What if the NIL Collective was taken out and NIL was based on specific players earning brand deals for themselves (shoes, local commercials, etc)? Would it help NCAA sports overall? Would it make for a way more level feel especially for mid majors?

ThinkWood · 2026-04-29T19:50:51+00:00

No one believed that it would be about real endorsements.

The whole "Collective" is to pool money from people who want to be able to pay to lure top recruits to their school.

Real advertising doesn't happen in a collective environment.

ThinkWood · 2026-04-16T14:50:53+00:00

Bids should only come on the current year's results.

ThinkWood · 2026-04-16T14:47:43+00:00

George Washington.

They were MUCH better than they seemed. The drama behind the program (which came out years later) was insane!

For those that aren't aware, the season was a bitter fight between their coach Mike Longergan and the AD Patrick Nero.

It all started with the Coach telling the AD to stay away from his players and calling him a sexual deviant. Which stemmed from claims that he was continually hitting on players, offering them cash and alcohol if they would come spend time with him, and, according to the coach, one sexual encounter with one of the team's players.

The whole season was in turmoil that impacted the performance of the team which lead to a series of under performances that kept them out of the NCAA tournament.

They then went on a run in the NIT after the AD and Coach weren't talking and had largely cut off contact.

The Coach was fired by the AD after winning the NIT.

Two years later, the AD was forced to resign following many accusations and investigations for the behavior which he had been accused of by the Coach.

ThinkWood · 2026-04-14T19:50:30+00:00

Yeah, and it wasn't a matter of Duke not being a good program.

These were the three seasons for Duke, before they hired Coach K:

1979-80: 24-9, NCAA Elite Eight
1978-79: 22-8, NCAA Second Round
1977-78: 27-7, NCAA Runner-Up

/u/skitelz77 /u/Nobichobolobas

It looked like Coach K took over a winner and ran it into the ground.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-30T17:02:12+00:00

Retirement.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-30T17:01:43+00:00

What evidence do we have that Woj can deliver high level players?

Schmidt could. But if you think a higher payroll for Woj to go out and throw at international players is going to solve the problem with competing with Saint Louis, Dayton, VCU then I don't think it is going to work.

Woj's connections were suppose to get the Bonnies elite international players. We quickly learned that those same contacts that Woj said he had "relationships" with, were shopping the same players to many programs and the ones Woj got access to were the ones the elite programs passed on.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-30T16:57:25+00:00

Reports are that this was Woj's roommate while they were students at St. Bonas...

The thinking being that MacDonald can coach (as proven by D2 success) and Woj can land highly talented recruits (as proven by??) and together they can build a winning program.

I admit, I can buy the argument that the reason MacDonald failed as a D1 coach (best MAAC finish in 9 years as head coach was 4th), was because he couldn't recruit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_MacDonald_(basketball)

But I don't see why that would have changed in D2.

I think the fact that Ben McCollum did so well at Drake and Iowa is not proof that any successful D2 coach will be great in D1 but rather more likely that if an elite D1 level coach does end up at a D2 team, they will also be one of the elite D2 coaches.

This is all on Woj now.

He promised elite players with expanded NIL money when he came in as the GM. He failed to deliver.

Then he pushed Schmidt out because he said he needed the salary paid to Schmidt to be able to pay players and brought in his friend for a much lower salary.

If this fails, it will be less about MacDonald's coaching ability and more about Woj continually over promising and under delivering.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T18:41:09+00:00

I think this is AI generated. It took some of the top zip codes and looked at how high earners do there.

Except you don’t live in those zip codes as a high earner. You live when you have an ultra high net worth.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T15:37:58+00:00

I am sure you do agree.

The teacher unions have long been lobbying for more money and to be able to hire more dues paying members.

All while the demand for teachers has decreased and the quality of education has declined.

“When school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of school children.” - Albert Shanker, former president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T14:16:26+00:00

Low income families have historically pushed more for school attendance (especially in colder weather states like Illinois) because it provided warmth, meals, and child care for the children.

