NIL Future

[Viper]

Viper was spot on per the Juxtaposition thread. Let’s revisit…

( Just wait, soon you’ll have college players holding out because they decide the $ isn’t enough, or, the deposit is late, or the endorsement didn’t come thru as planned. We play at UConn on Saturday, Billy. You ready? Well, I’m not happy with my NIL. I’m over performing. So, probably won’t play this one. Me and Johnny sitting out the ‘Nova game too…although Coach is making some phone calls, so we’ll see.
You think that’s far fetched? )

Well stated, Viper! Viper, I agree with you.

[Uncle Rico]

Viper was spot on per the Juxtaposition thread. Let’s revisit…

( Just wait, soon you’ll have college players holding out because they decide the $ isn’t enough, or, the deposit is late, or the endorsement didn’t come thru as planned. We play at UConn on Saturday, Billy. You ready? Well, I’m not happy with my NIL. I’m over performing. So, probably won’t play this one. Me and Johnny sitting out the ‘Nova game too…although Coach is making some phone calls, so we’ll see.
You think that’s far fetched? )

Well stated, Viper! Viper, I agree with you.

They should hold out if they don’t get what was agreed to.  I’d feel bad for the programs but they’re the ones who let it get to this point, not the athletes.  This should have been taken care of decades ago but they thought they could hide behind shamateurism.  Too bad, so sad.

[Lennys Tap]

They should hold out if they don’t get what was agreed to.  I’d feel bad for the programs but they’re the ones who let it get to this point, not the athletes.  This should have been taken care of decades ago but they thought they could hide behind shamateurism.  Too bad, so sad.

I think everyone (Viper included) would agree that if the NIL collectives don’t deliver what they promised that athletes should walk away.

But there’s another side of that coin, the yeah I agreed to 100k but I’m playing better than that. Let’s renegotiate or I’m out. That’s what Viper is talking about.

Maybe players as employees and collective bargaining agreements are the only feasible future.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I think you are underestimating the amount of money people are willing to spend in order to win, regardless of the circumstances.

I think you vastly underestimate how many people would cave in this situation.  Do you think if Tyler Kolek pulled this off last year that Marquette would have caved? Not a chance.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I think everyone (Viper included) would agree that if the NIL collectives don’t deliver what they promised that athletes should walk away.

But there’s another side of that coin, the yeah I agreed to 100k but I’m playing better than that. Let’s renegotiate or I’m out. That’s what Viper is talking about.

Maybe players as employees and collective bargaining agreements are the only feasible future.

I know what Viper is talking about, but it doesn't seem at all like that's what happened here. UNLV and it's collective are hiding behind very formal and legal language here. A second player has now how left using similar language to what Slutska was saying - and UNLV isn't denying any of this.

I agree that making them unionized employees with a CBA would help to solve these things. But the NCAA allowing the institutions to work with a designated NIL entity to recruit and compensate players as independent contractors would also be a positive step.  But like everything the NCAA does, they aren't being proactive at all. They are being dragged into making common sense solutions that help protect the student athletes. Because right now coaches can make all sorts of promises that apparently NIL collectives don't have to fill - and that's a problem.

Instead you have them saying stuff like "his agent wasn't registered." GMAFB.

[Its DJOver]

I think you vastly underestimate how many people would cave in this situation.  Do you think if Tyler Kolek pulled this off last year that Marquette would have caved? Not a chance.

I feel comfortable saying that Marquette wouldn’t have. I think there are very few basketball programs where it could be pulled off. Football on the other hand is a different beast. More money. More desperation to win. Far crazier fan bases.

[Pakuni]

Casino offered UNLV $100K to pay Sluka. School passed, saying it's too late.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv/unlv-football/unlv-rejected-casino-moguls-offer-to-pay-matthew-sluka-100k-3177877/?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=topnews&utm_source=sports&utm_term=UNLV%20rejected%20casino%20mogul%E2%80%99s%20offer%20to%20pay%20Matthew%20Sluka%20%24100K

[lawdog77]

I'm still fixated on the fact that Sluka's "agent" couldn't get the star quarterback on an undefeated team, in Vegas, an NIL deal

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I'm still fixated on the fact that Sluka's "agent" couldn't get the star quarterback on an undefeated team, in Vegas, an NIL deal

Do you think the starting quarterback of a 3-0, poorly supported team has offers rolling in or something?

