arienallien

Over the years I always hated that the student athletes who had such hectic schedule were not financially compensated. I used to work as part time student worker and eventually as graduate assistant (not related to football) and used to earn ~750 - 2000 USD per month nNIL Is Progress, But It Needs Structure

As a former part-time student worker and graduate assistant(tutoring athletes), I was always bothered that student-athletes weren’t financially supported, despite their intense schedules. I earned around $750–$2,000 a month for 20 hours of work per week, and even that kept me busy. Athletes, on the other hand, had no time to work and often came from backgrounds that needed financial help—so I was fully on board when NIL came along.

But the recent situation with Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava raises concerns. He reportedly signed a $2.4 million NIL deal, whether he played or not—structured like an NFL contract. Now, he’s allegedly asking for more money because other QBs are making more, regardless of performance.

That kind of renegotiation makes things unstable for programs. NIL was meant to compensate athletes fairly—not turn into a bidding war. Tennessee now may need to adjust their entire strategy for a new QB, and that’s a tough spot to be in.

I still support NIL, but we need better structure—something that protects both players and schools.

What are your thoughts?

P.S: I am giving Tennessee as an example due to recent context --- but even LSU has had this problem with other position players

I am not saying Burrow, JD and others didnot develop at LSU.

Just saying they had their foundation else where ; even if it means failures. Those failures are a big part of becoming what they are today. So I stand by what I mentioned initially that we cannot claim 100% of their development.

And for JJ, Lee , Harris.... they had their success but dont think any opposing team had to worry about passing game as much during their time.

With NUSS we can actually claim we developed him fully into a future NFL prospect . At the moment ( mid season) I consider him as a potential 2nd - 3rd round draft prospect. If he continues to have the same success he will definitely become 1st round and I will not blame if he bolts for NFL.

I know Corey has done tremendous work with the DBs.

What is the status of Javien Toviano. How is he progressing?

Couple weeks back BK said they wanted to settle him to one position.

But dont recollect him making any splash so far.

has to do with play calling ...

The long passes were not working. And Mason was covered well by their defense( in first 3 quarters)

They (our OC) should have played the slot reciever better or another TE targeted more for short routes. Nuss stats are because of him rying so many 15+ yards attempt.

I know commentator kept asking Nuss to run ( i somewhat agree that Nuss is not allowed to run at this juncture of the season. The backup QB is un proven and young; if Nuss is sidelined even for 1-2 games our season is over).

Kudos to Defense; as ususal defense played much better in second half ( also their top reciver was hurt in 3rd quarter).

Overall I am very glad that we won.... though we were not the better team on field today.

@wildcat hence I saind "mini" Jayden.....

And I say read option QB will cause us problem is mainly because how bad our rush defense is been. With a Dual QB there is additional dimension of running that will have to be addressed.

Thats not to say we cannot fix or adjust. I just say that the challenge will be there and I hope our DC makes the right plan

I think the read option QBs will create a problem for LSU defense in the coming weeks.

Arkansas and Alabama mostly. I feel the Ark QB is a mini Jayden Daniels( not the 2023 Heisman Jayden but the year before Jayden)

And Alabama has a Ton of talent on roster (leftover from Saban).

UF and Auburn should be a W for sure.

And then there is Ole Miss and oklahoma... which should be a 50-50.

In the last 3-4 years our special team has been avg at best.

Any chance they try Squib Kick this year to get something different going on?

Stewart Mandel: *taps mic* Fire away.


Who is playing where, now?
Texas fan: Sorry, did you just say there’s been more realignment? Did we end up forming the Pac-16 after all?

Mandel: No, my friend, you guys are in the SEC now. So is Oklahoma.

Texas A&M fan: What? You’ve got to be freaking kidding me. … But hey, I’m sure our multi-national championship hero Jimbo Fisher will kick Bevo’s arse.

Mandel: About that. You guys paid $75 million to fire him last year. But hey, you’ve got Mike Elko back. He was at Duke the last couple years. He beat Clemson 28-7.

Clemson fan: We lost by three touchdowns to Duke? Does that mean Nick Saban retired and Dabo Swinney left for Alabama?

Mandel: Saban did retire, but no, Dabo’s still at Clemson. Like you guys, he’s still catching up on that whole transfer portal thing. Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer.

The entire room: Who?


Kalen DeBoer's focus on people is his distinguishing trait, which led him to Alabama

Mandel: He took Washington to the national title game last year.

Utah fan: Hey, at least we got him out of the Pac-12.

Mandel: Oh boy. I figured this would come up at some point. Guys, you’re not going to believe this, but the Pac-12 broke up. The Power 5 is the Power 4. Remember how badly Larry Scott botched the Pac-12 Network? Well, they somehow managed to replace him with an even worse negotiator.


‘All hell broke loose’: The chaotic final days that shook the Pac-12 and college football to their core

USC fan: I knew it! I knew the day would come that our mighty Trojans would go independent.

Mandel: Actually, you guys and UCLA went to the Big Ten. You’ve got conference games at Minnesota and Maryland this year and a Friday night home game against Rutgers.

Oregon fan: A-ha! Then we’re the Kings of the West Coast now. Let the Ducks quack.

Mandel: Nope, you and the Huskies are in the Big Ten, too. But you’re getting half the money as the rest of them. The Big Ten is an 18-team conference now and with no divisions. Say a prayer for the tiebreakers. Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State went to the Big 12.

Cal fan: You neglected to mention my beloved Bears and those dorks at Stanford, which surely got invited to the Big Ten as well.

Mandel: No, you’re in the ACC.

Stanford fan: That’s a joke, right? All the teams in that league are in the Eastern time zone.

