No virtue-signaling or intent to change minds here. Just my two cents.
Actually really enjoying this discussion. I appreciate UConndog's position and am sympathetic to it. I agree that this forum is a legitimate place to have this discussion (maybe a separate thread, but whatever). My take is this; UConndog's point about giving dollars to other deserving recipients at a university is well-taken. I wish NIL didn't exist so choosing between different places to give wasn't necessary, but UC70's point is also well-taken; This is the current reality. I also still believe that student athletics, as grotesque as the money side has become, continues to provide direct and indirect benefits to institutions and their stakeholders. I also believe that there is a significant number of folks who would not send any money in the direction of a university (I understand that the collective is NOT the University; just speaking in broad terms) except as a contribution to support athletics.
Full disclosure: Have just made my first contribution to BBfG. I contribute to the general fund at the university where I am on the faculty. Could I give more to my school if I didn't give to BBfG? Sure. I think both are worthwhile.
