Very good and thoughtful post. Thanks.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.
I'm not sure this can be characterized as a flaw, it is basically the reality of the situation.The only flaw in “the more NIL money next year” means we get better is everybody is saying the same thing… do there will be NIL competitive inflation not necessarily more buying power.