meeashagin

January 18th, 2024 at 6:37 PM ^

Are we the only big time program not using donor funds to compensate our top players? or any of our players?

I'm sure you can get a late round pick to stick with a 100k, but big fish like JJ are going to take a few mill. The winning that would take place with JJ in '24 is probably worth 10x that. 

Joined: 03/25/2018

MGoPoints: 5056

McGreenB

January 18th, 2024 at 7:29 PM ^

hot take: Michigan has an 18 billion dollar endowment fund. I am not rich. I am not donating money so maybe hopefully we don't lose someone to the transfer portal. 

Joined: 11/13/2011

MGoPoints: 2164

Blau

January 18th, 2024 at 8:40 PM ^

On a related note, I really hope regular folks that still need to pay their mortgage, car payment, and student loans don’t defer their extra funds for publicly-donated (and now solicited) NIL funds for players who may have a likelihood of transferring schools at some point during their college careers.

Listen - I’m seriously not trying to be a jerk, and if you can afford to throw some cash to these funds, by all means go for it! Even if your budget says you can’t afford it but it’s so important to you to support the NIL collective, also go for it.

I’m not one to tell someone else how to spend your hard-earned dough. But in a time where inflation is through the roof, buying a house/car is next to impossible, and companies are trying to find ways to monetize every tickey-tack item for purchase, I really hope those who do financially support these collectives are in a place to do so comfortably.

Our family donates our time and some funds to local charities where you can see your impact take place and build community. I think I’m just jaded in that I’m trying to determine the difference between these public NIL programs (not just Michigan’s, mind you) and GoFundMe accounts? Maybe there are different donor levels and fun honorary items for those who give but to the casual fan, I wonder how they would prioritize something like this?

Joined: 01/23/2014

MGoPoints: 35254

M-Dog

January 18th, 2024 at 7:48 PM ^

I donated $100 to it last year.  It was effective because they announced the players they were targeting to keep at Michigan, ala Blake and Zak and so on.

Who (if anybody) are they targeting now?  How realistic is it that those guys stay if Harbaugh leaves?

I am frozen up right now.  I would kind of like to know what they are going to do with my $100 this year before I send any money.  

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507

MgoBlueprint

January 18th, 2024 at 10:57 PM ^

I can’t knock someone for not “chipping in”. Everyone’s situation is different. This economy is tough for a lot of people, M alums included. 

I could imagine some people being too tapped out to chip in. Just being able to watch the team is expensive and adds up. Tickets, multiple streaming services (peacock, fox, ESPN), travel, tailgating. 

Now, we the fans and alums, have to pay for the players to stay here. This is turning into those games where you have to pay to unlock basic features.
 

Hopefully, schools can outright employ the athletes and get them under contract. 

Joined: 12/15/2008

MGoPoints: 11573