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re: Damn, Louisville is broke
Posted on 5/22/26 at 3:12 pm to Landmass
Posted on 5/22/26 at 3:12 pm to Landmass
quote:
Donor fatigue will set in soon at most places
That's a good name for it.
Once programs hungry enough to throw money towards the opportunity to get a trophy, like the Indianas, SMUs, etc. get to a certain point, they'll either:
1. Win a championship and stop donating; or
2. See the novelty wear off and stop donating.
We're in the era of the smaller programs competing by bringing in large sums and recruiting elite athletes (which in turn dilutes the SEC, for example).
At some point that will trend down and those programs will become ambivalent again, realize it's too expensive to keep up, and drop out in some way.
The SEC will eventually come back strong in some form or fashion, but I'm afraid by then the landscape will have been irrevocably gutted.
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Posted on 5/22/26 at 3:27 pm to BHTiger
quote:well if so at least it's due to money - we get threatened around here to be banished to the SoCon because our big 3 men's don't win
After decades Clemson is headed back to the SoCon.
CU's gonna have to get serious about cuts - everyone is - those 7 majority lifetime BOT holders will likely be the last to budge as old habits die hard - especially after all the winning and titles since 2011 -
CU's football program has entered John Calipari/UK standoff territory with Swinney's salary and the changing landscape of NIL$ past 3 seasons - I fully expect the tigers to enter the SEC when the media rights cuts off in 2031 - just kick the budget can until then if possible -
Posted on 5/22/26 at 3:54 pm to Landmass
quote:
Damn, Louisville is broke
You think we are the only one? LOL. The majority of schools are broke and are facing huge budget deficits
Posted on 5/22/26 at 5:23 pm to tide06
Yea..It is very much now pay to win. I used to love CFB, still do but my care for it has gone dramatically. I used to set-up 3 TVs and CFB Saturdays meant leave me alone..now...I still watch but do not remotely care as much at all.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 5:48 pm to Gatorbait2008
You guys are hilarious and truly live in bizarro world. Most schools haven’t even started to really use NIL and you are talking about donor fatigue?
Listen, it was the SEC that started the exorbitant coaches salary and huge buyouts. It was the SEC that was giving away corvettes and stacks of Benjamins to lure 650 SAT scholars to your school.
And yet you guys think everyone else is just magically going to stop trying to win now that they finally attained equal footing? You guys are nuts. If anything, this is a chance to finally purge all these other sports no one wants to pay a buck to see and allow schools to see success in football like Indiana just did.
Hoping everyone gets fatigue so the SEC can win again is the definition of “not a plan”. Maybe your coaches simply need to do a better job at paying the right players instead of just throwing money at anyone Athlon says is a 4 star.
Listen, it was the SEC that started the exorbitant coaches salary and huge buyouts. It was the SEC that was giving away corvettes and stacks of Benjamins to lure 650 SAT scholars to your school.
And yet you guys think everyone else is just magically going to stop trying to win now that they finally attained equal footing? You guys are nuts. If anything, this is a chance to finally purge all these other sports no one wants to pay a buck to see and allow schools to see success in football like Indiana just did.
Hoping everyone gets fatigue so the SEC can win again is the definition of “not a plan”. Maybe your coaches simply need to do a better job at paying the right players instead of just throwing money at anyone Athlon says is a 4 star.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 6:27 pm to captdalton
quote:
How do you think LSU will look this year? LSU AD Ausberry says to expect a $25-35 million dollar deficit at LSU.
You are being disingenuous being so selective in what you post from that interview with Verge.
quote:
We’re all talking about this – the athletic directors in the conference, we’re all talking about how we’re going to make this work. And we’re in better financial positions than a lot of people. If we didn’t have that buyout ($54 million to Kelly), we’d be in great shape. But right now, with the buyout, yeah that’s going to strain us a little bit.
quote:
. Our football season ticket sales are off the chart right now. We had 32,000 requests (up to 44,000 now). We are way over. Our corporate sponsors are at about 25 percent over. Our fund raising is way over.
LSU will run a deficit short term like many programs but is in good long-term shape. LSU spent big money on football because it is the engine that powers the AD.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 6:35 pm to Landmass
I hope college sports dies for 1-2 years. It would bring about a reset that is very much needed.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 9:39 pm to tide06
I agree with you one most points. However, strongly disagree with your comment on IU / Cignetti…. Their recent success is actually the opposite of what you are implying.
Yes, they used transfers but more in the traditional sense of transfers and did not need Cuban or some financial advantage (undervalued, experienced players that individually don’t stand out & we’re not highly sought after).
