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Replies: 16
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CU Guru [1299]
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DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 10:37 AM
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Dan:
I was speaking with several Clemson folks yesterday after the news about Dan Lambert essentially just paying the Miami football team what amounts to a $500 monthly stipend. I do not think many of us were in denial that this would just be a way to pay players, not just those that are truly marketable but everyone. Business ( boosters undercover) and all with get creative. When I discussed this with you in the past there was talk of how important it would be for guardrails to be put in place. Well, with the timing on this and things happening so fast it appears there are no guardrails and it is the wild west. While I think the NCAA (with lack of foresight) and member schools have brought much of this upon themselves with the massive TV contracts, coaches salaries, etc. I fear we are heading for problems if rules are not put in place. I know due to timing this year that may not be possible (seems the NCAA thought the Supreme Ct. was going to bail them out and had no plan) and will be complicated with the anti-trust issues, etc.
While Clemson has always punched above its weight for its size, location etc. I am concerned how Clemson will compete with the Ohio State’s of the world with their 500,000 alumni (customers), 2 million in metro Columbus and 11 million State population has a lot more business that can follow the Dan Lambert lead, a lot more people to pay for autographs, send kids to player camps, the possibilities are endless. Add these issues to the already huge disparity between the Big Ten, SEC TV contracts with the ACC (unbelievably in place until 2036) there are some concerning issues out there.
One thing that makes me hopeful is that Coach Swinney is a great leader who will find a way to make the best of this and talent development, leadership and all of that will still be key factors. However, we still have to maintain an elite level of talent.
One of my biggest concerns is for all the other sports teams at Clemson, because I think some people are turned off by the whole NIL thing and will decide why should they donate to IPTAY. With some of the elite players making substantially more money than the IPTAY donors themselves (Trevor would have made millions) I can see many donors saying why would I donate to help players who make more than I make. Lets be honest very few donors are thinking about how their donation is helping the cross country team.
I know it is going to take some time to sort this all out and hope some common sense legislation is adopted that will at least establish some type of framework.
Thank you
I will let you all know the response.
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All-In [43673]
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261 Tiger-
Jul 7, 2021, 10:49 AM
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Thanks for your note. I understand many are aware of a rapidly changing environment and it's one we are monitoring daily.
I understand your concerns and we are working tirelessly with lawmakers and others to address several issues, some of which you've noted.
Thank you for your support, and GO TIGERS!
~DRad
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CU Medallion [57090]
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Re: 261 Tiger-
Jul 7, 2021, 10:52 AM
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I’m not really an AD, but I play one on TV.
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Orange Blooded [2319]
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Re: 261 Tiger-
Jul 7, 2021, 11:00 AM
[ in reply to 261 Tiger- ] |
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If I am not wrong, the use of the term "U" would violate the terms of disassociated with Miami. This is a symbol directly associated with the Canes and, thus, put the onus on the student-athletes.
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All-TigerNet [10929]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 10:54 AM
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I Pay Ten Autographs Yearly
I think it catches on.
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110%er [6223]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 8:32 PM
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spot on !!!
"Stop by Kings Auto Mall and get a free osu autographed poster. While you are here, checkout one of our 7,000 cars. Buy a new car and get a free autographed football."
This is a real auto mall in Cincy OH, and they do have 7,000 cars in one spot.
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All-TigerNet [10860]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 10:56 AM
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My guess is Miami will still suck the way they have ever since they joined the ACC, Maybe they can actually improve ACC football now.
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Oculus Spirit [82042]
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How long does it normally take for him to send you a
Jul 7, 2021, 11:47 AM
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reply?
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 11:54 AM
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Hopefully the ACC will continue to improve as a conference then I guess?
I feel like I'm trying to help but it doesn't get through. You agree that Clemson can keep up with the blue bloods in spite of never being one... but then go right back to saying Chicago & Columbus have a massive advantage because of population density.
I don't think anyone is choosing Miami OVER Clemson because of an easy $500, for example, but now it's up to Clemson to find those opportunities.
And most importantly, they're already doing it.
Remember, until this Miami MMA deal, Clemson had more players with more deals or endorsements than anywhere else.
That's not a coincidence; trust in Clemson University and its leaders. At least try to trust them a little more than letting the worst-case scenarios control the way we look at the future. Just my two cents.
As for people stopping their donations to the most successful funding arm in college athletics, again, you MIGHT be right, but it all feels so worst-case-scenario that I have a hard time believing a best-in-class system that's been defined by its donors will fail. Instead, I see vastly MORE opportunities to pair with IPTAY.
Let's cross these bridges when we get there & trust Clemson's culture a little big more deliberately, especially while we're still frankly way ahead of the game.
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Orange Blooded [3212]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 12:03 PM
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Here’s a different take on worries about population density. The northeast and mid west (Ohio, Illinois etc) couldn’t care less about college football. It was amazing to see personally when I lived in Pennsylvania. I just don’t see it benefiting college teams in those areas. Personally I think places like Nebraska will benefit with NIL over teams such as Ohio St, USC
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CU Guru [1299]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 1:23 PM
[ in reply to Re: DRAD letter ] |
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When I discussed this with DRAD before he admitted the "big State Universities" had built in advantages and that guardrails would be important. My main issue is what are the possible guardrails and when are they coming?
I do believe market size, alumni is only part of the equation. Just like someone mentioned below fan (booster passion) will play a huge part. Lets face it I could see schools like Mississippi State doing just as much as the Illinois, Purdue etc fans bases, just because that is just how much the SEC, just the South in general cares about football. Look at their baseball facilities in a small, poor State they share with Ole Miss.
