(10-12-2019 09:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (10-11-2019 09:20 AM)rook360 Wrote: 2. It amazes me the number of people who don't understand what the concept of making money off your likeness is verses "getting paid by the school".
That "likeness' thingie would not benefit more than a few star players - the QB, maybe a couple of RBs or receivers, maybe an All-American like Ed Oliver - but how much do you think the right tackle or his back up are going to make?
That's because you are thinking of the situation as a person with a moral compass. The correct way to look at it is to go immediately to the worst case scenario. You think things like "who's going to pay some right tackle for his autograph or hire him to do a local commercial"? In an ethical world that is the correct view.
Here's how it will end up - coaches, with the support of well heeled boosters, will be striking endorsement deals at the kitchen table of these kids and their parent/guardian/agent. Oregon can go to the #1 rated player at each position and offer them a meeting with Nike to work out an endorsement deal in their new college program. Yep, a RT won't get QB money for the deal, but it will be the best RT money out there.
Ohio State got busted for this stuff already. Remember their stars (Pryor and that group) selling their stuff to local boosters. How do you think that plays out when it's legal to sell that stuff. Welcome to the world of $250,000 autograph sessions for top tier players and even $25,000 sessions for that 5 star tackle. The prices will vary, just like they do by position in the NFL, but a pay structure will evolve.
If the top twenty schools all want the #1 rated QB one year, what kind of pre commitment deal do you think it will take to land him? What about that stud CB, or that stud DT or OT or RB?
What this has the likelihood of doing is making the strong stronger. Less well healed P5 teams without a host of mega donors will be quickly beat out for talent by G5 schools with a committed deep pocket group (think Memphis as an example where they have a super zealous, super rich benefactor). Heck, Rice has a lot of very wealthy alumni. If they decide they want to ride this train they can buy a top notch team, not national power, but consistent top 25. Imagine the team Harvard could buy with all their Wall Street billionaires and 9 figure millionaires.
Any school with a really wealthy, determined, booster network can make significant improvements to their roster.