Portal thread. Who’s leaving, who’s coming.

[Barton Fink]

From what I have heard, they have spent a lot of time on the phone lines hitting people up for donations, including all the fat cats that so many people on this board seem to think should fund everything.  Some people I know personally have been contacted repeatedly and given "different options for giving." What the hell are they supposed to do?  What is "all they could do to fulfill NIL funds" to you?

I think that is what everyone is waiting to happen and if they come together and agree to put in $20M then hallelujah! If that takes firing Pittman, I'm the first to sign up. That at least puts us in the discussion to compete.

[The Whyte Boar]

From what I have heard, they have spent a lot of time on the phone lines hitting people up for donations, including all the fat cats that so many people on this board seem to think should fund everything.  Some people I know personally have been contacted repeatedly and given "different options for giving." What the hell are they supposed to do?  What is "all they could do to fulfill NIL funds" to you?

How many of them have been personally lobbied by Sam like Kiffin or Calipari do?

[Pig Benis]

From what I have heard, they have spent a lot of time on the phone lines hitting people up for donations, including all the fat cats that so many people on this board seem to think should fund everything.  Some people I know personally have been contacted repeatedly and given "different options for giving." What the hell are they supposed to do?  What is "all they could do to fulfill NIL funds" to you?

Oh I don't know. Maybe answer Saracen's phone call? Put pressure on the legislature to accept that deal? Not insult the team, state, and fans in general with that Blue Light bullshit? Fuck that, let's keep cold calling ticket holders for more money and then bitching when they don't want to invest in the Titanic.

Btw, how did that NIL contribution work out for us with Kutas, Braxton, et al who were supposedly worth the money but chose not to play?

[jdcatty]

I think that is what everyone is waiting to happen and if they come together and agree to put in $20M then hallelujah! If that takes firing Pittman, I'm the first to sign up. That at least puts us in the discussion to compete.

I admit I am really confused by this whole $20M figure, but isn't that revenue sharing money that has nothing to do with NIL money?

[The Whyte Boar]

Oh I don't know. Maybe answer Saracen's phone call? Put pressure on the legislature to accept that deal? Not insult the team, state, and fans in general with that Blue Light bullshit? Fuck that, let's keep cold calling ticket holders for more money and then bitching when they don't want to invest in the Titanic.

Btw, how did that NIL contribution work out for us with Kutas, Braxton, et al who were supposedly worth the money but chose not to play?

Wait a minute, are you expecting these players to actually want to play for our coach after we pay them? 

[jdcatty]

Oh I don't know. Maybe answer Saracen's phone call? Put pressure on the legislature to accept that deal? Not insult the team, state, and fans in general with that Blue Light bullshit? Fuck that, let's keep cold calling ticket holders for more money and then bitching when they don't want to invest in the Titanic.

Btw, how did that NIL contribution work out for us with Kutas, Braxton, et al who were supposedly worth the money but chose not to play?

Well, your statement is internally inconsistent, but ok.  I agree on the Oaklawn/Saracen deal.  But really that is all you got?  I don't even know what the "Blue Light" thing you mentioned is, but I donate monthly to the NIL.  Do you?

And your last question makes it sound like the NIL doesn't mean anything anyway.  If that is true, why are you bitching about it?

[Pig Benis]

I think that is what everyone is waiting to happen and if they come together and agree to put in $20M then hallelujah! If that takes firing Pittman, I'm the first to sign up. That at least puts us in the discussion to compete.

I completely agree. For the record, I don't hate Pittman and didn't want him fired previously. The system as a whole is completely fucked as it is, and I don't think the fanbase has enough confindence in him or the admin to pony up more money.  Coaching searches are a total crapshoot for everyone, not just AR, but it's my opinion that it's worth the risk. Before you ask again, I have no fucking clue who would be a good hire. It just feels like the status quo is quicksand at this point.

[Barton Fink]

I admit I am really confused by this whole $20M figure, but isn't that revenue sharing money that has nothing to do with NIL money?

My understanding is revenue sharing will be equal amongst teams. We have no edge. You're still gonna have an NIL war.

HTL says he's heard we will be over $10M in true MIL this year. Take that with a grain of salt.

[Pig Benis]

Well, your statement is internally inconsistent, but ok.  I agree on the Oaklawn/Saracen deal.  But really that is all you got?  I don't even know what the "Blue Light" thing you mentioned is, but I donate monthly to the NIL.  Do you?