Mandel: Well, there’s one central one now, too. SMU.

SMU fan: What? That’s amazing! Next you’re going to tell me it’s legal to buy a kid a Trans-Am.

Mandel: Yes, it is. That’s a different story, though.

Oregon State fan: Excuse me, but I did not hear our name called. Or Washington State’s.

Mandel: You guys are still in the Pac-12. You guys are the only two left. You’re going to keep wearing the logo patches, but you will play half your games against the Mountain West for the next two years.

Boise State fan: That’s weird. Are they playing for the Pac-12 championship or the Mountain West championship?

Mandel: Neither. They’re basically an independent. Which of course means they’re ineligible for one of the College Football Playoff’s automatic berths.


Jake Dickert remains the head coach at Washington State, where he will lead his team against remaining Pac-12 member Oregon State, plus Washington in the Apple Cup and many Mountain West teams. (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty)


Good news: Everyone has a (theoretical) chance of making the postseason!
Notre Dame fan: Automatic berths? Are you telling me you have to win a conference now to make the Playoff? Notre Dame has never, ever played in a conference.

Mandel: Actually, you did play in a season in the ACC in 2020. … Oh right, you slept through 2020. Lucky you. But thanks for reminding me. I buried the lede! Guys, the CFP is 12 teams now! Not four, not six, not eight. Twelve! Can you believe it?

Alabama fan: Who cares? We’re still gonna win the thing every year.

Mandel: Actually, Michigan beat you in the semis last year.

Ohio State fan: Yeah, because they cheated!

Mandel: Take it easy, guy. Your team hasn’t beaten them since you were last awake.

The entire room: What?

Mandel: Back to the Playoff. It’s 12 teams. The top four conference champions get an automatic bid and a first-round bye. Everyone else plays a first-round game the third week of December. Any questions?




Tulane fan: You said “top four” conference champs, but before you said there are only four power conferences now. Are you saying there’s a fifth automatic berth?

Mandel: Yes! The highest-ranked Group of 5 team gets in automatically as well.

UCF fan: Oh, now they’re doing that?

Mandel: Hey, you guys are in the Big 12 now. Win it and you’re in. No need for fake banners.

Michigan fan: Speaking of banners, I heard we finally won one last year. I assume we gave our honorable Michigan Man, Jim Harbaugh, a big new contract?

Mandel: No, he’s back in the NFL now. Which is probably for the best. It turned out he’s not big on the whole “following the rules” thing, so the NCAA kicked him out of college until 2072. But don’t worry. You guys promoted Sherrone Moore.


The entire room: Who?

Mandel: Guys, focus. Big, big Playoff. I’ve got a lot to fill you in on: The first-round games will be at home stadiums on Dec. 20 and 21. How cool is that? No. 5 will host No. 12, No. 6 will host No. 11, and so on.

Florida State fan: Oh! So if, hypothetically, my team went 13-0 and somehow finished No. 5, we’d get to play Liberty at Doak Campbell?

Mandel: Ah… well, here’s where it gets confusing, so listen carefully. The top-four seeds aren’t necessarily the teams ranked No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 by the committee. They’re the four highest-ranked conference champs. So, let’s say Oklahoma State wins the Big 12, but is 10-3 and ranked No. 12. They’d still be the No. 4 seed.

Georgia fan: So if, hypothetically, my team was 12-0 going into the SEC championship game but lost … we’d be the ones that turn around and play Liberty two weeks later, while Oklahoma State gets to rest for a month?

Mandel: Exactly! Makes total sense, right?

Oklahoma State fan: Hey, that’s awesome for us. When would our home game be?

Mandel: You don’t get one. You’ll advance straight to the quarterfinals, which will be played at traditional New Year’s Six bowls, on Dec. 31 (Fiesta) and Jan. 1 (Peach, Rose, Sugar).

Penn State fan: Question. If we win the Big Ten, do we still get to go to the Rose Bowl?

Mandel: Haha! Penn State wins the Big Ten. Good one. But yes, when possible, the committee will place those top-four seeds using the traditional conference-bowl tie-ins. If the SEC champ finishes No. 1, it goes to the Sugar Bowl, Big Ten to the Rose, etc.

Miami fan: Ah, so if we win the ACC, we get to stay home for the Orange Bowl.

Mandel: Haha! Miami wins the ACC. Good one. Not this year, because the Orange and Cotton Bowls are hosting the two semifinals.

Oklahoma fan: Awesome! We love spending New Year’s in South Florida.

Mandel: No, the quarterfinals are on New Year’s, remember? The semifinals are on Jan. 9 and 10.

ESPN executive: Are you telling me we get one semifinal on Saturday, one on Sunday? Let me go ahead and make a deposit on that yacht, now.

Mandel: No, no. Weekends are for the NFL, silly. Two of the biggest sporting events of the year will be played on a random Thursday and Friday night after everyone’s back at work and school.

LSU fan: So when’s the championship? As you know, we have completely realistic expectations that our team will win the national championship every single year.

I remember seeing a thread from a bama fan that Michael Penix Jr. was cheated of heisman.

Do they still feel the same?

Michael Penix Jr. had a good year but there was a stretch of 3-4 games where the defense helped win games when he was flat.

JD as an individual had the best year period.

Michael Penix Jr. pre draft evaluation of mid round is right.
He may become the next Vick for all I know; but with the current resume he is a mid round draft where as JD definitely will be 1st round.

Between Hurley and Underwood one would have a path like Caleb Williams and other like Malachi Nelson(not saying he is bust... just that he will look else where to succeed)

I really want both to succeed at LSU but highly unlikely. The best man will stay and the other will transfer.

At this point there is no clear answer. Have to wait it out.