretty good record there.
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Post by rc on Apr 25, 2024 13:16:47 GMT -6
Always good to hear from you Oscar. I am in agreement about the point you make. The WAC "Could be" a great conference but I, too, question the leadership. There is the need for a WAC that becomes a G5 type place and there are schools in a hand full of conferences, really of all stripes, that could be the new WAC. Tarleton has blossomed very well and I think ACU will continue its amazing migration to a much more serious University in all respects. I would like the WAC to be a place where thriving Universities with full programs can find a home. What I see is imbalances in conferences all around the country. The right leadership could have made significant moves over the recent past but it is not too late and I wish the WAC could find its place at a top tier full sport home for thriving, growing Universities committed to achieving more.
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Post by mavsman53 on Apr 25, 2024 13:32:25 GMT -6
One thing the SFA message board mentioned was how their new Director of Athletics, in their minds, makes it more likely they move to the SLC. Honestly, I could see schools like Lamar, UIW and UTRGV not wanting SFA and others back in the SLC. Those schools struggled mightily when SFA, ACU and Sam were there.
I do agree, a move like this would seem to an admittance that the WAC does not have what it takes to survive. Would I like it, no, but if the move is to be left without a conference or go back, you go back
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Post by OSCAR P on Apr 27, 2024 1:45:16 GMT -6
Thank you arm chair, likewise! I too have little faith in the current WAC leadership, but I would take the WAC over SLC any day.
SFA going to the SLC will be a serious blow to the conference, but talks about the WAC's imminent death are grossly exaggerated. You need 6 schools to be in a conference and tell me who is yearning to add any of the Utah Schools, or GCU. Seattle and MAYBE CBU will go to WCC eventually, but not until the Zags leave. UTA was lucky the WAC would take them or they would have to settle for the OVC. And even if you dropped below 6 which is doubtful anytime soon, then you would still have 2 years to get up to that number. Regardless, Tarleton and ACU will both be fine whatever happens. I think the worst case is to make the "UAC" an all sports conference and go from there but most likely FBS or Summit/MVC if WAC dies.
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Post by mavsman53 on Apr 27, 2024 8:30:24 GMT -6
I hear what you are saying, but Tarleton has eyes to move up sooner, rather than later. So if SFA moves to SLC and let's say Tarleton moves to CUSA, where does that leave ACU? CUSA may not want/need 2 schools.
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Post by Cap'n on Apr 27, 2024 11:39:14 GMT -6
No doubt that we would love to be in a conference that generates more revenue The elephant in the room, however, is NIL. I don’t know how much, if any, our sports make. I believe WBB has a small NIL package. Don’t know about MBB. An SFA source says that the Jacks have been paying basketball players about $15k each. One SFA player transferred to UNT who pays $75k per year. I don’t know if this is accurate. Coach G says that P4 women typically make around $30k. So to recruit that level player we need about a half million in outside money. I spoke to Coach G recently and she realizes that it will be rare to have an athlete stay with you for all 4-5 years of a career. It is more important than ever to recruit the portal hard. I hate it, but it is a reality. I do see NIL as an even bigger problem. Programs like ACU and other private and/or faith-based schools depend heavily on donated money to pay for the program. Raising NIL money to pay the athletes (on top of the scholarship money) puts the athlete in direct competition with the university. The ability to write off gifts that pay NIL for a specific person is a very murky area. It does appear that NIL is here to stay, but college athletics will look forever different because of it. The original purpose of NIL was to use “Corporate” funds ie part of the marketing budget. In that sense, the funds are deductible as a business expense. Many if not most are getting donor money instead and thus a grey area that I don’t think is so grey. |
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Post by Cap'n on Apr 27, 2024 11:55:56 GMT -6
I posted this on another thread but if you haven’t seen it ….
At the most recent WAC Council meeting, it came to light that GCU MBB is paying from $500k up to $1mm per player. The ACU person who was there said that he didn’t think anyone else was paying anything although someone posted on The Sawmill that they were paying $15k but that’s unverified.
That means, of course, that GCU is paying P4 money. It’s an overwhelming competitive advantage for the rest of the WAC.
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Post by Outsider on Apr 27, 2024 14:07:33 GMT -6
I posted this on another thread but if you haven’t seen it …. At the most recent WAC Council meeting, it came to light that GCU MBB is paying from $500k up to $1mm per player. The ACU person who was there said that he didn’t think anyone else was paying anything although someone posted on The Sawmill that they were paying $15k but that’s unverified. That means, of course, that GCU is paying P4 money. It’s an overwhelming competitive advantage for the rest of the WAC. GCU is a built-in corporation money machine. |
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Post by bucfan on Apr 27, 2024 14:43:03 GMT -6
Any idea if GCU plans to move up to a "larger" conference. The WAC really can't afford to lose any members but I also don't think it is a very fair playing field when GCU seems to be able to buy their way to dominating the conference in the sports they offer.
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