While North Carolina and Clemson are pretty similar in size, resources etc Clemson boosters will reach deeper in NIL world for football than UNC just because of our passion for football.
So I get what you are saying but when passion is matched with all the other factors, market size alumni base etc. it will be tough. Again, I think Clemson and its fans will always reach deep for football and I see the biggest effect on the other sports programs if resources get pinched and there is just not as many "sponsorships" to go around.
And while we have been competitive for long streaks in our history it has not been easy keeping up with the blue bloods. We have never been at the level we are now with exception of late 70s early 80s. Even in the Howard years we had some great seasons and often won the ACC but look at his record against the SEC. Look at how lopsided our series is historically with UGA, Auburn, Alabama, etc. It was hard for a small, for a long time all male military school, to compete with schools with so many other resources. Now we are a much bigger school, in a State and region that is growing so I do not think we are in a terrible spot but there are reasons for concern.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 1:36 PM
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I simply see more reasons for optimism than reasons for concern (& I'm no optimist).
Clemson hasn't just been competing with the blue bloods, but consistently so. That's the difference with the other eras you mentioned.
Coach Swinney changed the culture. He changed Clemson, showed us how to get money to compete, & it's gotten us everything any blue blood could ever hope for.
To me, THAT'S the biggest advantage. Not only have we already proven that with more players having deals than anywhere in the first week alone, but I have a hard time believing Clemson won't continue to be the trend-setter rather than unprepared & trying to catch up.
You could be right & Clemson could be doomed because of NIL, but frankly that would outright surprise me because it would either be completely irrespective of Clemson's success behind the scenes or it would be because the people & systems that got us to this peak suddenly become obsolete or meaningless.
The future is bright at Clemson, including with NIL rather than in spite of it.
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CU Guru [1299]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 1:53 PM
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I agree as long as Coach Swinney is here we are not dropping too far, as just who he is can make up for a lot of things.
I think we will still be a major factor, so it is not total doom and gloom, but it will be harder from a resource standpoint.
One factor not really being mentioned since NIL has taken the headline, and that is just as big is the money schools can now pay for "enhanced educational opportunities". Schools being able to offer post graduate degrees, internships, and anything else that can be tied to their "education" carries a huge price tag.
The cost of business is rising and those with the biggest revenues will have an advantage. I think last year Clemson may be ranked between 30-40 in total revenue.
Time will tell.
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110%er [5675]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 7, 2021, 9:06 PM
[ in reply to Re: DRAD letter ] |
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The point is that competing with the bluebloods prior to NIL was on more of a level playing field. You can only invest so much in facilities. But now there is UNLIMITED potential of $ flowing to players instead of the schools. UNLIMITED.
So, it's all about numbers and when you generate 45,000 alumni a year for decades upon decades there is an enormous numbers advantage that goes directly to a $$ advantage.
No doubt Clemson will get beat by the OSUs & Michigans in terms of money thrown at NIL. Give it time. If we are leading it won't be for long.
But, like someone said above, if players are pulling in $5k/month at OSU does that mean OSU automatically gets preference of the 5-star recruits over $1k/month at Clemson? Hmm. That's a big difference. I hope that is bigger than will happen in reality, because it seems that large of a difference means those guys do get all the recruits.
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All-Pro [654]
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Re: DRAD letter
Jul 8, 2021, 10:06 AM
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You could be right. It's all speculation, I suppose, & I admit I tend to side with Clemson's leadership (albeit with good reason & with over a decade's worth of strong evidence).
I'll say this, I'm not sure what it would take for me to choose living in Columbus, OH or Ann Arbor, MI (which is actually gorgeous for 6 weeks a year) over a college career in Clemson, SC, that's for sure. Thousands of dollars extra a month might be enough, I'll give you that, but I'm not certain, particularly with so much talent coming from the region (moving north sucks).
Still, Clemson's first-in-class branding institute absolutely feels like it's worth celebrating. If you're right about the blue bloods having built-in advantages, it feels like it makes Clemson's building-in our own advantages that much more important, if not crucial.
Then again, we didn't have those advantages before, but still have the #1 funding arm in college athletics & built some of the top-rated facilities in the sport... and now we're expanding even more. I don't want to give too much more strength to what COULD happen over what Clemson IS doing already & plans for in the future.
Side note, I also think GREENVILLE, SC is a big NIL opportunity for Clemson. Yeah, it's absolutely smaller per capita than places like Columbus, but it has first-class opportunities for sure.
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110%er [9716]
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I’ll text him now and tell him to check his email.***
1
Jul 7, 2021, 9:03 PM
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CU Guru [1299]
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His response
Jul 8, 2021, 10:07 AM
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His response. Fairly boiler plate but I appreciate him taking the time:
"Some of the issues and concerns you describe are shared by many in college Athletics and us at Clemson in particular.
We are still in the early stages of NIL, and there will be a learning process anytime there are major rule changes, from cost of attendance to time management to NIL. I'm confident we will be able to grow in this instance as well, and recognize many of the circumstances you raised. We worked with the state to develop our NIL law, and that is presently in effect. We are working diligently to build systems that will be sustainable for us, and will take some adjusting along the way. If at some point we get national guidance, we will do our best follow that as well.
The first few days have already provided us some good learning opportunities.
What hasn't changed is how important the support from IPTAY and our fans are to our student-athletes and our athletic department. This support has been the lever that has kept us in a great position to compete. That, and outstanding people like Coach Swinney specifically, who has led our football program to incredible heights.
The world around us is changing and we will adapt and succeed.
Our University, coaches, and Athletics administration will continue to do the things to that allow our student athletes to be successful in the classroom and on the field of competition.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective.
Dan Radakovich
Director of Athletics
Clemson University
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