What Has/Will The Portal & NIL Era Do To Your Michigan Sports Fandom?
I gave up on professional sports about 20 years ago for 2 main reasons: free agency and absurdly high salaries. Those things had been around prior to that, but I had finally reached an age or place in my life where they began to outweigh my enjoyment. I’m all in favor of players’ rights to change teams in order to make as much money as they can and/or to put themselves in a place for more opportunities and championships, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t eroded my fandom to almost nothing. And Patrick Ewing’s infamous quote, “We make a lot of money but we spend a lot of money.” during the 1999 NBA lockout just reminded me of how out of touch the athletes had become from every day society from a compensation standpoint. I have a hard time investing my emotions in the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons since then accordingly.
Unfortunately I’m starting to feel the same way about college sports. The transfer portal is basically pro sports free agency. The NIL part is making college sports/recruiting feel transactional. It’s like going to a strip club when you’re young and a girl makes you feel special. Then you see her with the next guy and realize it was 100% a transaction to her. That’s sort of how I feel about paying players to play for Michigan, and the next level is then to see them leave for another school because they paid them more. And I’m not even arguing that portal or NIL is wrong at all, I think it’s great that these athletes have freedom/choices and that they are finally receiving fair market value for what they do. But it doesn’t mean my fandom isn’t dying accordingly.
And on top of that Michigan looks to be fucking awful at both the portal and NIL while our rivals seem to be very good at those things. So we aren’t even good at the things that are killing my fandom.
How do you feel about this new era of college sports? Is your fandom bulletproof, or do you feel some level of erosion occurring as well?
This will go well.
Too soon to tell.
The only real answer. Check back in 5 years.
It won’t do anything to my fandom. College sports hasn’t been “pure and clean” for easily 30 years. All the NIL does is make things a bit more transparent.
I agree with that, but the portal makes this truly free agency. It almost has to go to contracts to avoid athletes moving around after a good year. If your favorite freshman leaves UM for Alabama, it would be hard to feel good. It would also be up to UM to keep him here. Time will tell, but it seems like NIL or the free transfer rule will have to change.
It almost has to go to contracts to avoid athletes moving around after a good year.
I wish players well, but I root for Michigan rather than Justin Borens or the guys who just stop by for a year. I don't think I am alone in that.
I am actually surprised the NCAA didn't see the writing on the wall years ago. They should have taken the players call for a union seriously, negotiated with such a union, and signed all football (and basketball) recruits to standard four or five year contracts which covered education and expenses, stipends, long-term health insurance, pooling NIL revenue, etc.
This would also mean NFL teams wanting to draft players before graduating would have to pay for draft/signing rights.
While this might not be great for the superstar athletes, this would bring order and beneficial to most players, schools and fans. College football would stop being a mere NFL farm system/stepping stone. The best five star players would likely choose to forego college and play some semi-pro or farm system the NFL develops (allow the professional leagues to draft players at 18), but then the financial and development risk would be on the NFL, rather than the colleges.
You think it was clean in the ‘80s?! LOL
30? I hate to tell ya what was going on in the 70's and 80's haha
From some of the podcasts it sounds like Michigan used to play ball and when they did they stacked championships. In hindsight do we wish were were clean not won our first half dozen championships or are we glad we did what we had to to win?
My take is if you are going to be in a group and the top 3% do it a certain way to win then do it or GTFO of that group. You cant be dignified and a second tier team. Either form an Ivy league type conference or fucking get to it.
My 30 year season ticket streak came to an end last year. Having not missed a home game in that span and been to many away games, I'm done. I used to live and die all UM sports, but the thrill is gone. Still a huge fan of all UM sports, but all sports now have become a passing interest. Back in the late 70's and early 80's I also had Lions tickets at the Silverdome. Completely gave up on all pro sports by the early 90's. Loved the passion and tradition of college sports, but feel that is now also gone.
I'm not trying to be a dick, but what passion and tradition is gone? The OSU game last year was one of the most genuine, passionate, exciting things I've ever been a part of in my life. They still dotted the i, Michigan still touched the banner, and the crowd was so much fun. Michigan's basketball coach is so passionate he slapped another coach. What tradition and passion are you actually missing?
Always been amused by when someone starts anything out by saying "I'm not trying to to be a " or "Not to sound like a," it's code for "I'm gonna be just that, sorry if you don't like it."
Fair enough. Maybe the more honest and accurate thing to say would be, "I am not doing this just to make you mad for my amusement, but I recognize it probably will make you mad."
