Tennessee NIL Brands.......

[LittleVol]

Don't know the formula but judging from the niche, boutique marketing team in charge of UT's NIL program - we would need to come up with something ourselves vs. them reeling in the Sunsphere and Petro's.

I think that would be a great start.

I look at of the different forums on here.
We have a variety of intelligent, educated and business savy posters on here.
MORE importantly we have droves of passionate fans that probably don't even calculate their cost of Tennessee fandom.

A small of percentage ($) from a vast amount of people could ACTUALLY change what talent we bring in.

I know I'm not alone in this thinking...

 

[VolArmy74]

This whole NIL thing is a little sad. Grown men shelling out huge sums so the can brag that their college is better at football than yours. Some of those people never attended a class at the college they "support".

Welcome to the entire history of college football. General Neyland used to be a master at getting people to commit money to the program. This has always happened, at least at schools who have taken football/basketball seriously.

 

[VolArmy74]

I think that would be a great start.

I look at of the different forums on here.
We have a variety of intelligent, educated and business savy posters on here.
MORE importantly we have droves of passionate fans that probably don't even calculate their cost of Tennessee fandom.

A small of percentage ($) from a vast amount of people could ACTUALLY change what talent we bring in.

I know I'm not alone in this thinking...

I believe I saw that a Texas message board had banded together to commit money to the TE position. You pretty much would have the VN Linemen club (open to debate on that one, I'd just prefer to donate to the linemen as they are the foundation of every team) that could probably be paired with local establishments for NIL opportunities. Who better to promote your giant pizza than a college lineman? Want to have off-season autograph sessions? The Linemen will be there. There are a ton of avenues for it. I'm already committed to patronizing local businesses who sign up Vols. I'd contribute to this as I'm sure many others would.

 

[LittleVol]

@LittleVol @AdoptedVOL

See my post, supra.

Further, with the NCAA taking a hit and being completely outmanned, there’s effectively no regulator in place to enforce the existing NIL rules.

It’s the honor system for the foreseeable future until the conferences decide they need to step up to the plate; we all know where that puts things with the Texas schools - Pony Express Redux: this time without consequences!

IMHO, the marketplace will reward whoever finds the most effective and sustainable long term model. It’s anybody’s guess how that pans out.

You can’t go wrong with arms length deals and plenty of integrity, though.

I think Coach Barnes is on the right track, and that’s emblematic of UT’s overall approach. I.e. - intelligent and measured. That’s a welcome change.

Really good thoughts.
This platform could be completely transparent and yield outstanding results.

Coach Barnes indeed has a great view on it.

 

[LittleVol]

Don't know the formula but judging from the niche, boutique marketing team in charge of UT's NIL program - we would need to come up with something ourselves vs. them reeling in the Sunsphere and Petro's.

And in regards to the not so good people, usually I learn that after the fact.

Once they purchase the services, I happend to later find out they were low moral people.

And next time they try booking it's always full for them- so they can't use the service then. And eventually they go somewhere else.

 

[LittleVol]

I believe I saw that a Texas message board had banded together to commit money to the TE position. You pretty much would have the VN Linemen club (open to debate on that one, I'd just prefer to donate to the linemen as they are the foundation of every team) that could probably be paired with local establishments for NIL opportunities. Who better to promote your giant pizza than a college lineman? Want to have off-season autograph sessions? The Linemen will be there. There are a ton of avenues for it. I'm already committed to patronizing local businesses who sign up Vols. I'd contribute to this as I'm sure many others would.

Yeah the big uglies need TLC for sure.
Starting there is a great idea.

These ideas need more attention.
It needs to be a pinned discussion and people need to talk and then vote on what needs to happen.

Hell let's do more than just saying...
"GO VOLS"

 

[TNinSC]

Krystals

 

[LittleVol]

Krystals

Yup.

@sjt18
You touched on something very important.
Even National/International Chain restaurants (McDonald's, Krystals, etc) have independent franchisees. The actual restaurants are independently owned if I'm correct. There has to be a way that 10 McDonalds and the 3 Krystals around Knoxville could make a deal with potential recruits. Again....need a lawyer.

But the concept now exists where this could be a thing.
Heck Dr. Pepper had DJ. UGUELL... Clemson QB under a deal.

 

[sjt18]

Yup.

@sjt18
You touched on something very important.
Even National/International Chain restaurants (McDonald's, Krystals, etc) have independent franchisees. The actual restaurants are independently owned if I'm correct. There has to be a way that 10 McDonalds and the 3 Krystals around Knoxville could make a deal with potential recruits. Again....need a lawyer.

McDonald's would probably have to permit it. I believe their franchise agreements include control of advertising.

It is possible if not likely that several McDonalds around K'ville are owned by the same person or corporation. One of my previous neighbors owned 5 McDonalds. Another guy I knew owned the Burger King, Steak and Shake, Dairy Queen, and an urgent care facility.

But the concept now exists where this could be a thing.
Heck Dr. Pepper had DJ. UGUELL... Clemson QB under a deal.

I think for it to be even marginally legitimate it has to move in that direction where NLI's are expressions of the fanbase and its willingness to respond to the player's name, image, or likeness being associated with a business they use.

 

[sona]

I think there is a huge gulf between loaded boosters who just want to see their team win and normal business owners who might love the VOLS, but won't be laying out marketing dollars unless there is sure-fire return on the investment.

 

[kcvols1]

I think there is a huge gulf between loaded boosters who just want to see their team win and normal business owners who might love the VOLS, but won't be laying out marketing dollars unless there is sure-fire return on the investment.

In between these somewhere, there is both sausage and hay to be made.

Probably closer to the latter because you can make more deals by showing advertisers a clear picture of their forecasted ROI.

 

[LittleVol]

I think there is a huge gulf between loaded boosters who just want to see their team win and normal business owners who might love the VOLS, but won't be laying out marketing dollars unless there is sure-fire return on the investment.

That's why I brought up a Lottery concept.

A big pool of money that is public, that is built strictly to help with NIL opportunities.
Also there is no min or max amount to give.
It's the lottery. You're buying "hope ". The bigger the pot becomes, the MORE people that donate into ot increasing the amount of cash flow to which can be invested in recruiting wars or NIL contracts to be specific. And when we lose out on a 5 star, that money stays in the pot, and gets carried over to next recruiting so that we will be able to outbid the next cycle.

 

[TNESSEE77]

Both Upchurch & Morgan Wallen needs to do a NIL.

 

[wmcovol]

I believe that Pilot is a national brand owned by Berkshire Hathaway - if they support anyone it would be Oklahoma State - which they will not. Benji Shuler could contribute $2 or 3,000 out of his marketing budget - how far will that take us? Local businesses are small - or super small,
they have to get a return on their marketing or NIL investment. That is not who we are competing against. Petro's chile and Calhouns are not going to propel us into this arms race. Our best and maybe only option will be to recruit athletes below the highest tier. Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Texas A and M will be buying their players. Once they get to 25 we can fight for some of the other kids.

It's an extremely flawed and unfair landscape. Regulation or some sort of salary cap is the only thing that could change the imbalance.

Finally someone here realizes the Haslams sold out.

 

[Fullfillmer]

Finally someone here realizes the Haslams sold out.

Thanks - they also own the Cleveland Browns which has gone up in value several million dollars since they purchased it and the Berkshire guy went to the Wharton school of Business at Penn and graduated from Nebraska.