NIL Collective Focused On High School Recruit Acquisition- Would You Contribute?

[notredomer23]

If there was a true collective out there focused on acquisition the same way every other P5 is doing it, would you contribute?

Most are set up like a monthly subscription with benefits for being a member of the collective with different tiers from $5/month to $50,000/month, or a 1 time contribution.

I've seen a lot of ND fans think they are above it and that the ROI simply isn't there, but I am curious if that opinion is changing at all as NIL continues to expand and ND loses out on elite recruits.

 

[Blazers46]

100% no. there is no way I would even want to feel like I am financially invested in the team I route for. You would have to give me something in return.

I don’t know where the money goes for the people that make “the shirt“ every year, but I would probably start buying those ugly T-shirts if I knew the money was going to benefit the actual football program, in this case, essentially buying recruits. I would probably even pay $30 instead of the $20 they charge. I know it’s probably just a drop in the bucket but it’s definitely a missed opportunity.

 

[JamIrish]

I watch IB, Always Irish, ISD, Locked on Irish, Lucky Lefty, B&G etc...and see how much people pay in super chats. I would think that if fans would pay $20 to ask Driskell if ND would have won a NC in 2018 if Quinn was the QB, then there would be a lot of contributions to a collective for ND to acquire top talent. Then again those same people might be like "$20 a month, not worth it", so who knows...

 

[Ndaccountant]

 

[NorthDakota]

I dont think its needed. If you are good at ND you are going to have plenty of opportunity to get NIL.

 

[Blazers46]

I watch IB, Always Irish, ISD, Locked on Irish, Lucky Lefty, B&G etc...and see how much people pay in super chats. I would think that if fans would pay $20 to ask Driskell if ND would have won a NC in 2018 if Quinn was the QB, then there would be a lot of contributions to a collective for ND to acquire top talent. Then again those same people might be like "$20 a month, not worth it", so who knows...

I’m actually baffled why people pay so much to hear recruiting news. For me it’s basically the same as paying to hear the weatherman give a forecast a day early because ultimately with special Doppler info or whatever Bs the weatherman talks about. they don’t know what’s going to happen either and whatever happens happens anyway.

 

[notredomer23]

100% no. there is no way I would even want to feel like I am financially invested in the team I route for. You would have to give me something in return.

I don’t know where the money goes for the people that make “the shirt“ every year, but I would probably start buying those ugly T-shirts if I knew the money was going to benefit the actual football program, in this case, essentially buying recruits. I would probably even pay $30 instead of the $20 they charge. I know it’s probably just a drop in the bucket but it’s definitely a missed opportunity.

If you want to base it on on3's collective ranking list, your second scenario is essentially what Tennessee does with Spyre Sports, and they were ranked #1.

for $25/month

• Exclusive original content (e.g.- Vol Club Confidential Show, Game preview emails, gameday guide, gameday recap, etc.)
• Volunteer Club Decal
• Volunteer Club Branded Koozies
• Volunteer Club Branded T-Shirt
• Event access with Tennessee student-athletes (tailgate, watch party, etc.)
• 10% off Volunteer Club merchandise

 

[GrangerIrish24]

The day that Notre Dame helps pay my mortgage or my children’s schooling, I’ll contribute to this.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

100% no. there is no way I would even want to feel like I am financially invested in the team I route for. You would have to give me something in return.

I don’t know where the money goes for the people that make “the shirt“ every year, but I would probably start buying those ugly T-shirts if I knew the money was going to benefit the actual football program, in this case, essentially buying recruits. I would probably even pay $30 instead of the $20 they charge. I know it’s probably just a drop in the bucket but it’s definitely a missed opportunity.

The return is the joy from winning a national championship and getting to rub it in every Michigan fans face

 

[notredomer23]

This poll was started for a few specific grumpy posters in mind for what it's worth, but I do appreciate everyone's response thus far in this thread.

I personally would get rid of 247 and ISD if a collective like this existed and give to that instead.

 

[Free Manera]

100% no. there is no way I would even want to feel like I am financially invested in the team I route for. You would have to give me something in return.

