Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[Gonzo]

So be specific here, what does EIU need that they have not already rebuilt over the past 5 to 10 years. I suppose they could take down the east side of the stadium and rebuild that. You hear people talking about redoing the South bleachers, like the North bleachers, but the south ones were rebuilt in the last 15 years.

So just what can they spend this new found money on for football or basketball, and be specific.

Well anything they built or rebuilt 10-15 years ago could easily stand to be rebuilt/renovated/upgraded again. They could tear out the bleachers and put in individual seating. They could add permanent LED field lighting with the special effects systems. They could upgrade the luxury suites. They could put in a new scoreboard/videoboard. They could put in a pedestrian bridge from Finkbine commuter lots to the stadium. They could expand the indoor practice facility. I'm no expert on what/when the current facilities were built. But I think you're kidding yourself if you think there aren't a million ways a football program could enhance its facilities, no matter how new/current its existing facilities are, in order to keep up with the arms race that is college football recruiting.

 

[sunset]

It is deductible and the players are providing value at WeWill.

A tax deduction for paying college kids to play sports in a multi billion dollar industry? Sounds about right……

 

[CyCrazy]

A tax deduction for paying college kids to play sports in a multi billion dollar industry? Sounds about right……

well it is

 

[t-noah]

Disclosure of a donor list would be a good way to get shut down.

Yes, good. I am hopeful.

 

[isucy86]

So be specific here, what does EIU need that they have not already rebuilt over the past 5 to 10 years. I suppose they could take down the east side of the stadium and rebuild that. You hear people talking about redoing the South bleachers, like the North bleachers, but the south ones were rebuilt in the last 15 years.

So just what can they spend this new found money on for football or basketball, and be specific.

If student athletes become employees that changes the financial dynamic significantly. Those excess monies could disappear pretty quick based on athlete salaries, medical benefits, deferred medical, possibility of revenue sharing and whatever other benefits student-athletes collectively bargain.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Well anything they built or rebuilt 10-15 years ago could easily stand to be rebuilt/renovated/upgraded again. They could tear out the bleachers and put in individual seating. They could add permanent LED field lighting with the special effects systems. They could upgrade the luxury suites. They could put in a new scoreboard/videoboard. They could put in a pedestrian bridge from Finkbine commuter lots to the stadium. They could expand the indoor practice facility. I'm no expert on what/when the current facilities were built. But I think you're kidding yourself if you think there aren't a million ways a football program could enhance its facilities, no matter how new/current its existing facilities are, in order to keep up with the arms race that is college football recruiting.

Lets go through your list, individual seating would cut at least 5,000 seats out of the stadium, not happening, the scoreboard in the North endzone is less than 5 years old, not happening, luxury suites in the North endzone are basically new, and the press box area was rebuilt what 10 years ago? Pedestrian bridge from Finkbine would be about a mile long, that is not happening either.

EIU has just about tapped out any improvements on their stadium, most of this new found money will be going to build a new baseball stadium, maybe a new wrestling room, but few of those dollars will be going to the FB or BB.

 

[Cyclone Pfan]

I am basing in on what EIU has been building facility wise the past 10 years. They have redone the North Endzone, have a new press box, redid their locker rooms and coaches' offices, built a new nutrition center, just what more can they spend this new money on over there in Eastern Iowa? Saw the other day they gave raises to all the assistant coaches, Parker is up to $1.4 million now, outside of salary for coaches, just where is that money going to be spent on football?

In basketball they just built a new practice facility, unless they are going to build a new bb only area, they should be good facility wise in BB and FB for years to come.

Assistant coaches can be paid more than ACC/P12/B12 head coaches.
Even schools like Rutgers can out pay head coaches 2x-3x (or more).
Additional buy-outs for failed coaches.
Consultants to offload some of the skill coaching for more personalized player coaching.
Anything and everything related to facilities improvements... buying up land around football stadiums to improve game day.
Reducing ticket prices (and donation levels) to increase ticket demand to get stadium size increases.
Better recruiting services.
Better scouting services.
Better play calling analytics.
"Athlete dorms" with all the amenities.
Non revenue sports coaches and their facilities.
Indoor baseball/softball domes.
Divert specific donors to NIL.
I could go on.
An extra $35M / year (EVERY year) is a lot of money.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

If student athletes become employees that changes the financial dynamic significantly. Those excess monies could disappear pretty quick based on athlete salaries, medical benefits, deferred medical, possibility of revenue sharing and whatever other benefits student-athletes collectively bargain.

