Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[Illini in Italy]

I understand where you’re coming from. Getting paid what you’re worth is what every person should do whether athlete or fan posting on this message board.

Things will settle and improve over the next few years. Don’t let it sap your joy for the game. Illinois will come out ahead!!

There is no data to support that assertion.

 

[CaptainCrutch]

There’s a reason we slowed our pursuit on some of these OTs …

No offense but I feel like there is always some rosy story after we miss a prospect. You’re telling me we took it easy on McVay because we had some inside knowledge about a ruling that had happened less than 24 hours prior to his UNC commitment? I’m a lawyer and, while I know Josh is too, he probably knows better than I do that not every federal ruling has all-jdx applicability. What’s more, I’m supposed to believe JC Davis had already made his mind up in a less-than-24 hour span post ruling to forego his draft prospects for one extra year? Not sure I believe that.

I’m calling bs here. I hope JC Davis is back but I’m not buying that we eased up on our pursuit of others based on some ruling that happened less than a week ago.

 

[therealmiket86]

No offense but I feel like there is always some rosy story after we miss a prospect. You’re telling me we took it easy on McVay because we had some inside knowledge about a ruling that had happened less than 24 hours prior to his UNC commitment? I’m a lawyer and, while I know Josh is too, he probably knows better than I do that not every federal ruling has all-jdx applicability. What’s more, I’m supposed to believe JC Davis had already made his mind up in a less-than-24 hour span post ruling to forego his draft prospects for one extra year? Not sure I believe that.

I’m calling bs here. I hope JC Davis is back but I’m not buying that we eased up on our pursuit of others based on some ruling that happened less than a week ago.

We moved on from McVay when they saw the price tag.

 

[Illini in Italy]

But it’s not really a free market, is it? The NCAA rules limit who can take those jobs and how long they can hold them.

When the courts knock down the student requirement (and tenure limit), aging NFL players will be able to drop back down to the minor leagues to extend their playing careers. DeVito comes to mind in this respect. Schools with limited budgets will be able to hire talent from a much bigger pool at free market rates to fill gaps in their rosters. Adding salary caps would make it tough for the big schools to buy a title-contending team, leveling the playing field.

To your point on pro contract potential, those initial contracts sometimes lead to better things. Often they’re the end of the playing career. Removing barriers will allow players to move up/down from the majors based on their skills and market demand. It works well for baseball. Why not football too? Each university (already) sponsors an increasingly pro team. Drop the remaining barriers and let the market take over. It seems inevitable, and therefore pointless for the NCAA to resist it. Get out in front and lead.

You've been in support of the athletes (I no longer use the term "student athlete" any longer, because they are not students, except in the major of football or basketball) for a long time. I applaud your persistence. but what you describe is no longer college athletics, but pro sports, which do not belong in the arena of college athletics.

A pro sports minor league needs to be in the purview of the NFl or NBA, not the NCAA.

 

[CaptainCrutch]

We moved on from McVay when they saw the price tag.

Right, that’s believable. We can’t afford to overpay for an unproven commodity – I’m fine with that story because it makes sense.

Don’t tell me we pivoted because we found out there’s some puncher’s chance we get a nationwide JUCO waiver. At the time those dominoes were falling this was absolutely not a well-understood probability unless the court tipped off the NCAA ahead of time and gave it ample time to prep a ruling. Which would be all sorts of backwards given that NCAA is prepping an appeal against it.

 

[logjam]

This is because the market is artificially constrained by the NCAA. I’m sure there are plenty of capable but ineligible athletes willing to play for less than $2m per year. Let them compete for the jobs and costs will drop.

Like McVay supposedly getting 1.5 mil.and never really playing yet...I think tickets are going to go up just like their pay is....do you think fast food prices are going to drop because of competition...?