I don’t know where the money goes for the people that make “the shirt“ every year, but I would probably start buying those ugly T-shirts if I knew the money was going to benefit the actual football program, in this case, essentially buying recruits. I would probably even pay $30 instead of the $20 they charge. I know it’s probably just a drop in the bucket but it’s definitely a missed opportunity.

For real! checks Fanduel account . wait a minute...

 

[Blazers46]

For real! checks Fanduel account . wait a minute...

Hilarious. I never bet on my own team, not because of integrity issues, because I would be losing a lot of money.

 

[stlnd01]

Will it give my kids bonus points with admissions?

 

[GATTACA!]

I dont think its needed. If you are good at ND you are going to have plenty of opportunity to get NIL.

That has never been the issue.

 

[NDMatt91]

For what it's worth, here is the success rate for top 100 players from the 2013-2017 classes. By success, they have either been drafted or have played in at least 1 NFL game.

1-50: 70.8%
51-100: 44.0%

For example, let's say ND was able to have a great collective and acquired Justin Scott, Elijah Rushing, Ryan Wingo, and Guerby Lambert, who are all ranked in the top 50. Based on the data from 2013-2017, about 3 out of those 4 would hit. Would people turn down a chance to help ND add 3 or 4 more NFL players to the roster per year?

Here is the success rate for players ranked 101-350 in the 2013-2017 classes. The average number of blue chip recruits per class was 348, and the success rate for all blue-chip recruits is 36%.

101-150: 34.0%
151-200: 30.8%
201-250: 24.4%
251-300: 25.2%
301-350: 20.8%

 

[Blazers46]

How big would the bag be per year?

 

[NDMatt91]

How big would the bag be per year?

I'm not sure, but it could get pretty big. The ND Football Twitter account has 653.7K followers. Let's divide that number by 3 and say that there are that many ND fans across the country that made 1 donation of $20 to this collective. That would be over $4.3 Million per year. IMO, that's very conservative for the amount that such a collective would bring in each year.

 

[BoredIrish]

Yes. I'd make a small contribution

 

[Blazers46]

I am curious how a collective would be structured? Business or nonprofit? People with money might at least like the write off.

 

[Crazy Balki]

IIRC, the FUND was already nearing $10 million in funds raised entering September of last year. That was after about 4-5 months.

I think it's fairly realistic that ND fans could scrape together another few mil for NIL promises to top 50 caliber players.

I get why people would invest in this.

I get why people wouldn't.

 

[MacIrish75]

I view my fandom as a hobby. I invest money into golf and in return I get incredibly frustrated with some occasional moments of joy.

How is being an ND football fan any different?

Hell yeah I’d donate.

 

[Irish4life]

I wouldn't subscribe to it monthly but I'd definitely donate to it

 

[Rack Em]

I'll donate if they kick the girls out and send them back to St. Mary's.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I'll donate if they kick the girls out and send them back to St. Mary's.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Correct me if I got this wrong, but Mike Frank alluded to the fact that there is nothing stopping someone from starting a collective for ND acquisition fees. The problem has more to do with ND cutting ties with said group and ultimately cutting them off from participating in any ND-related events, etc. People don't want to invest big money into unproven high school kids and they certainly don't want to do that if it also means losing credentials, season tickets, access to all things ND, etc.

Hypothetically, if I had money and wanted to start a fund for acquisition, I could and the only thing I might potentially be sacrificing is the one home game I go to each year, if that? (I mean, would they just blacklist me and ban me from going to games?) Anyways, it got me wondering how many ND fans who do not have the risk of losing season tickets or credentials etc would contribute to a fund in a more grass roots fundraising like what notredomer23 is suggesting? Who's stopping anyone from actually doing this? I genuinely don't know how any of this works. I'm just spitballing.

 

[Blazers46]

Correct me if I got this wrong, but Mike Frank alluded to the fact that there is nothing stopping someone from starting a collective for ND acquisition fees. The problem has more to do with ND cutting ties with said group and ultimately cutting them off from participating in any ND-related events, etc. People don't want to invest big money into unproven high school kids and they certainly don't want to do that if it also means losing credentials, season tickets, access to all things ND, etc.