True, and universities will fight and scratch to make sure that never happens. Once they become official employees of the university, then all cans of warms open up, from taxes, to providing them healthcare, and the rest of it. Hell they would be paying into to IPERS.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Assistant coaches can be paid more than ACC/P12/B12 head coaches.
Even schools like Rutgers can out pay head coaches 2x-3x (or more).
Additional buy-outs for failed coaches.
Consultants to offload some of the skill coaching for more personalized player coaching.
Anything and everything related to facilities improvements... buying up land around football stadiums to improve game day.
Reducing ticket prices (and donation levels) to increase ticket demand to get stadium size increases.
Better recruiting services.
Better scouting services.
Better play calling analytics.
"Athlete dorms" with all the amenities.
Non revenue sports coaches and their facilities.
Indoor baseball/softball domes.
Divert specific donors to NIL.
I could go on.
An extra $35M / year (EVERY year) is a lot of money.

35 million to ISU is a lot of money, but to B10 schools that have already built everything up, there is no need to do so. No school is going to reduce ticket prices, EIU could pump more money into recruiting, but even then, we are not talking about millions.

Sure every school could do the things you listed, but in truth, few will. Most of that money will be used to bring up the secondary sports to the best they possibly can be.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

What if it was purchased? Like marketing information?

People would quit giving. Furthermore, it might be illegal.

 

[Gonzo]

Lets go through your list, individual seating would cut at least 5,000 seats out of the stadium, not happening, the scoreboard in the North endzone is less than 5 years old, not happening, luxury suites in the North endzone are basically new, and the press box area was rebuilt what 10 years ago? Pedestrian bridge from Finkbine would be about a mile long, that is not happening either.

EIU has just about tapped out any improvements on their stadium, most of this new found money will be going to build a new baseball stadium, maybe a new wrestling room, but few of those dollars will be going to the FB or BB.

So you ask me for specifics on facility renovations, I give you ideas off the top of my head, and you say none of them are realistic. Lol.

They could bowl-in the gaps between the E/W and N/S stands to add seating and keep capacity where it's at. The north end zone scoreboard is more like 10 years old, not less than 5, lol, but even if it was less than 5 years old, they could still put in something newer and bigger. A pedestrian bridge from Finkbine to the lots outside Kinnick wouldn't be anywhere close to 1 mile long.

These were just ideas I drempt up, obviously. Hell look at Cytown... that's going to be pretty amazing. What's to say Iowa couldn't do something like that? You saying Iowa has "tapped out any improvements on their stadium" and "few of those dollars will be going to the FB or BB" is pure nonsense and IMO is more along the lines of what you want to believe vs. reality.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

A tax deduction for paying college kids to play sports in a multi billion dollar industry? Sounds about right……

Some NIL's are not tax deductible/501c-3. WeWill is.

 

[isucy86]

True, and universities will fight and scratch to make sure that never happens. Once they become official employees of the university, then all cans of warms open up, from taxes, to providing them healthcare, and the rest of it. Hell they would be paying into to IPERS.

I tend to agree and used to think that myself.

But pay-for-play NIL could change how universities view giving student-athletes employee status. The current form of NIL is forcing schools to divert booster donations to NIL Collectives. Sure Big10 & SEC schools can afford to do so, but even among Big10 and SEC schools the Collective playing field isn't level. There's a huge difference between Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan, etc. vs. Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, etc.

If athletes are employees, benefits would likely be collectively bargained at a conference level, so there might be a roster salary cap or set salary schedule based on position, starter status, etc.

