A really good read from University of Denver fan forum.
The ideal is to get the private D1 schools who are student based and not NIL based together in a NCAA D1 private school group.
It's all based on a question, How is it possible for a mid-major like DU to survive and continue to thrive in this new collegiate athletics environment?
DU men's soccer who consistently ranked and making runs in the NCAAT are in a Summit League with 4 other men's soccer teams. The conference will need to apply for an exception next year in order to send the conference champion to the NCAAT.
Another question. How does the death of the PAC 12 relate to mid majors. Does the Valley finally go from low major to mid major, or from mid major to upper mid major. And does this open the door for recruits to consider mid major schools as a serious opportunity
Players will consider mid-majors based on how much they get paid and how much playing time they will get. Nick Saben said that today's recruits only had two questions. How much can you pay me? Will I play immediately? If they don't like the answer they move to the next place. If they don't perform well freshman year, they will transfer.
It's a great college sports world we live in.
@oklahomamick schools cannot pay players directly. It comes down to which schools can give you the most exposure, or which schools are in a state with favorable nil laws. Conference realignment itself largely came about because the PAC-12 was stupid and decided to take a streaming only TV deal without consulting the member schools. In reference to valpo. We have the 2nd or 3rd largest media market in the Valley. Once we are good again We can get players good exposure.
The operative word is ”directly” wink, wink, wink. Big 6 school FB and BB programs have merely assumed the added role of being a clearing house for organizations/businesses wishing to get in on the NIL gravy train. Make no mistake. Saban is spot on mentioning those two questions.
And even when Valpo regains its winning ways and eventually plays in a new arena, despite being located in the Chicagoland metroplex, it still will be a ‘have not’ compared to the region’s ‘haves:’ ND, NW, LUC, DePaul, Purdue. You really think Valpo could come up with even $140K (Ben Krikke $$$) in two years to entice Coop to stay, when KU is telling him to 1) come home, 2) play at a national level for the Jayhawks and 3) pull down a cool $200K (or more)?
Don't get me wrong. Coop will be the lead dog in Valpo’s resurgence over the next two seasons. VU will surround him with better talent starting today on the recruiting/portal front. Valpo will benefit greatly by his presence in those two years, but it will still be a ‘have not.’ That’s when Kansas comes-a-calling.
Sorry to be throwing some cold water on your optimism. Hope I am totally wrong.
@vulb62 Saban has been paying his players under the table for years. Honestly, the big issue with NIL right now is the lack of solid regulation as to what is going on. Every time the NCAA tries to issue policies and rules, they get sued. Looking at the Tennessee vs NCAA battle, it highlights the Wild West aspects a little better. In that suit, a Tenessee business was reportedly going to pay players to go to Tennesee and was acting as a defacto recruiter. Once we get solid regulation on NIL. THings will calm down.
We can only hope.
One thing that does give us an edge is the NIL portal valpo has. A lot of mid majors are basically of the mindset that players have to figure it out for themselves if they want NIL money ultimately it is going to come down to success. The more success you have the more recognition you get. And the more recognition you get. Thebmore big companies will be willing to work with your players. The more big companies are willing to work with your guys, the more guys are going to want to play for your school