 

[ChiTown]

He committed to Kentucky out of HS had an impressive offer list (Michigan, South Carolina, Arkansas, others). Redshirted and just played three games for Kentucky- went to WVU and had a very good freshman year, then was third string after transferring to FSU last year which is odd- he’s a strong side DE type player. Seems to be a great find by the staff, talented guy who didn’t get the PT he expected but has 17 games or so at the P5 level under his belt and you know he can play

The only problem I see is his nickname is Big Tomi- we already have one of those!

Tomiwa Durojaiye

ukathletics.com

A nickname change is warranted….

 

[therealmiket86]

Like McVay supposedly getting 1.5 mil.and never really playing yet...I think tickets are going to go up just like their pay is....do you think fast food prices are going to drop because of competition...?

Paying McVay that is crazy. He’s getting paid more than guys who were drafted. Good for him if he was able to secure the bag

 

[Dkayak]

You've been in support of the athletes (I no longer use the term "student athlete" any longer, because they are not students, except in the major of football or basketball) for a long time. I applaud your persistence. but what you describe is no longer college athletics, but pro sports, which do not belong in the arena of college athletics.

A pro sports minor league needs to be in the purview of the NFl or NBA, not the NCAA.

I’d love to see the NIL abuse end. I really would. What do multi-million dollar donations by alumni have to do with Name, Image, or Likeness? Those three concepts sound like specific earned endorsements, funded by commercial entities (e.g. Nike and Michael Jordan). The horse has bolted from the NIL barn.

Like it or not, it appears we’re accelerating down a slippery slope toward university sponsorship of pro teams. Another court ruling or two and it’s done, isn’t it? Like you, I truly dislike the path ahead. I’m just trying to illuminate it and at the same time address arguments that huge NIL checks are the result of a free marketplace. They’re the result of a temporarily constrained marketplace. Pragmatically, I’m preparing to concede defeat and move on to other interests.

 

[Illinifan11]

Key to Nebraska

 

[Dbell1981]

People act they they didn't know football is a dangerous game. If your that worried bout getting injured unless you get paid, don't play.

 

[Oracle21]

But it’s not really a free market, is it? The NCAA rules limit who can take those jobs and how long they can hold them.

When the courts knock down the student requirement (and tenure limit), aging NFL players will be able to drop back down to the minor leagues to extend their playing careers. DeVito comes to mind in this respect. Schools with limited budgets will be able to hire talent from a much bigger pool at free market rates to fill gaps in their rosters. Adding salary caps would make it tough for the big schools to buy a title-contending team, leveling the playing field.

To your point on pro contract potential, those initial contracts sometimes lead to better things. Often they’re the end of the playing career. Removing barriers will allow players to move up/down from the majors based on their skills and market demand. It works well for baseball. Why not football too? Each university (already) sponsors an increasingly pro team. Drop the remaining barriers and let the market take over. It seems inevitable, and therefore pointless for the NCAA to resist it. Get out in front and lead.

I think that’s where this is going because there’s nothing the NCAA can do to prevent it in court.

But the issue is that when you transition college sports into a pro model, you start to lose the uniqueness or differentiation that comes between college sports and pro sports. It would be wild to see Kofi Cockburn play 9–10 years at Illinois, or Altmyer play QB till he’s 30. I think we will eventually see that.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

So I'll take that as a yes, you're ok with coaches getting paid millions, just god forbid players get their fair share.

 

[Illiniguy74]

You are talking about your feelings, you can control this by turning away from college foitball.

But people's feelings shouldn't impact football players collecting on what they produce at a great risk to their health. Football is a making a ton of money. instead of schools, NCAA, coaches, corporations keeping all the money they are now rightfully paying the players perceived market value.

And everyone, with the possible exception of Mother Teresa, is greedy.

 

[mhuml32]

Key to Nebraska

Makes a lot of sense for Nebraska. Key choosing them over a couple of the other suitors is......a choice.

 

[blackdog]

Right, that’s believable. We can’t afford to overpay for an unproven commodity – I’m fine with that story because it makes sense.