[lawdog77]

Do you think the starting quarterback of a 3-0, poorly supported team has offers rolling in or something?

That is what the agent's job is.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

My point is that he is a transfer, Group of 5 quarterback of a team that hadn't even started the season a month ago and drew 24,000 in its only home game.  You are implying the agent wasn't able to secure anything for him. I am stating that there likely isn't much of a market for guys like that - especially in a pro sports city like Vegas.

[lawdog77]

My point is that he is a transfer, Group of 5 quarterback of a team that hadn't even started the season a month ago and drew 24,000 in its only home game.  You are implying the agent wasn't able to secure anything for him. I am stating that there likely isn't much of a market for guys like that - especially in a pro sports city like Vegas.

I would argue there is, there is a ton of money in Vegas. You don't think the starting quarterback of a ranked team could get 100K in NIL? One of the casinos already offered it, but apparently was too late. The Friends of UNLV was giving away a chance at 100K for a halfcourt shot during at a basketball this season.

Here's UNLV's statement:
The UNLV administration issued a statement in response to the situation involving Sluka, alleging that the quarterback made financial demands in order to continue taking the field for the Rebels.

"Football player Matthew Sluka's representative made financial demands upon the University and its NIL collective in order to continue playing. UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka," the school said Chris Vannini of The Athletic.

The UNLV NIL Collective also issued a statement in which it stated that it had never formally made an NIL offer to the quarterback.

"To clarify, there were no formal NIL offers made during Mr. Sluka's recruitment process. Additionally, Friends of UNLV did not finalize or agree to any NIL offers whlie he was part of the team, aside from a completed community engagement event over the summer.

"At Blueprint Sports and Friends of UNLV, we take our commitments very seriously. We would like to emphasize that we have upheld all Friends of UNLV contracts this season, and have not defaulted on any agreements with Mr. Sluka. Our commitment to supporting Rebel student-athletes remains unwavering, and we are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our programs," the statement read, via Pete Nakos of On3.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Yes. A clear and well crafted statement that likely is completely true.

Yet it doesn't refute at all the reported reasons why he left the team - that he was promised something by a member (or members) of the coaching staff that never materialized.

So sure, there is nice formal language about UNLV and the sanctity of NCAA regulations (lol) and that the collective never "formally" made an offer to the player, but UNLV does not deny Slutska's central claim.  But I do understand why, as a lawyer, you think that is a wonderful statement.

[Uncle Rico]

Yes. A clear and well crafted statement that likely is completely true.

Yet it doesn't refute at all the reported reasons why he left the team - that he was promised something by a member (or members) of the coaching staff that never materialized.

So sure, there is nice formal language about UNLV and the sanctity of NCAA regulations (lol) and that the collective never "formally" made an offer to the player, but UNLV does not deny Slutska's central claim.  But I do understand why, as a lawyer, you think that is a wonderful statement.

NCAA regulations 😂😂😂😂😂

[lawdog77]

Yes. A clear and well crafted statement that likely is completely true.

Yet it doesn't refute at all the reported reasons why he left the team - that he was promised something by a member (or members) of the coaching staff that never materialized.

So sure, there is nice formal language about UNLV and the sanctity of NCAA regulations (lol) and that the collective never "formally" made an offer to the player, but UNLV does not deny Slutska's central claim.  But I do understand why, as a lawyer, you think that is a wonderful statement.

Guy is a Holy Cross grad, he has an agent, and he should know there are pay to play laws in Nevada (I couldn't care less if there was an NCAA "regulation"). The term is unclean hands. If he really wanted true NIL money, he and his agent should have dealt with the NIL directly and set up a true NIL engagement. Honestly, I don't feel bad for either side.

[Pakuni]

Guy is a Holy Cross grad, he has an agent, and he should know there are pay to play laws in Nevada (I couldn't care less if there was an NCAA "regulation"). The term is unclean hands. If he really wanted true NIL money, he and his agent should have dealt with the NIL directly and set up a true NIL engagement. Honestly, I don't feel bad for either side.