Employee status might become the best way to bring Collective monies back into university coffers and could level the talent playing field if a salary structure is created. It might also limit the transfer portal activity if student-athletes sign multi-year contracts.

 

[CascadeClone]

What if it was purchased? Like marketing information?

This. For $1.

Why do people think theres some separation of church and state metaphysical law between NIL funds and colleges? Its real easy to collude and collaborate without being "directly" involved.

 

[sunset]

well it is

Ok

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

I tend to agree and used to think that myself.

But pay-for-play NIL could change how universities view giving student-athletes employee status. The current form of NIL is forcing schools to divert booster donations to NIL Collectives. Sure Big10 & SEC schools can afford to do so, but even among Big10 and SEC schools the Collective playing field isn't level. There's a huge difference between Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan, etc. vs. Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, etc.

If athletes are employees, benefits would likely be collectively bargained at a conference level, so there might be a roster salary cap or set salary schedule based on position, starter status, etc.

Employee status might become the best way to bring Collective monies back into university coffers and could level the talent playing field if a salary structure is created. It might also limit the transfer portal activity if student-athletes sign multi-year contracts.

Which schools have started moving, donations from the school into their NIL, the schools like aTm, Ohio State, Michigan will always have more money than their peers, there is not a system you can put into place to change that.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

So you ask me for specifics on facility renovations, I give you ideas off the top of my head, and you say none of them are realistic. Lol.

They could bowl-in the gaps between the E/W and N/S stands to add seating and keep capacity where it's at. The north end zone scoreboard is more like 10 years old, not less than 5, lol, but even if it was less than 5 years old, they could still put in something newer and bigger. A pedestrian bridge from Finkbine to the lots outside Kinnick wouldn't be anywhere close to 1 mile long.

These were just ideas I drempt up, obviously. Hell look at Cytown... that's going to be pretty amazing. What's to say Iowa couldn't do something like that? You saying Iowa has "tapped out any improvements on their stadium" and "few of those dollars will be going to the FB or BB" is pure nonsense and IMO is more along the lines of what you want to believe vs. reality.

The U I hospital says something like Cytown will never happen at EIU. The hospital is already planning another tower like the children's hospital, and anyone that has ever been there, realizes very quickly, the space to expand is just not there. Fry was right, they should have built a new stadium out by the interstate, but EIU has pumped too much money into their stadium now to abandon it to the hospital.

I guess we will see, just how much B10 schools like EIU and Wisconsin spend on FB and how much they spend on other sports.

 

[cysmiley]

I’m not a tax accountant but something seems off here. To take a deduction you cannot receive value for your donation, even if the donation is to a 501c3. For the kids to receive NIL dollars they are supposed to provide value for payment. The two do not seem to align. At the very least the deduction would seem to be against the spirit of the law. This is a very big deal whichever way it pans out.

IMHO...One donates to a 501c3 (charitable organization) NIL collective and players supported go out to the local YMCA to teach sports to members as an example, or possibly the local school to teach kids. This would then typically pass muster with the IRS. The other side of NIL is if a business hires a spokesperson to sell say cars or other promotional activities, then the business would not receive a charitable deduction, but a " business expense deduction" on their corporate ledger, nothing to do with charity and the player (NIL RECIPIENT) would not be doing charitable work and be considered a contract employee of the NIL business person.

 

[Acylum]

Brock Huard Calls Pac-12 TV Situation 'Very Dire'

The college football world is awaiting the next move for the Pac-12 Conference, as the entire sport is waiting to see what kind of TV contract offer the league may ultimately land. That will determine the future of the conference, and ultimately the sport. On Friday during his radio show in...

www.heartlandcollegesports.com

SIAP

 

[Cloneon]

All this talk about how to spend money and no talk about the media companies having over extended themselves; meaning next contract negotiation may tighten the belt relative to inflation and perceived value. Let's face it; if ESPN (ie Disney) were to renegotiate the SEC and B12 contracts today, it'd be a whole different story. IMO same with B10. So, if it were me with all this extra money, I'd invest it very wisely with a more guaranteed long term return. And sports facilities is not it. Medical much more likely.