The Bobcat Nation

I said this once already, but the NIL landscape is leaving many college athletes behind because football is where the money is. Going even further, women’s collegiate athletics is being negatively impacted even more, but that may be changing soon.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/sto ... s-athletes

“The NCAA and its power conferences have allowed each school to share up to $20.5 million in direct payments to their athletes via name, image, and likeness as one of the terms of a pending antitrust settlement. Many schools from those power conferences have developed plans to distribute the majority of that money to athletes in sports that generate the most revenue—mostly football and men’s basketball players.”

“In some cases, athletic directors have publicly shared that they intend to provide upwards of 75% of that money to their football players.”

And here’s the punchline….

“However, the Office for Civil Rights—the division of the Department of Education that enforces Title IX law—said in its memo Thursday that those future payments should be considered “athletic financial assistance” and therefore must be shared proportionally between men and women athletes.”

The NIL as it exists now was a legal rationalization made by big city litigators that got the right judges to listen. But now that has come full circle, and football may be footing the bill for those that aren’t getting an equal shot.

This applies to power 4 conference schools that elect to opt in to this payment distribution option as the funds would be coming directly from the school athletic budget and not a separate NIL entity.

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

There are plenty of girls making a lot of money off their image.

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

Precisely.

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

Prior to NIL, her eligibility would have been in jeopardy, and likely nullified, for making money off of whatever social media platform she’s on now. UM players got in trouble for eating burgers at a cookout. It was so ridiculous.

The entire point of NIL is that the key athletes making money for their schools are able to be compensated for … being themselves. Can’t wait to see how the NCAA and congress botch this one in the name of “equality.”

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

So what’s the problem? Is there one?

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

Thats right. But, it elevated college gymnastics. That was the point of my earlier post. These influencers have brought unprecedented coverage of their sports, there-by elevating womens college athletics.

PapaG wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:15 am

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

So what’s the problem? Is there one?

I don’t think there is one.

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:30 am

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

Thats right. But, it elevated college gymnastics. That was the point of my earlier post. These influencers have brought unprecedented coverage of their sports, there-by elevating womens college athletics.

Hard disagree. Nobody, or at least not a significant amount, started watching college gymnastics because of Dunn getting paid a lot of money. She would have gotten the attention she did whether NIL existed or not, she was just able to profit off it. But I haven’t seen anything that indicated viewership numbers significantly increased because of it.

PapaG wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:14 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

Prior to NIL, her eligibility would have been in jeopardy, and likely nullified, for making money off of whatever social media platform she’s on now. UM players got in trouble for eating burgers at a cookout. It was so ridiculous.

The entire point of NIL is that the key athletes making money for their schools are able to be compensated for … being themselves. Can’t wait to see how the NCAA and congress botch this one in the name of “equality.”

How much money did she make for her school. Pretty sure gymnastics is a non revenue sport.

tetoncat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:02 pm

How much money did she make for her school. Pretty sure gymnastics is a non revenue sport.

Even more reason this is an absolutely rushed policy by an outgoing adminstration. Why not do it 3 years ago?

That’s a fair point that quite literally can’t be measured for any athlete accurately.

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:34 am

PapaG wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:15 am

BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:52 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:17 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:53 am

lutecat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:41 am

MTnative wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:15 pm

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:08 pm

NIL has significantly elevated women’s college athletics!

Maybe at UConn and South Carolina……

The first year of NIL who was the top earning athlete?

I'll give you a hint...it was a gymnast.

Olivia Dunn is a social media influencer who also happens to be a gymnast.

A non-sequitur.

What makes it a non-sequitur?

Is Travis Hunter a social media influencer who also happens to be a football player? He's very active online.

Oliva Dunn wasn't the top NIL earner because she was a good gymnast. We all know the game here, lets not act obtuse.

So what’s the problem? Is there one?

I don’t think there is one.

The issue LEGALLY speaking, is that the rules about NIL involve a players rights to do things like get paid for an appearance in a commercial or endorsement or be an Instagram influencer or whatever OFF their time as a "student-athlete". It became a big deal because the NCAA and universities were selling players names for billions annually while the athletes (and former athletes) were living on food stamps.

In other words, college athletes-just like every other adult in the US-are able to 'moonlight' when they aren't in practice or in class. (Obviously, NIL is subject to. a lot of abuse, but thats a different story)

Revenue sharing is funding for athletes that come directly from a STATE SPONSORED INSTITUTION funded by taxpayers & where basically all the students are getting subsidies for schools DIRECTLY from the GOVERNMENT, therefore, its pretty obvious that revenue sharing is subject to Title IX rules.

This is pretty basic stuff. If I want to give money to a college student for whatever reasons, in a commercial, or for following her on the Gram, or for appearing at my fundraiser, thats a matter of private enterprise.

If the STATE OF MONTANA wants to give money to college athletes, it need to do so under the rules passed by Congress such as (but obviously not limited to) Title IX.

Travis Hunters NIL money isn't subject to any sort of oversight as it's a private contract between consenting adults. Any money he gets from the state of Colorado IS subject to all rules governing government contracting, including Title IX.

Same with Livvy Dunne.

PapaG wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:36 pm

tetoncat wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:02 pm

How much money did she make for her school. Pretty sure gymnastics is a non revenue sport.

Even more reason this is an absolutely rushed policy by an outgoing adminstration. Why not do it 3 years ago?

That’s a fair point that quite literally can’t be measured for any athlete accurately.

Not rushed at all. It's on a solid legal footing. Taxpayer funded money-such as anything generated by a university or a university receiving federal funding-is subject to Title IX.

I assure you, theres zero rush on this. Its a crystal clear case unless or until SCOTUS rules differently (which they very well may do...current SCOTUS is a trial lawyers dream since they have zero interest in grounding their decisions in precedent or the clear language of the law as written...but until then, this is an easy one)

I’m thinking MSU will be adding a women’s sport in the next few years. Probably softball or soccer. I’d prefer gymnastics since it’s an indoor sport. Probably something that current BSC teams are playing. A lot of Frontier schools have softball and soccer so there are lots of no conference opportunities.