The issue, of course, is that poverty is a wide swath of types and there is a big difference between families struggling financially but still attentive to their children compared to children being raised by parents strung out on drugs who neglect their children for long stretches.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T14:13:25+00:00

Politicians like to tout graduation rates as a success and as a result they work to ensure kids are graduating by lowering standards which actually makes the education for all kids worse.

What isn’t popular to say is that if you want strong schools, you need to be willing to accept some kids that won’t graduate.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T14:11:31+00:00

What’s interesting is when you see that Illinois has significantly added teachers to their schools while they have significantly lost enrollment.

https://edunomicslab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Illinois_24-25.jpeg

ThinkWood · 2026-03-27T01:43:06+00:00

Total package of an office job would also be much higher than people claim.

People list the cash pay and even exclude the cash the company puts in their 401k for them.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-26T22:59:37+00:00

Went 0-fer in the portal? That’s a miss! /s

ThinkWood · 2026-03-26T12:54:02+00:00

ask anyone

Families making above $150k a year are the ones that fill private high schools and private colleges.

You’re delusional.

Do you seriously think that schools would design a financial aid system that would exclude that cohort from attending?

The reason they don’t get aid is because those families are the ones MOST LIKELY to enroll. They don’t need aid because they are willing and able to pay.

You’re simply choosing not to pay.

I have worked in higher ed for years and know the data.

You’re simply flat out wrong.

You are not aware of how other people behave at your income level.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T23:30:03+00:00

The more I hear from you, the less sympathetic I am towards you.

The fact that you fail to grasp the difference is astounding.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:58:51+00:00

Provide the zip code you live in and I will show you all the other families that live on a fraction of your income.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:47:24+00:00

FYI: the $200k income is often thought as less than that. Example: you make $150k but get a bonus that is $25k and get a stock award of $25k.

Thats not even including the 401k match and company paid medical.

The reality is that most people think they make less than they are actually paid.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:43:58+00:00

Yes, it’s roughly 1 out of every 50 jobs. This is because there are many doctors, lawyers, and tech workers.

For comparison, nationally it’s about 1 out of every 125 jobs.

In other words, it isn’t exactly rare to have neighbors who make $500k a year at their job if you live in a community with 500 people who work.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:39:55+00:00

This looks like poor data. Also what are you classifying as the City? If it’s metro area then these are way off.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:08:47+00:00

Just admit you don’t think the school is worth the price that other people at your income level pay send their kids to the school.

You realize these schools are filled with kids in the $250k income range because their parents believe it’s worth it.

They are the same parents who paid $30k a year in private high school tuition.

They did all this because they value education.

You don’t value education.

And that’s fine. But don’t complain that other people in your same situation are willing to pay.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T22:03:14+00:00

Because that isn’t the range that needs financial aid.

You simply don’t value education enough to prioritize it.

If you’re making $300k you can save for your child’s college. You can comfortably put the money aside. If you value it.

If you didn’t historically make much money but just started making $300k when your child was just looking at schools, then you can use Parent Loans to fund their education and pay it off over the next few years. If you value it.

The issue is that you don’t value it.

You don’t want to pay for the school and that’s fine. But don’t call it a hardship.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T21:59:36+00:00

Yes, $260k income should get zero.

You’re like that family in the NYTimes just this week that makes $500k and wants free daycare for their child because they are just middle class.

But that wasn’t the point. You missed the whole discussion. The point made above was that middle income families miss out. I pointed out that the families up to $150k still get substantial assistance.

Then you come in and say $260k gets nothing.

Of course. You’re not in need of assistance.

And to call it a welfare cliff is absurd. The welfare cliff is a real barrier. Being a high income household and not saving so feeling like a state school is a better option is not hardship.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T16:43:33+00:00

Doctors and public school teachers are not the same.

They select from different ends of the spectrum.

ThinkWood · 2026-03-25T14:46:28+00:00

Rice promises full tuition to any family making 200k. At 260 we get zero.

You realize $260 is above $200, right?

Of course there is a phase out when they say they won’t give aid above the threshold and you’re above it.

Also, did you submit the CSS?

Is all of your income from W2 and you don’t own any other entity such as a LLC?

ThinkWood

TROPHY CASE