You can make a fine legal defense for UNLV's actions. But if a coach made a promise in return for the player's services, and the program he represents then reneged on that promise, then the player has every right to walk away and refuse to provide his services, without being labeled a villain.

The "we didn't put it in writing" argument may work in a court of law ... though, as I'm sure you know, oral contracts also can be binding. But that argument doesn't make UNLV any less of the bad guy here and it definitely isn't going to impress future recruiting targets.

[Hards Alumni]

You can make a fine legal defense for UNLV's actions. But if a coach made a promise in return for the player's services, and the program he represents then reneged on that promise, then the player has every right to walk away and refuse to provide his services, without being labeled a villain.

The "we didn't put it in writing" argument may work in a court of law ... though, as I'm sure you know, oral contracts also can be binding. But that argument doesn't make UNLV any less of the bad guy here and it definitely isn't going to impress future recruiting targets.

Exactly.

[lawdog77]

You can make a fine legal defense for UNLV's actions. But if a coach made a promise in return for the player's services, and the program he represents then reneged on that promise, then the player has every right to walk away and refuse to provide his services, without being labeled a villain.

The "we didn't put it in writing" argument may work in a court of law ... though, as I'm sure you know, oral contracts also can be binding. But that argument doesn't make UNLV any less of the bad guy here and it definitely isn't going to impress future recruiting targets.

Neither side is innocent here. Pay to play is not legal in Nevada, I believe. The Holy Cross grad, and his agent should have known this. Both sides were shady. The simplest solution would have been to get a written personal services agreement.  I believe the coach will be the fall guy, but I am assuming those higher up at UNLV knew this has been going on.

[Its DJOver]

I would argue there is, there is a ton of money in Vegas. You don't think the starting quarterback of a ranked team could get 100K in NIL? One of the casinos already offered it, but apparently was too late. The Friends of UNLV was giving away a chance at 100K for a halfcourt shot during at a basketball this season.

Yep, they're not an SEC team team or anything, but acting like they're the little sisters of the poor FCS team is not true.  Odom is the highest paid coach in the Mountain West, the money would have been there had they wanted to find it. Choosing not to pay and not having the ability to pay are two different things. This seems to be the former.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Neither side is innocent here. Pay to play is not legal in Nevada, I believe. The Holy Cross grad, and his agent should have known this. Both sides were shady. The simplest solution would have been to get a written personal services agreement.  I believe the coach will be the fall guy, but I am assuming those higher up at UNLV knew this has been going on.

Not sure what being a Holy Cross grad has to do with anything. He was reportedly extended what he thought was a good faith offer. The offer was never finalized. He knew that he had the ability to redshirt so he “demanded” that they make good on their verbal offer.

This isn’t a “pay for play” issue. They are using that reason to not follow through on what the coach said. The lawyer in you thinks this is well crafted and sound. And this is why people really don’t like lawyers or the NCAA.

[lawdog77]

Not sure what being a Holy Cross grad has to do with anything. He was reportedly extended what he thought was a good faith offer. The offer was never finalized. He knew that he had the ability to redshirt so he “demanded” that they make good on their verbal offer.

This isn’t a “pay for play” issue. They are using that reason to not follow through on what the coach said. The lawyer in you thinks this is well crafted and sound. And this is why people really don’t like lawyers or the NCAA.

It's not some 17 year old kid. He, and his agent should know the rules. This is a 100% pay for play. He had a community engagment in the summer, in which he was paid.

Do you think Sluka thought the coach offered him 100K just to come to the school? The school is stating no formal offers for NIL were made.

My point is that it sounds like both sides were breaking the rules.

Oh, and people really like lawyers when they need one. Just like dentists.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It's not some 17 year old kid. He, and his agent should know the rules. This is a 100% pay for play. He had a community engagment in the summer, in which he was paid.

Do you think Sluka thought the coach offered him 100K just to come to the school? The school is stating no formal offers for NIL were made.

“Formal.” Another good lawyerly cover.

[mileskishnish72]

Let's just hope that the NIL situation doesn't devolve to the point that we're blessed with yet another union.