Spyre Questions

[UTvols#1]

More or less! Ha we are going to have a presence on gamedays, but just trying to figure what that is and how it looks within the rules that we have to follow.

Was kinda hoping you could , 80k dropping a couple bucks a game adds up. .Alot of fans don't have a clue about donating yet ..

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

An offertory during the 3rd quarter probably isnt the best idea.

Ask Auburn what they think about the offertory

Sincerely,

Cecil Newton

 

[VOLfrombama]

Now this is funny. How about listing out how you are paid and how you use that revenue. LOL

Frankly, this is no bodies business but the athletes. You have an option to put money in or not.

Last time I checked, you aren’t footing the bill for my salary or even a part of it, nor has anyone asked you to do so.

 

[VOLfrombama]

I already provided an educated response and your reply was: prove it. If you’d like to refute anything I’ve said, please do so, but you’ve yet to make any sensible argument.

I agree…. it was an educated guess, not based in factual information.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Last time I checked, you aren’t footing the bill for my salary or even a part of it, nor has anyone asked you to do so.

LWS is right.

If you go to church, you put some money in the offering plate. You ask the preacher or priest how much they and each of their staff are making beforehand?

If you donate to St Jude's, you ask how much each doctor, nurse and administrator makes before you do?

We all give to causes. Some charitable, some hobbies (like football), some professional. The average person probably contributes to a half dozen causes each year. And that's before we even get into all the other services and goods you pay for.

Do you really ask all those people how much they're making before you contribute? How often they get paid? How the money is disbursed?

I get it, that you want your contribution to be used effectively, and efficiently, and even wisely. Makes sense.

So you'll be very pleased to hear this: at 90% throughput to the athletes, Spyre is already at the top end of that general kind of organization (75% to 85% is the usual, and widely accepted legitimate range).*

That should be all you need to know; getting into the salaries of each member of the staff is a bit overboard.

Go Vols!




* An organization called Charity Watch, which grades charities on how efficient they are with donations, sets 75% as the gold standard. Any charity that is able to push 75% or more of the funding it receives through to the targeted beneficiaries is considered "highly efficient." Spyre is not a charity, but its business model kind of works in the same way, and so the comparison seems apt. Charity Rating Process.

 

[VOLfrombama]

LWS is right.

If you go to church, you put some money in the offering plate. You ask the preacher or priest how much they and each of their staff are making beforehand?

If you donate to St Jude's, you ask how much each doctor, nurse and administrator makes before you do?

We all give to causes. Some charitable, some hobbies, some professional. The average person probably contributes to a half dozen causes each year. And that's before we even get into all the other services and goods you pay for.

Do you really ask all those people how much they're making before you contribute?

Im glad we are engaging this topic. I disagree with both your comparisons wholeheartedly.

I was a member of a Presbyterian church for a very long time, so i got to see exactly how the money was spent. In some cases, I helped determine that, so that made it much easier. I also answered questions, which we commonly involved the congregation in, especially on large budgetory items like building mainteance, expasnion, new construction, etc., there ever were concerns. After serving on the Session, I became a liaison between staff and congregation and fortunately for me, my term was served, and I got to bow out. Let me tell you, lots of people had issues and nobody ever really agreed on how to spend any surplus, give raises, etc. Several projects were scrapped because of these disagreements.

If i am giving money to charity, I do not expect any information to be provided, and blindly trust it will be used for the cause stated by the charity, which is typically stated in the "charitable mission statement'". However, if there is a reasonable expectation that my money will not go to padding the pockets of charity administrators and or frivolously spent before the goals are met, and if it is, then I would not be happy, and I probbably would refrain from donating again. See Red Cross Hatian Earthquake relief fund if you want an example. I refuse to donate to the red cross in any fashion because the money was not actually used for what they claimed it to be.

UT football is not even close to a charity, nor is Spyre. So comparing a for profit marketing agency to a non-profit church or charity like St Judes is absurd.

My salary comes from a private company that doesn't rely partially on fans or anyone other than our clients, to whom we provide a very finite service to, to supplement these contracts. The only thing these items have in common is they are all unfair comparisons.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Im glad we are engaging this topic. I disagree with both your comparisons wholeheartedly.