How was anything Trout said him being a dick??
Finally we know who WD’s Dad is….mgobob.
Eh, you’re just getting old. Happened to me against Georgia on New Year’s Eve.
In a word, nothing. I like to watch Michigan play and cheer for them to win. If you are deep in recruiting and all of that, I can see this mattering, but I have gotten to a place where I cheer for the team that shows up and that is working for me.
Came here to say this (nothing) as well. I had planned to be first to say this but got a little unstuck in time along the way.
Say hi to Billy Pilgrim if you see him.
Kilgore, I feel you are among the wisest among us. That is the way to enjoy Michigan sports the most and not letting unreasonable expectations ruin it. Obviously most of us often stray to the other side based on passion. But ultimately it's about celebrating the efforts of all of our student athletes who are so completely dedicated to what they do.
Exactly this. Head and assistant coaches in CFB have been making salaries that rival or exceed their NFL counterparts for over a decade. Athletic directors’ salaries are higher than the university president’s. But it wasn’t transactional or an issue then? Only when players finally get a cut? Being at the big house for OSU last year was the one of the best memories and experiences of my life and the fact that players were making some money or had transferred to or from the team had no effect.
I fully endorse this take.
I’m with you, also best username on the blog. I’m going to like all your posts now
I love the pageantry of college sports. I don’t see this changing with the evolution of compensation and transfer rules. Michigan football and basketball remain awesome products IMO.
The moment it becomes (became) a "product", it is (was) no longer "college sports".
Pro football teams still have bands and cheerleaders and fight songs (all of whom are performed by paid professionals)... that doesn't make it as meaningful as high school or college, where those are done by fellow students who are there simply to enjoy the experience (just like most of the athletes on the field - especially at the non "power" schools).
I’m in the “ain’t much you can do about it” group I think.
I look at top tier recruits as playing on one year (basketball) or two year (football) contracts. Anything else is a bonus. And even then with football transfers can always happen.
That said I think short of ditching amateurism entirely and being able to sign actual contracts and pay players directly, my fandom will have to learn to roll with the changes, to quote REO Speedwagon, and cheer for the Maize and Blue
As long as the players still want to win and do what it takes to be the best, it won't change anything. I don't think those desires will change. People with one foot out the door will still potentially slack, and the ones with solidified roles will continue to try and improve.
The portal and NIL have ratcheted up my fandom. I'm freaking INTENSE!!!
I'm freaking INTENSE!!!
I didn't give a shit about players being paid on the down low (the old system) and I'm much more in favor of them being paid up front and honestly and transparently (the new system). I find it weird how much people care about that aspect of sports. Do you also avoid bands or singers who make too much money? Actors and actresses who are paid too much? Do you never support race car drivers who appear to be in it for the money and not the driving? Why is it upsetting that somebody wants to get paid while doing the thing they love? Would you keep working at your job (if you liked it) if they stopped paying you?
I root for Michigan and the guys who play for Michigan (no matter why they're here). You wanna play for championships? Cool. You want to play for a school that'll get you some NIL deals so you can support your family and setup yourself for an easy life? Go get it. You simply wanna don the winged helmet and play in the Big House? More power to ya.
IMO, eroding the shady behind-the-scenes bribery and shenanigans has only increased my interest in the sport, now that I know that the 11 guys on the field busting their asses to get that victory aren't being exploited by the millionaires and billionaires who run the sport.
Wal-Mart is hiring new managers straight out of college at 200k+ a year. Is that ruining people's enjoyment of Wal-mart?
I guess I could go check People of Wal-Mart but... I'd prefer if someone else did it.
Per the article, the starting salary for the managers is $65k out of college. The $200k starting salary is for junior lawyers. Not quite the same (and that doesn't account for location either).
how is it a strawman? In the first sentence of your post you claim to have lost interest in professional sports because people are making money...
So "absurdly high salaries" is the same thing as "making money"? C'mon.
Also, asking me if I would keep working if my company stopped paying me, as if that is somehow relevant to my overall post? C'mon.
Also, also, what part of "And I’m not even arguing that portal or NIL is wrong at all, I think it’s great that these athletes have freedom/choices and that they are finally receiving fair market value for what they do." comes off as me having a problem with players getting paid?
Absolute straw man responses from that guy and from you.
Lastly, really weird how triggered you two became by my post. I'm allowed to have opinions, and I asked for everyone else's. So no need to act like that. I'll just put you two down for disagreeing with me and we can move on.