Hypothetically, if I had money and wanted to start a fund for acquisition, I could and the only thing I might potentially be sacrificing is the one home game I go to each year, if that? (I mean, would they just blacklist me and ban me from going to games?) Anyways, it got me wondering how many ND fans who do not have the risk of losing season tickets or credentials etc would contribute to a fund in a more grass roots fundraising like what notredomer23 is suggesting? Who's stopping anyone from actually doing this? I genuinely don't know how any of this works. I'm just spitballing.

Starting a collective and making it a business model taking a salary even.

 

[NDMatt91]

Correct me if I got this wrong, but Mike Frank alluded to the fact that there is nothing stopping someone from starting a collective for ND acquisition fees. The problem has more to do with ND cutting ties with said group and ultimately cutting them off from participating in any ND-related events, etc. People don't want to invest big money into unproven high school kids and they certainly don't want to do that if it also means losing credentials, season tickets, access to all things ND, etc.

Hypothetically, if I had money and wanted to start a fund for acquisition, I could and the only thing I might potentially be sacrificing is the one home game I go to each year, if that? (I mean, would they just blacklist me and ban me from going to games?) Anyways, it got me wondering how many ND fans who do not have the risk of losing season tickets or credentials etc would contribute to a fund in a more grass roots fundraising like what notredomer23 is suggesting? Who's stopping anyone from actually doing this? I genuinely don't know how any of this works. I'm just spitballing.

I wasn't able to listen to the Power Hour until my run yesterday but I had the same thoughts. I would have no clue how to start such a fund, let alone advertise it to other ND fans, but I definitely would if I knew how to. What I'd also do is not pay them until they enrolled in school, and I think it would be great if they could do some volunteer work in the South Bend area in the offseason or when they have down time. Go into the elementary schools and read books to kids, help out in soup kitchens and with food drives, missionary work, etc.

Let's say there are 200,000 ND fans across the country who made just 1 payment of $20 per year. That would be $4 Million in a collective for high school players every year. Frankly, I think that number is very conservative.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Will it give my kids bonus points with admissions?

if you give enough lmao

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I wasn't able to listen to the Power Hour until my run yesterday but I had the same thoughts. I would have no clue how to start such a fund, let alone advertise it to other ND fans, but I definitely would if I knew how to. What I'd also do is not pay them until they enrolled in school, and I think it would be great if they could do some volunteer work in the South Bend area in the offseason or when they have down time. Go into the elementary schools and read books to kids, help out in soup kitchens and with food drives, missionary work, etc.

Let's say there are 200,000 ND fans across the country who made just 1 payment of $20 per year. That would be $4 Million in a collective for high school players every year. Frankly, I think that number is very conservative.

I know we can't "know" the answer to this; but what will it take monetarily to sway more Top 25 or Top 50 players to ND?

I'm not saying I'm on board with this. I'm just asking hypothetical questions.

ISD has used the hypothetical scenario with KVA a couple times now (NOT suggesting that he's after a bag...it's just for sake of conversation)....If USC, OSU, and ND are all equal in his mind....what is the deciding factor? Money? If so, how much?

That's the type of stuff ND seems to be up against. A&M, Oregon, among others are all straight up buying players. But what about others with collectives who are selling the school, the program, etc but also "throw in" a bag for good measure? How does ND compete against those schools? How much is enough to push more kids over the top for ND? $25k? $50k? I genuinely don't know.

 

[NDMatt91]

I know we can't "know" the answer to this; but what will it take monetarily to sway more Top 25 or Top 50 players to ND?

I'm not saying I'm on board with this. I'm just asking hypothetical questions.

ISD has used the hypothetical scenario with KVA a couple times now (NOT suggesting that he's after a bag...it's just for sake of conversation)....If USC, OSU, and ND are all equal in his mind....what is the deciding factor? Money? If so, how much?

That's the type of stuff ND seems to be up against. A&M, Oregon, among others are all straight up buying players. But what about others with collectives who are selling the school, the program, etc but also "throw in" a bag for good measure? How does ND compete against those schools? How much is enough to push more kids over the top for ND? $25k? $50k? I genuinely don't know.

My guess is 10+ Million. But it depends on how many top 25-50 kids you're targeting with a bag. If such a collective existed and they had 4 Million I think they would make out well if they focused on Scott, Rushing, and Wingo.