I'm guessing the truth is somewhere in the middle. It's not great publicity for UNLV or Sluka, but honestly think Sluka has more to lose here. I get NIL and valuing yourself highly, get your bag. But you still have to be able to command an offense, win the respect of your peers. Gets harder the more you make your career about things that aren't football.
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IMO, neither UNLV nor the QB look particularly good here. I just hope that we have backed up all of our commitments and are engaging our players effectively to potentially get ahead of anything like this in these very fluid times.
Yet the vast majority of posters here support players skipping bowl games but still collecting their NIL.
Allowing multi-year contracts would be a huge advance. Tying the contract to actually suiting up as well.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
If fan interest and revenue from TV and tickets and donations can sustain growth in a world of universal one-and-done mercenaries, then you're right.
I don't think that's true. And if the money goes down, the players lose.
It kind of can't be in the middle here, right?
Either Sluka wasn't paid what he was promised or he has demanded more than what he was promised.
Maybe the "promise" was complicated and open to interpretation, but somebody's lying here.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
From our perspective, I'm glad we seem to have honest hardasses leading our revenue sports. Both Brett and Brad seem to be the type of guys that are straight up with their players, rather than telling them what they want to hear. Over the long term, in this Wild West system, honesty will pay dividends.
Our insiders here have let it be known that Josh and our DIA have made it a point of emphasis to make sure that when we promise NIL, we follow through on the amount no questions asked. That's why we paid Skyy Clark his NIL even after he tranferred.
Whereas at least on the basketball side, a lot of NIL offers by other schools are inflated and don't reflect the real amount they end up getting.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Totally agree, and credit starts with Whitman here. We have credible, serious people in charge. Us! Illinois! Is this a dream?
100%. Apparently us doing right by Skyy (deserved or not) was a factor in Trey coming onboard.
And this is the main problem. With the hush hush nature, as of today, of NIL, anyone can say anything. The more open the NIL process becomes the better.
I mean, Skyy Clark was paid...why
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
I originally thought the kid made a mistake by doing what he's done but based on what is coming out now it sure sounds like the school or collective screwed the kid. Can't blame him. This is going to get ugly.
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
I'd say being promised $100K only to then be shown an contract for $12K after you've enrolled is a pretty big deal. Not a good look for UNLV.
BillyBob1
- Champaign
Didn’t think coaches could promise money?
Huge difference in the above though. Goes directly to which side did not honor the agreement.
Both have their faults (as someone said this situation sucks all around), but if true I find the second one much worse. All the talk of fair compensation and market value holds water until you make the agreement. Once you make the agreement, you honor it.
While contracts will be better, they will not be foolproof. All you will need to do to 'pull a Sluka' is say you are physically hurt or suffering mental or emotional stress and therefore must redshirt for your own health.
Then decouple it from universities and just create a minor league. Comparing this to a desk job isn't the right analogy.
no it is not. he is playing a very violent game and he says commitments were made and not lived up to. how could you possibly look at this and call him a quitter and that this is a "bad look"?
What does this have to do with one-sided deals where athletes take all the risk?
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
If schools and the players can't come to some sort of agreement, yeah, there will be an uncoupling, and, as Gritty bangs on about constantly, everybody will lose. The trouble is, there is no perfect analogy. We've allowed the NCAA to work in this grey area unto itself. First, it was where everything was hush-hush. The courts rightfully ended it. Now, it's in an even weirder grey area where we can see the sausage somewhat getting made and everybody looks bad. There is nothing comparable to this and it's not going to last. This thing is a time bomb, and without a solution soon, it's going to blow.
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I guess I don't understand what you mean when you say that.
Completely agree. I also agree that some incentives for remaining at a university are reasonable, otherwise it's a minor league with professional athletes that happen to have a loose tie to a school flight song.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Krombopulos_Michael
- Aurora, Illinois (that’s a suburb of Chicago)
Let me just say I love the complexities of the debate without it having to be one of our players we’re debating over. [Please don’t bookmark this]
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Lol....sorry, majority of this is on the player(family). You agreed to a "verbal" "contract" with an Assistant Coach???? Then you're upset when that wasn't real??
You didn't actually "sign" an NIL deal?
Yeah, shame on UNLV for sure, not a good look either, but also, kid....and family...you're doing it very wrong.
You didn't actually "sign" an NIL deal?
Yeah, shame on UNLV for sure, not a good look either, but also, kid....and family...you're doing it very wrong.
I'd trust Aaron Henry and his word.Lol....sorry, majority of this is on the player(family). You agreed to a "verbal" "contract" with an Assistant Coach???? Then you're upset when that wasn't real??
You didn't actually "sign" an NIL deal?
Yeah, shame on UNLV for sure, not a good look either, but also, kid....and family...you're doing it very wrong.