One of the unknown pieces of the NIL era is how money is going to change the locker room and dynamics between players and staff. There was a certain dynamic when players were on scholarship with a stipend, but for the most part typical college students without a lot of money and in the same boat. Now players are going to have money. Some of them are going to have significant money. And while there has always been under the table money in the sport (good friend played for Nebraska in the 80s and said there was a hierarchy/pecking order then) , this is going to be public knowledge and more players involved.
There are a lot of potential impacts. Grown adults would be impacted if salaries were common knowledge in their office. I wonder how kids will handle it. There is the potential for resentment to build in the locker room. If a highly paid NIL player isn't carrying their weight or they are getting outplayed by other rosters, it's a recipe for resentment. The depth chart is already a hot button topic, what happens when the perception is playing time related to NIL money is impacting it?
I fully believe a lot of the blowback Spencer received is that it's a lot easier to criticize a kid driving 2 new cars (even though it's a cheap cost for NIL) and sporting his own logo for merch. Fans aren't going to give the same grace as they would before.
I also wonder how it the SOUL group will handle it. I love the concept. Having guys that have been there who the players can use as a resource is a great idea. But those guys didn't have the NIL challenges to work with. They'll be trying to figure out how to adapt to it along with the players. And inside are they going to look at the players a little differently? They may have some kids making more than them. Do you have a slightly less sympathetic ear when they are talking about struggling to adjust or their personal challenges if you know they are on a big money NIL deal and are getting outworked by some kid making less? Sort of like how the assistant S&C coach working with a player at 5a and he's dogging it may look at a player differently if you know he's an 18 year old college kid making more money than he is.
Interesting times ahead. I think the NIL has the potential to cause major locker room roster issues. The staff that can best adapt to it are going to have a big advantage. The plus side is I think Brent's personality and truly caring about the players/program will be an advantage.
There are a lot of potential impacts. Grown adults would be impacted if salaries were common knowledge in their office. I wonder how kids will handle it. There is the potential for resentment to build in the locker room. If a highly paid NIL player isn't carrying their weight or they are getting outplayed by other rosters, it's a recipe for resentment. The depth chart is already a hot button topic, what happens when the perception is playing time related to NIL money is impacting it?
I fully believe a lot of the blowback Spencer received is that it's a lot easier to criticize a kid driving 2 new cars (even though it's a cheap cost for NIL) and sporting his own logo for merch. Fans aren't going to give the same grace as they would before.
I also wonder how it the SOUL group will handle it. I love the concept. Having guys that have been there who the players can use as a resource is a great idea. But those guys didn't have the NIL challenges to work with. They'll be trying to figure out how to adapt to it along with the players. And inside are they going to look at the players a little differently? They may have some kids making more than them. Do you have a slightly less sympathetic ear when they are talking about struggling to adjust or their personal challenges if you know they are on a big money NIL deal and are getting outworked by some kid making less? Sort of like how the assistant S&C coach working with a player at 5a and he's dogging it may look at a player differently if you know he's an 18 year old college kid making more money than he is.
Interesting times ahead. I think the NIL has the potential to cause major locker room roster issues. The staff that can best adapt to it are going to have a big advantage. The plus side is I think Brent's personality and truly caring about the players/program will be an advantage.
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