I was a member of a Presbyterian church for a very long time, so i got to see exactly how the money was spent. In some cases, I helped determine that, so that made it much easier. I also answered questions, which we commonly involved the congregation in, especially on large budgetory items like building mainteance, expasnion, new construction, etc., there ever were concerns. After serving on the Session, I became a liaison between staff and congregation and fortunately for me, my term was served, and I got to bow out. Let me tell you, lots of people had issues and nobody ever really agreed on how to spend any surplus, give raises, etc. Several projects were scrapped because of these disagreements.

If i am giving money to charity, I do not expect any information to be provided, and blindly trust it will be used for the cause stated by the charity, which is typically stated in the "charitable mission statement'". However, if there is a reasonable expectation that my money will not go to padding the pockets of charity administrators and or frivolously spent before the goals are met, and if it is, then I would not be happy, and I probbably would refrain from donating again. See Red Cross Hatian Earthquake relief fund if you want an example. I refuse to donate to the red cross in any fashion because the money was not actually used for what they claimed it to be.

UT football is not even close to a charity, nor is Spyre. So comparing a for profit marketing agency to a non-profit church or charity like St Judes is absurd.

My salary comes from a private company that doesn't rely partially on fans or anyone other than our clients, to whom we provide a very finite service to, to supplement these contracts. The only thing these items have in common is they are all unfair comparisons.

You miss the point.

The business model Spyre follows has great similarity to throughput charities. It's a valid comparison.

So a 90% throughput rate doesn't satisfy you that the organization is very efficient?

Man, you're impossible to please. No one is going to get over the bar you're setting.

 

[TNREADER]

The tax deductible issue may have been addressed, but my opinion is that there is no deduction. The Volunteer Club that you join has no mention of it being a nonprofit. Additionally, you receive benefits based on your membership level, so no deduction.

This is different from the setup at Texas where a nonprofit was formed and the $50,000 payments to the offensive linemen are for them to promote/support/work/etc with nonprofit organizations. The six Texas alumni supporters will receive a deduction as they personally receive nothing in return for their contribution to the "Horns with Heart" nonprofit.

 

[Probably_in_Class]

You miss the point.

The business model Spyre follows has great similarity to throughput charities. It's a valid comparison.

So a 90% throughput rate doesn't satisfy you that the organization is very efficient?

Man, you're impossible to please. No one is going to get over the bar you're setting.

I think we're learning why Spyre didn't bother replying to him...

 

[VOLfrombama]

You miss the point.

The business model Spyre follows has great similarity to throughput charities. It's a valid comparison.

So a 90% throughput rate doesn't satisfy you that the organization is very efficient?

Man, you're impossible to please. No one is going to get over the bar you're setting.

Now you’re being melodramatic. I haven’t even set a bar. I only asked a few questions about how Spyre can potentially get out of paying a kid if they get large sums of money and act a fool. I can’t imagine the shenanigans myself or some of my friends may have been into had we gotten even $50k, much less 7 figures.

My reasoning for questions was in an effort to protect the donor base. If some kid gets more money than they’ve ever seen before, what are the chances they act a fool? I would say pretty good actually. Maybe even a return of the Fulmer Cup?

I just want to know that we aren’t sending some kid to his doom in the name of the almighty W.

Is that too much to ask?

 

[VOLfrombama]

I think we're learning why Spyre didn't bother replying to him...

They actually did respond, multiple times. But since Im not a member, they didn’t send me an email link to the zoom. But hey, keep following me around. Its fine. Im just waiting on my kid to get out of piano practice anyway.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Now you’re being melodramatic. I haven’t even set a bar. I only asked a few questions about how Spyre can potentially get out of paying a kid if they get large sums of money and act a fool. I can’t imagine the shenanigans myself or some of my friends may have been into had we gotten even $50k, much less 7 figures.

My reasoning for questions was in an effort to protect the donor base. If some kid gets more money than they’ve ever seen before, what are the chances they act a fool? I would say pretty good actually. Maybe even a return of the Fulmer Cup?

I just want to know that we aren’t sending some kid to his doom in the name of the almighty W.

Is that too much to ask?

Well, I don't think you need to set yourself up as the protector of the fan base. I think all Vols fans can make the decision for themselves based on what they've learned about Spyre. It's not like the information is tough to find.

As for whether the players will act responsibly, come on. They're college kids. They'll make some dumb decisions, a small number of those will be about something serious, and they'll get in trouble for it. Money may fuel some of those dumb decisions, but it's not like money never existed in the lives of football players before NIL arrived.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Well, I don't think you need to set yourself up as the protector of the fan base. I think all Vols fans can make the decision for themselves based on what they've learned about Spyre. It's not like the information is tough to find.

