Great to see so much interest in our original game, Athletic Director Simulator 4000.
To celebrate, I'm turning the paywall OFF for the rest of the year.
Now everybody can play ADS4000! Enjoy!
https://t.co/g6OyJpNWDM
Last week was my final week at The Blade, marking the end of an unforgettable decade that included covering the 2016 presidential election before transitioning to Michigan, Ohio State and University of Toledo athletics. I had the privilege of working alongside talented, passionate and inspiring colleagues. I’m thankful for The Blade’s unwavering commitment to journalism, literally sending me around the world to keep readers informed.
Writers and reporters often talk about “the good ol’ days.” That’s what I lived the past five years covering UT, as Bryan Blair, Tod Kowalczyk, Jason Candle, Tricia Cullop and Ginny Boggess gave me all-access to their programs 99 percent of the time. In an era of paranoia and secrecy among coaches, it is unheard of for an athletic department to swing open the doors and let a reporter in to the extent that I was welcomed. I’m eternally grateful that UT gets it.
Today, I begin a new chapter, joining Matt Brown and the talented team at Extra Points to cover the business of college sports for NIL Wire. I’m thrilled to be covering one of the most consequential topics in all of sports and to be surrounded by such accomplished teammates. Matt has done a tremendous job building this business from scratch and turning it into a go-to source for college sports news. I hope to be part of its continued success.
UPDATE:
According to a memo obtained by Extra Points, EA Sports has rescinded their college basketball video game licensing proposal, as enough schools have elected to go with 2K:
https://t.co/42Zz4KHCOw
UPDATE:
According to a memo obtained by Extra Points, EA Sports has rescinded their college basketball video game licensing proposal, as enough schools have elected to go with 2K:
https://t.co/42Zz4KHCOw
As @Brett_McMurphy first reported, Penn State is on the verge of switching from Nike to Adidas.
Sources tell @on3 the deal includes a "significant" NIL component, similar to Tennessee's recent deal.
Details: https://t.co/wE502ElRaG
A group of athletes, headlined by two Vanderbilt football players, has filed a class action lawsuit to challenge NCAA eligibility rules and allow athletes five seasons of competition (instead of four + a redshirt year)
AJ McCarron on @McCreadySiskey: "You look at these other teams that have $40-50 million in NIL. Alabama -- and I know this for a fact, talking to multiple people in the program -- Alabama has less than $20 million in their NIL."
As programs deal with rising expenses, how are athletic directors getting more creative with generating revenue?
They're partnering with brands to leverage what they have to offer, whether it’s inside stadiums or through branding opportunities, content, alcohol, etc.
The Athletic dropped a new piece on what college football players bought with their first major NIL check:
💵Cars (@Dodge seems popular)
💵 Golf + fishing gear
💵 Land
💵 Vacations
💵 Home/apartment for their families
💵 Funding youth camps
💵 Donations
💵 Investing it back
Texas freshman Aaliyah Crump spoke at the New Balance Beantown Elite Experience and offered advice to athletes about brands:
“Some brands only care about who you are as a basketball player. You need to find brands that care about you as a person.” (Via @newbalance)
Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, was a guest speaker at this year’s New Balance Beantown Elite Experience:
“Make sure whatever partnerships you have, they are consistent with your storytelling.”
(Via @newbalance)
NEW EXTRA POINTS:
Athletic department revenues (and expenses) have skyrocketed over the last 20 years. The expenses aren't coming down anytime soon.
Yeah, athlete rev share is PART of that. But this is the biggest reason:
https://t.co/LvcjJL38O9
Great intel on the market for P4 football players.
QBs are generally the highest paid, followed by offensive tackles, edge rushers, and No. 1 receivers.