I'm allowed to have opinions, and I asked for everyone else's
And yet when I gave my opinion, you lazily posted an image incorrectly asserting I was making a strawman argument. So which is it? Can we have opinions others than yours (or that don't relate to yours) or not?
Sounds like ya got sour grapes, my guy. Don't assume others are "triggered" just because you obviously were because so few shared your sentiment
lol, why are you so triggered that my fandom is eroding due to the portal and NIL?
which is what? you have a right to give your opinion. but when you start asking me silly questions (like would I work if I didn't get paid) that have absolutely nothing to do with my post, then you get a scarecrow. that is literally the definition of a straw man arument: A straw man argument is a misrepresentation of an opinion or viewpoint.
"And I’m not even arguing that portal or NIL is wrong at all, I think it’s great that these athletes have freedom/choices and that they are finally receiving fair market value for what they do"
Show me where I said I didn't agree with them getting paid.
just reminded me of how out of touch the athletes had become from every day society from a compensation standpoint
So you write several paragraphs saying how athletes being paid high salaries was turning you off from sports so I write a few paragraphs wondering why the salaries or payment of people matters to people and you think that's a strawman? lolwut?
A straw man argument is a misrepresentation of an opinion or viewpoint.
Show me where I took your words and misrepresented them. I responded to a point you made, made my own argument, and then you got pissy.
when you start asking me silly questions (like would I work if I didn't get paid) that have absolutely nothing to do with my post
Omg what are you on? Your post is wholly dedicated to saying "I don't mind athletes being compensated but them being paid too much and having access to a transfer portal eroded my fandom" so again, I make a point wondering why compensation matters, and you jump to scarecrow.
That's triggered, mate. Log off the internet for a minute, my dude.
Outstanding Homie J. Your post is so good that I can only add applause.
I'm all for it but I don't see Michigan landing any kids over any of the 'perennial' playoff teams (Bama, Clemson, UGA, etc.) because of it.
I will always support the winged helmet
I like when the players I root for do well and flatly don’t understand how players making money bothers people.
I'll always root for Michigan teams and Michigan players. But it sucks when they leave. I loved Chaunde Brown, Mike Smith and Charles Matthews. I did not care that they were transfers, or if they were getting paid. They were Michigan players who did well. The problem with the new era is going to occur when good players leave for other teams. Joe Milton and Dylan McCaffery turned out to, I guess, not be good. If JJ and Cade transfer out, it will be a big ding. Having Houstan and Diabate go pro sort of sucks. They had moments but overall meh years. What's the point of rooting for a guy if you never get to see him play well at your school. At least Jordan Poole had that one shot and a pretty good sophomore season.
I don't know how anyone could downvote that (I upvoted it to bring it to 0).
I agree.
It will increase my fandom if Michigan gets its collective NIL ass in gear and lands some big fish. What decreases my fandom? Being mediocre. But I've haven't deliberately missed watching a football game in... yikes, I don't know. 10 years? 15? Maybe more.
Here’s my honest answer…when Michigan is top 10 in football all year and relevant to the CFP picture and when basketball is making the sweet 16 at least, my fandom will be as it always is. When we aren’t relevant in football or basketball in a given season then I’ll hate NIL, other cheating teams and Michigan staff and University’s approach to everything that is sports.
NiL and the portal aren't the problem.... UM unwillingness / slowness to adapt to them however could be a monumental issue.
I never said either were a problem. I simply stated that it's affecting my fandom and wondered if anyone else felt the same way. Doesn't seem like many do, to each their own.
My enthusiasm for college football has ebbed and ebbed. Too many commercials, a few schools dominant year upon year. Everyone celebrating the fact that other schools were going to join the SEC in the continued bastardization of the sport baffled me, but I've repeated myself enough on that score here, as have some other thoughtful fans.
I don't think we know if Michigan "isn't good at" NIL, because we don't seem to be planning to engage to the same degree that other schools do. I don't--in short--assume that we suck at it, but that some smart people are refusing to bow to Mammon. I'm good with that. As a proud graduate, I value many, many things about my degree and associations with Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the state more than I do football.
As for basketball, the scenario there may well look worse with time even than football--there's less to put under the microscope there. I expect that Juwan will get his sons through and move on, not find it worth it. We'll see. Lots and lots of other great things to do in the world with family, friends, on any given evening or weekend. Mostly, I'm full of regret when I spend a dull afternoon watching football, anyway; it's such a halting game. I also find that, as I get older, I appreciate other sports more--those that are less crapified, including women's sports, are increasingly interesting to me, in part--maybe--because I watch them with my daughter.