Don’t tell me we pivoted because we found out there’s some puncher’s chance we get a nationwide JUCO waiver. At the time those dominoes were falling this was absolutely not a well-understood probability unless the court tipped off the NCAA ahead of time and gave it ample time to prep a ruling. Which would be all sorts of backwards given that NCAA is prepping an appeal against it.

They've offered a lot more than just one single OT, did you ever think that the comment of cooling off pursuit might have applied to them?

 

[Illiniindian]

But it’s not really a free market, is it? The NCAA rules limit who can take those jobs and how long they can hold them.

When the courts knock down the student requirement (and tenure limit), aging NFL players will be able to drop back down to the minor leagues to extend their playing careers. DeVito comes to mind in this respect. Schools with limited budgets will be able to hire talent from a much bigger pool at free market rates to fill gaps in their rosters. Adding salary caps would make it tough for the big schools to buy a title-contending team, leveling the playing field.

To your point on pro contract potential, those initial contracts sometimes lead to better things. Often they’re the end of the playing career. Removing barriers will allow players to move up/down from the majors based on their skills and market demand. It works well for baseball. Why not football too? Each university (already) sponsors an increasingly pro team. Drop the remaining barriers and let the market take over. It seems inevitable, and therefore pointless for the NCAA to resist it. Get out in front and lead.

Do you think this model will be something fans would want to watch?

 

[Chukwuwumba]

They've offered a lot more than just one single OT, did you ever think that the comment of cooling off pursuit might have applied to them?

I look at it like this. If they visit, staff wants them. And there’s mutual interest. For all recruiting. If we see more visitors upcoming, then it’s a need.

 

[Dkayak]

Do you think this model will be something fans would want to watch?

Not to me! But that seems like what lies ahead. The NCAA seems to be in a confused reactive mode, just swept along by transformational legal decisions while grasping for money. They’re not in the driver’s seat.

Just saying as long as we’re barreling down that path, maybe “rip off the bandage” and be done with it? If player compensation is to be truly market-driven, wouldn’t it make sense to remove artificial market constraints, allowing anyone to compete for any opening in the majors or minors? The latest NIL salaries are artificially inflated by these constraints, pricing many schools out of the race. How long will it be before the courts break down those barriers to protect the rights of ineligible players? Seems inevitable. Bracing for impact!

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Do you think this model will be something fans would want to watch?

Fans will do what fans have always done. Adapt.

Some will balk and never watch again. Those people will have aged themselves out if the demographic anyway.

 

[Dbell1981]

None of em deserve "millions" not even the networks. What don't you understand about what I said? Big $$$ ruined it all.

 

[band camp]

Bruh

 

[DevILLDawg]

The answer is simple if you want some level of parody across the major B1G/SEC/ whatever other conference you think is best. SUPER LEAGUE, roughly 50 teams give or take. Leave the toothless NCAA in the dust and establish/enforce your own recruiting rules. Then you can have a salary cap...standardized full-time refs, and a larger TV $$ deal by being the one stop shop for College Football.

Roster limits, stability in the portal, caps...everything. Enforced by a coalition of academic institutions that stand to benefit from such a league. This could also make it harder for court cases to change the landscape since it's a league entity rather than a national program.

My .02

 

[therealmiket86]

The answer is simple if you want some level of parody across the major B1G/SEC/ whatever other conference you think is best. SUPER LEAGUE, roughly 50 teams give or take. Leave the toothless NCAA in the dust and establish/enforce your own recruiting rules. Then you can have a salary cap...standardized full-time refs, and a larger TV $$ deal by being the one stop shop for College Football.

Roster limits, stability in the portal, caps...everything. Enforced by a coalition of academic institutions that stand to benefit from such a league. This could also make it harder for court cases to change the landscape since it's a league entity rather than a national program.

My .02

They need a salary cap and contracts for players. If anything let them transfer 1 time.

 

[1m4tr]

We had a great season. Players and coaches are happy. Us fans are happy. What isn’t to like about this? You don’t like a free market system? What are you a communist? Let’s stand in bread lines. No one deserves anything.