And your last question makes it sound like the NIL doesn't mean anything anyway.  If that is true, why are you bitching about it?

Then go find the clip and attempt to defend it. Please.

I'm bitching about it because fans are expected to pay salaries to players who then choose not to play to maintain their eligibility. If you don't understand that then this is a very short conversation.

[TC]

Well, your statement is internally inconsistent, but ok.  I agree on the Oaklawn/Saracen deal.  But really that is all you got?  I don't even know what the "Blue Light" thing you mentioned is, but I donate monthly to the NIL.  Do you?

And your last question makes it sound like the NIL doesn't mean anything anyway.  If that is true, why are you bitching about it?

Oh nothing, just a Kmart reference made by Pittman about being cheap, on national tv, while standing on our WalMart sponsored field.

CEO!

[Barton Fink]

I completely agree. For the record, I don't hate Pittman and didn't want him fired previously. The system as a whole is completely fucked as it is, and I don't think the fanbase has enough confindence in him or the admin to pony up more money.  Coaching searches are a total crapshoot for everyone, not just AR, but it's my opinion that it's worth the risk. Before you ask again, I have no fucking clue who would be a good hire. It just feels like the status quo is quicksand at this point.

If we get our NIL in order, we can attract a coach that can make a difference. If not, we have nothing to sell as a program.

[The Whyte Boar]

A very Hooten Dale sort of passive aggressive shot at the fans it was.

[jdcatty]

My understanding is revenue sharing will be equal amongst teams. We have no edge. You're still gonna have an NIL war.

HTL says he's heard we will be over $10M in true MIL this year. Take that with a grain of salt.

It's just so hard to understand what is going on.  I agree the revenue sharing comes next year and will be equal-- as I understand it.  But I am not sure I do.  And what the true NIL amount is we have is completely a mystery, complicated by many factors.  For instance, how much is Frank Fletcher paying particular players directly?  We really don't know.

[The Whyte Boar]

If we get our NIL in order, we can attract a coach that can make a difference. If not, we have nothing to sell as a program.

We're not going to fix NIL with Pittman.  It ain't happening.  We're going to have fire him, and sell a coach on a renewed commitment to it.  And that coach is going to have to be a coach who is very proactive about NIL in the way Calipari and Kiffin are. 

[Barton Fink]

Maybe just start with this. Does anyone think we can compete in the SEC with our current NIL collective with the coach of your choice?

[jdcatty]

I'm bitching about it because fans are expected to pay salaries to players who then choose not to play to maintain their eligibility. If you don't understand that then this is a very short conversation.

And that's the fans's fault? 

[Pig Benis]

If we get our NIL in order, we can attract a coach that can make a difference. If not, we have nothing to sell as a program.

Again, I agree. It's chicken and egg. We aren't cheap when it comes to baseball and basketball due to the faith in the coaches/programs. My hope is that the right football coach would have the same effect.

I could also shit in the other hand and see which fills up first.

[Barton Fink]

It's just so hard to understand what is going on.  I agree the revenue sharing comes next year and will be equal-- as I understand it.  But I am not sure I do.  And what the true NIL amount is we have is completely a mystery, complicated by many factors.  For instance, how much is Frank Fletcher paying particular players directly?  We really don't know.

I've heard we paid KJ and Green around $750k. No idea if it's right but it's all I've got to go by.

[animal]

Maybe just start with this. Does anyone think we can compete in the SEC with our current NIL collective with the coach of your choice?

Sure

All we need is about a dozen 5 star kids that aren't interested "worldly possessions" and care deeply about school spirit and teamwork. Then we'll need a coach that can pull it all together, someone that players want to run thru a wall for. 

[Barton Fink]

We're not going to fix NIL with Pittman.  It ain't happening.  We're going to have fire him, and sell a coach on a renewed commitment to it.  And that coach is going to have to be a coach who is very proactive about NIL in the way Calipari and Kiffin are. 

Cal had a relationship with Tyson which helped tremendously. He also said he didn't want to have to work for NIL and made us commit to what he wanted. My guess this is where Tuson brought the Stephen's and Walton's together right after Cal was hired. We are gonna have to get that same commitment but on a larger level. Are these mega donors willing to carry the weight for all 3 sports with very little coming from the fans? Who knows...