I’d say his coaching / building of that team is one of the most impressive coaching accomplishments in any sport, especially in today’s landscape.
But sure, tell yourself the Tide got whooped because they had Mark Cuban.
Yes, they used transfers but more in the traditional sense of transfers and did not need Cuban or some financial advantage (undervalued, experienced players that individually don’t stand out & we’re not highly sought after).
I’d say his coaching / building of that team is one of the most impressive coaching accomplishments in any sport, especially in today’s landscape.
But sure, tell yourself the Tide got whooped because they had Mark Cuban.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 10:01 pm to LSU713Tiger
Cignetti and IU beat the brakes off a shell of an Alabama team that had the guts to make the playoffs but was nowhere near ready to compete for a championship with that OL or injuries.
And yes. He brought in a bunch of quality old veterans from James Madison that were ready to play and compete without needing huge paydays.
Now he’s signing 5* HS WRs and top 5 portal classes. That’s a totally different deal and it’s all possible because of Cuban.
And yes. He brought in a bunch of quality old veterans from James Madison that were ready to play and compete without needing huge paydays.
Now he’s signing 5* HS WRs and top 5 portal classes. That’s a totally different deal and it’s all possible because of Cuban.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 10:12 pm to paperwasp
Some schools will always be immune to donor fatigue (I.e. there are a bunch of schools but I’ll use Texas and Texas A&M as my example). They just have too much money / wealth widely distributed across their fan base and football generates a huge amount of income. It’s a machine that won’t stop.
But I 100% see this as an issue with the vast majority of schools across the country. I expect most schools have a more concentrated group of donors that do not have billions (especially if they jumped in over the past few years).
On the SEC - It will 100% never be the same as it was between 2000 - 2020.
It isn’t because of the high school talent leaving home / the SEC with big offers from he Midwest.
It is because of the ability to transfer and leave for more money / playing time after enrollment (in most cases - SEC kids staying home and deciding to leave for better playing time and/or more money WITHOUT having to sit out a year).
The SEC was dominant because the good teams were STACKED with talent from Freshman to Juniors. 4-5* players played special teams / situationally behind other 4-5* upper classman until their time to shine came with plenty of time to develop and assimilate into the team, scheme and have an identity.
Now - these guys can leave with no penalty if they don’t start freshman / sophomore year or they get poached with a huge $ offer to transfer.
Everyone is on a 1 year contract with a player option. What business has ever succeeded with their entire team on a 1 year contract.
But I 100% see this as an issue with the vast majority of schools across the country. I expect most schools have a more concentrated group of donors that do not have billions (especially if they jumped in over the past few years).
On the SEC - It will 100% never be the same as it was between 2000 - 2020.
It isn’t because of the high school talent leaving home / the SEC with big offers from he Midwest.
It is because of the ability to transfer and leave for more money / playing time after enrollment (in most cases - SEC kids staying home and deciding to leave for better playing time and/or more money WITHOUT having to sit out a year).
The SEC was dominant because the good teams were STACKED with talent from Freshman to Juniors. 4-5* players played special teams / situationally behind other 4-5* upper classman until their time to shine came with plenty of time to develop and assimilate into the team, scheme and have an identity.
Now - these guys can leave with no penalty if they don’t start freshman / sophomore year or they get poached with a huge $ offer to transfer.
Everyone is on a 1 year contract with a player option. What business has ever succeeded with their entire team on a 1 year contract.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 10:17 pm to tide06
My bad if your comment was referencing the future, I agree with you there on Cuban and IU going forward (especially given Cuban is an attention whore and wants a piece of anything successful).
I thought your comment was backwards looking. Please proceed
I thought your comment was backwards looking. Please proceed
Posted on 5/22/26 at 10:22 pm to LSU713Tiger
quote:
What business has ever succeeded with their entire team on a 1 year contract
Well said.
At this rate it’s effectively a suicidal arms race.
Someone needs to step in and save them from themselves.
Posted on 5/22/26 at 10:24 pm to LSU713Tiger
quote:
My bad if your comment was referencing the future, I agree with you there on Cuban and IU going forward (especially given Cuban is an attention whore and wants a piece of anything successful).
You were 100% right though that his initial run was predicated on cheap portal adds.
I just think part of that run was unsustainable long term because he was stealing from his old program like Clark Lea did at Vandy with the NMSU core he built his recent around.
Posted on 5/23/26 at 11:57 pm to RunningJacket
Our last coach was Billy Napier...he had no eye for talent or very much struggled to develop them...prob a bit of both.