As for whether the players will act responsibly, come on. They're college kids. They'll make some dumb decisions, a small number of those will be about something serious, and they'll get in trouble for it. Money may fuel some of those dumb decisions, but it's not like money never existed in the lives of football players before NIL arrived.

I can agree with that. Im not afraid to take some criticism on the internet because someone doesnt like my question or understand why I might ask it.

I also don’t want to contribute to a kids demise in the name of winning. I think their should be protections and expectations and reasonable cutoff from payment if it gets too far out of hand.

So if Spyre says yes man, we have protective clauses that prevent future payments in certain unfortunate events, then Im good with that.

That’s all I was really asking.

 

[Probably_in_Class]

They actually did respond, multiple times. But since Im not a member, they didn’t send me an email link to the zoom. But hey, keep following me around. Its fine. Im just waiting on my kid to get out of piano practice anyway.

You quoted my post replying to someone else, and I'm the one "following you around?"

 

[VOLfrombama]

You quoted my post replying to someone else, and I'm the one "following you around?"

View attachment 470801

You quoted me first, argued incessantly about stuff you can’t prove, then posted about me to someone else in an attempt to drum up support. Its sad and desperate, but I wont shoo you away. By all means lets keep this thread from dying.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

You quoted my post replying to someone else, and I'm the one "following you around?"

You quoted me first, argued incessantly about stuff you can’t prove, then posted about me to someone else in an attempt to drum up support. Its sad and desperate, but I wont shoo you away. By all means lets keep this thread from dying.

You're both good Vols fans, there's room to disagree, shrug and get on with life.

Go Vols!

 

[LWSVOL]

Last time I checked, you aren’t footing the bill for my salary or even a part of it, nor has anyone asked you to do so.

NO ONE has to donate money to pay players. It is totally on a volunteer basis.

Does those giving money to Spyre sign anything (contract, agreement, etc) that would allow them to see the financials? Do they even know where their dollars go when they donate it?

I've not seen a single piece of data that suggests anything the players receive needs to be released to anyone.

BTW, I'm not interested in seeing what you make or what any player makes.

 

[VOLfrombama]

NO ONE has to donate money to pay players. It is totally on a volunteer basis.

Does those giving money to Spyre sign anything (contract, agreement, etc) that would allow them to see the financials? Do they even know where their dollars go when they donate it?

I've not seen a single piece of data that suggests anything the players receive needs to be released to anyone.

BTW, I'm not interested in seeing what you make or what any player makes.

Thanks for the clarification. I think I’ve defended my questions and reasoning enough. Sorry my post was so offensive to you or you couldn’t understand my rationale for asking such questions.

GBO

 

[LWSVOL]

Now you’re being melodramatic. I haven’t even set a bar. I only asked a few questions about how Spyre can potentially get out of paying a kid if they get large sums of money and act a fool. I can’t imagine the shenanigans myself or some of my friends may have been into had we gotten even $50k, much less 7 figures.

My reasoning for questions was in an effort to protect the donor base. If some kid gets more money than they’ve ever seen before, what are the chances they act a fool? I would say pretty good actually. Maybe even a return of the Fulmer Cup?

I just want to know that we aren’t sending some kid to his doom in the name of the almighty W.

Is that too much to ask?

Your reasoning is accurate and those things and more will happen.

What if the coach doesn't play a kid that is getting your money? it will happen.

Would you be happy if a kid takes your money and heads elsewhere after a year or two? it will happen.

Will kids flunk out after taking money? Yes, it will happen.

Will a kid get hurt and never be able to play? Yes, it will happen.

Those things and more are going to occur. Some already have with players at other schools. Ewers Ohio St / Texas

 

[LWSVOL]

Thanks for the clarification. I think I’ve defended my questions and reasoning enough. Sorry my post was so offensive to you or you couldn’t understand my rationale for asking such questions.

GBO

Its not offensive to me. Its just I understand how it works and that is why I don't put money into it. I just don't see it different than your work situation as far as knowing what you asked in either situation. JMO

 

[VOLfrombama]

Its not offensive to me. Its just I understand how it works and that is why I don't put money into it. I just don't see it different than your work situation as far as knowing what you asked in either situation. JMO

I want to put money into it, but am hesitant for all the reasons you stated previously. I dont feel obligated to donate at all. I want to. I just want to know if Spyre has mechanisms in place to prevent those bad situations from continuing to be funded with the collective’s money. It’s really that simple.

