Does Alabama football have what it takes to compete in this new world of NIL money wars?

[ROTYDE]

I have thought naively my entire life that The University of Alabama has had unlimited funds to build and expand and grow. Seeing the large universities around the country with billionaire's donating money to them gives me concern. How does our southern school even compete with with the level they reaching? How do we keep players and attract them?

 

[B1GTide]

You have plenty to compete. The game will change from year to year until there is a players union. Just be patient

 

[The Ols]

You have plenty to compete. The game will change from year to year until there is a players union. Just be patient

Because as Bama fans we’re generally patient as a whole…

 

[davefrat]

You have plenty to compete. The game will change from year to year until there is a players union. Just be patient

How long has Day been the head coach?

 

[B1GTide]

How long has Day been the head coach?

2024 was his 6th season.

 

[Elefantman]

I feel that market forces will cause the pendulum to swing back to fewer NIL bucks being thrown at unproven players. The smart programs will target players who will fit their culture/system hopefully reducing the rotations of the portal revolving door and provide some stability.

 

[TideEngineer08]

You have plenty to compete. The game will change from year to year until there is a players union. Just be patient

It must. Because the answer to the original question today is a no.

 

[DrollTide]

Today, 3 Man Front was giving examples of wide receivers in college making more money that first-contract drafted pros.

The money has gone bonkers, it got there very rapidly, and I don't see what is stopping crazy rich guys (which I would be if I was a billionaire) buying literal 5th year semi-pro ringers. Why go pro if you make more in college? How long til the first 100M college team?

Alabama can field strong teams, for a while, but this is a new arms race that we will not be competing in. What would Keelon do if offered 10M a year? He would be a fool to turn it down. And if he's good he'll be offered double that next year.

 

[bamamc1]

I feel that market forces will cause the pendulum to swing back to fewer NIL bucks being thrown at unproven players. The smart programs will target players who will fit their culture/system hopefully reducing the rotations of the portal revolving door and provide some stability.

Most of the people funding NIL are the same donors who funded stadium upgrades, scholarships, capital improvements, etc. Some may have unlimited cash but there will be a point of no return at some point.

 

[Krymsonman]

Well, I hope it all evens out soon. I can't see this going on for many more years with rich guys continually throwing top level NFL money at a bunch of unproven college players. A lot of those people didn't get rich by being foolish with their money. All I know is this year a lot of money was spent on a lot of teams, but only Ohio State reaped the benefit of a national championship. Where is the breaking point in all of this NIL adventure.

 

[davefrat]

2024 was his 6th season.

And it seems like some people have been calling for his ouster since year one.

DeBoer may or may not be the answer, but he has to be given time to make a fair assessment.

 

[AlexanderFan]

And it seems like some people have been calling for his ouster since year one.

DeBoer may or may not be the answer, but he has to be given time to make a fair assessment.

It’s funny, everyone claimed they were ready for growing pains and losses until growing pains and losses started happening.

 

[B1GTide]

It’s funny, everyone claimed they were ready for growing pains and loses until growing pains and losses started happening.

I don't think that losing was what alarmed folks. It was how you lost and who you lost to.

Alabama was not even competitive against the Sooners or UM. When was the last time that happened?

 

[GrayTide]

I agree with B1G's above comments. Had we lost to UGA and possibly LSU or USCe rather than OU and Vanderbilt I believe the concern level would not have been as great. BTW we were fortunate to hang on and beat Georgia and South Carolina. I do not know if we have the funding needed right now to be a top tier program, and as fans we need to adjust our expectations. Next year maybe similar to this year in Ws and Ls, but year 3 will likely be the make or break year for CKD.

 

[mdb-tpet]

I just hope we don’t go down the Nebraska path by firing every good coach before they get a chance to really get their system in place and tuned up, then finally ending up with repeated losing seasons through chaos and attrition.

 

[JDCrimson]

Here is my concern, if we dont have the funding to be a top tier program. And im concerned we dont have it either. Then i dont think running off a coach and buying out his contract in year 3 is the best financial move. If there is a better coach than CKD, and Im not sure who that is at the moment, then he will come in expecting an even greater investment in NIL than what we do now. And if we are already maxed out how do we do more?

I think there is a lot of downside to moving away from CKD too soon. I think we need to give him 5-7 years before we make another change. CKD absent an NFL opportunity is probably at the best program he can command. It appears that OSU, Texas, OU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, and Oregon are probably the programs that have the deepest wells to draw from in the NIL era.

If we were still in the traditional era, Freeze would have already been fired at Auburn. Not so sure they can afford to part with him now.

I agree with B1G's above comments. Had we lost to UGA and possibly LSU or USCe rather than OU and Vanderbilt I believe the concern level would not have been as great. BTW we were fortunate to hang on and beat Georgia and South Carolina. I do not know if we have the funding needed right now to be a top tier program, and as fans we need to adjust our expectations. Next year maybe similar to this year in Ws and Ls, but year 3 will likely be the make or break year for CKD.

 

[denver]

experience is the key...applying your NIL to keep those you want and augment through the portal with experienced players in key areas...doesnt take the deepest pockets but does take a collective with means...i think the Bama collective has enough to accomplish this.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I don't think that losing was what alarmed folks. It was how you lost and who you lost to.

Alabama was not even competitive against the Sooners or UM. When was the last time that happened?

People knew it was coming

experience is the key...applying your NIL to keep those you want and augment through the portal with experienced players in key areas...doesnt take the deepest pockets but does take a collective with means...i think the Bama collective has enough to accomplish this.

Coaching and evaluating are going to become paramount again.

 

[GrayTide]

All programs are struggling with where to get their players from. In the past it was totally based on recruiting high school seniors, now it is also about recruiting the transfer portal while trying to retain the players you want to keep from transferring. The old rules of building your roster no longer apply. What is the proper balance between signing high school seniors and trying to develop them over a period of time and recruiting experienced players who are in the portal and ready to play? I agree with Alexander that coaching and evaluating talent is going to be paramount again. Oh, and yes, to be successful it is going to be expensive.

 

[dvldog]

Sadly. Whatever.