Indiana just helps prove you can buy titles now with good coaching..not sure how that is good for college sports at all..what are you talking about? It is only proof that you buy titles now basically.
Indiana had an NIL buget around 21 mill last year.
While it takes coaching to win to obviously(compare Ohio State to Texas, one has an elite coach(OSU) and and is the 2nd best coach in CFB(Smart is number 1) Ohio State and Georgia have a similar NIL as Texas but Sark is not an elite coach at all which is why they have Natties and he does not).
You by no means can win a CFB title now without a high NIL yearly budget. While you still need good coaching, it is not possible to win now without big donors.
Indiana just helps prove you can buy titles now with good coaching..not sure how that is good for college sports at all..what are you talking about? It is only proof that you buy titles now basically.
Indiana had an NIL buget around 21 mill last year.
While it takes coaching to win to obviously(compare Ohio State to Texas, one has an elite coach(OSU) and and is the 2nd best coach in CFB(Smart is number 1) Ohio State and Georgia have a similar NIL as Texas but Sark is not an elite coach at all which is why they have Natties and he does not).
You by no means can win a CFB title now without a high NIL yearly budget. While you still need good coaching, it is not possible to win now without big donors.
This post was edited on 5/24/26 at 4:34 am
Posted on 5/24/26 at 12:14 am to Gatorbait2008
I can’t believe I’m having to type this again.
In what way did Indiana buy last year’s title?
Great coach with players that he brought in without much money offered because he was the only guy who even put in a bid.
You think the NIL budget of $21MM applied to the team assembled that won last year?
Again, going forward - yes, Indiana money will be a huge driver in sustaining success.
But their initial success was just great coaching and great player selection that paired strengths and weaknesses very well (especially on the defensive side which is Cognettis side).
Obviously, none of this was achievable without Mendoza’s rise and massive leap as a QB. Like you and most, I hate the BiG 10 but Indiana was one team I couldn’t hate and money did not buy that ship.
Yeah, Nappier sucked as a coach. You could’ve just said that.
In what way did Indiana buy last year’s title?
Great coach with players that he brought in without much money offered because he was the only guy who even put in a bid.
You think the NIL budget of $21MM applied to the team assembled that won last year?
Again, going forward - yes, Indiana money will be a huge driver in sustaining success.
But their initial success was just great coaching and great player selection that paired strengths and weaknesses very well (especially on the defensive side which is Cognettis side).
Obviously, none of this was achievable without Mendoza’s rise and massive leap as a QB. Like you and most, I hate the BiG 10 but Indiana was one team I couldn’t hate and money did not buy that ship.
Yeah, Nappier sucked as a coach. You could’ve just said that.
Posted on 5/24/26 at 4:55 am to LSU713Tiger
Um..wtf..they are literally funded by Mark Cuban and have a very big NIL budget. I know you wanted to sound poetic and shite but they do not get near that title without Mark Cuban giving them a ton of money to buy a roster.......their head coach fricking used the transfer portal to excess and used Cubans money to literally buy that roster. It was not built...it was literally bought.
Indiana is not some amazing team of a ton of underdogs...it is a ton of millonaires bought by a billionaire..literally..save the Cig worked miracles with a bunch of underdogs bs please.
They went from 3-9 to National champs...that took both coaching and a ton of money...as in 21 Million
Indiana is not some amazing team of a ton of underdogs...it is a ton of millonaires bought by a billionaire..literally..save the Cig worked miracles with a bunch of underdogs bs please.
They went from 3-9 to National champs...that took both coaching and a ton of money...as in 21 Million
This post was edited on 5/24/26 at 5:07 am
Posted on 5/24/26 at 5:09 am to TexasWranglers
quote:
Sucks for universities like Clemson for sure
I don't know why anybody is crying for Clemson...
They have an enrollment of 30K which is pretty typical for for D1program.
It is a reasonably highly regarded school that probably has its fair share of rich alumni.
Besides that... there is plenty of talent in the area for them to recruit.
If I'm going to feel sorry for an orange team... It is going to be Oregon State.
Posted on 5/24/26 at 6:11 am to Landmass
Coming to every school soon, till the barn door is closed on the wild wild west
Posted on 5/24/26 at 6:12 am to Gatorbait2008
quote:
it is a ton of millonaires
True of all football and basketball players wearing college jerseys now
Posted on 5/24/26 at 7:39 am to kywildcatfanone
Yep. Sadly college has become pro sports now.
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