And to echo your point about my paycheck, if i make a mistake, i get in trouble. If i make a lot of mistakes or get into legal trouble to where I can’t work or perform, i would be let go.

If i was paid in advance for future performance and then got fired, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect my company to want some of that back? It depends on my agreement of course.

This is my rationale for my questions.

 

[VolGee4]

I agree…. it was an educated guess, not based in factual information.

It wasn’t a guess though. Information is out there if you want to find it.

 

[LWSVOL]

I want to put money into it, but am hesitant for all the reasons you stated previously. I dont feel obligated to donate at all. I want to. I just want to know if Spyre has mechanisms in place to prevent those bad situations from continuing to be funded with the collective’s money. It’s really that simple.

And to echo your point about my paycheck, if i make a mistake, i get in trouble. If i make a lot of mistakes or get into legal trouble to where I can’t work or perform, i would be let go.

If i was paid in advance for future performance and then got fired, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect my company to want some of that back? It depends on my agreement of course.

This is my rationale for my questions.

Let me know if Spyre answers them. But I suspect you want to see more than their answers. Just an answer to a question is no guarantee that is how operationally they work.

Be surprised if legal allows them to actually show details.

 

[BlinghamptonVol]

LWS is right.

If you go to church, you put some money in the offering plate. You ask the preacher or priest how much they and each of their staff are making beforehand?

If you donate to St Jude's, you ask how much each doctor, nurse and administrator makes before you do?

We all give to causes. Some charitable, some hobbies (like football), some professional. The average person probably contributes to a half dozen causes each year. And that's before we even get into all the other services and goods you pay for.

Do you really ask all those people how much they're making before you contribute? How often they get paid? How the money is disbursed?

I get it, that you want your contribution to be used effectively, and efficiently, and even wisely. Makes sense.

So you'll be very pleased to hear this: at 90% throughput to the athletes, Spyre is already at the top end of that general kind of organization (75% to 85% is the usual, and widely accepted legitimate range).*

That should be all you need to know; getting into the salaries of each member of the staff is a bit overboard.

Go Vols!




* An organization called Charity Watch, which grades charities on how efficient they are with donations, sets 75% as the gold standard. Any charity that is able to push 75% or more of the funding it receives through to the targeted beneficiaries is considered "highly efficient." Spyre is not a charity, but its business model kind of works in the same way, and so the comparison seems apt. Charity Rating Process.

The 90% throughput seems really good. I think the major difference between Spyre and the charities you mentioned are that the charities have boards that oversee the inner workings of the charities. They also have organizations like Charity Watch which I assume look over financial reports to determine the throughput. So, while I’m not checking their financials, I know someone is.

I know Spyre is new and the whole NIL collective is new, so there aren’t NIL Watch organizations out there. While I am not saying anything untoward is happening with Spyre in any way, having some financial reporting available on their website that has been reviewed by an outside party would help people feel better about giving. And I don’t mean listing individual player’s contracts or individual’s salaries, just a broad scope of money received and how it is spent. And maybe that’s already in the works.

Again, I believe Spyre probably does their business with integrity, but before the McDonald’s bags came out, all of our fans thought Bama was dirty and we were the beacon of virtue in college football. Our athletic department failed to oversee our football coaches. In light of that, it’s probably reasonable (to a degree) for our fanbase to want some reassurances that the wool isn’t being pulled over their eyes again.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

[QUOTE="Will a kid get hurt and never be able to play? Yes, it will happen./QUOTE]



This is the biggest reason that i am all in on NIL.

Knowing that guys leave it all on the field only to sustain injury that may shorten/end their career or simply leave them with daily pain for their next 60 years and receive zero compensation from the school makes me think NIL is the best thing that has happened in College sports.

If these athletes were employees they could seek compensation for on the field or court injuries.
As it stands now they are just used up and tossed aside once we are through with tthem. NIL now offsets that to some extent and it is the reason we all should be happy to give a few bucks per month.

If we win a few more games in themeantimee... that is just icing on the cake, or gravy on the biscuit, whichever you prefer.
8^)