Devils with Dunks? Duke Hoops with Heart?

[pokeresq]

Texas boosters have announced "Horns with Hearts" which promises to pay each offensive lineman on scholarship 50K next season to allow their NIL to be used for local charities. It appears that 8 UT boosters put up 100k each to guarantee the payments and provide some operational support to connect players with charities for events, ads etc.

This appears to be genius on several fronts:
-By announcing now, every OL recruit or potential transfer knows that they start the season with 50K guaranteed.
-50K is a substantial sum for a highly impt, but largely anonymous position group, especially one which often takes several years to develop enough strength and weight
-By setting this up as a charity the 8 boosters presumably get a full tax deduction regardless of their personal business
-By setting this up as a charity instead of a business marketing UT athletes, they do not have to attempt to show that it is a legitimate attempt to have a profitable business, or to justify cost to advertisers, although there could be quibbles as to value provided (See, Favre, Brett)
-By only being used for charity, players remain free to pursue NIL deals with for profit businesses, sell autographs, etc

Don't know that the interest would be there for football, but I could see a similar effort for Duke hoops with every scholarship player getting say 75K if they allow their NIL to be used for charity while they are on campus. It gives every player a floor, while allowing them to pursue any commercial NIL deals they wish.

Caveat, I do not know whether the IRS will accept the "Pancake Foundation" as a legitimate charity instead the fairly transparent attempt to pay current and future athletes to play at UT. If it is not deemed a valid charity, whether the "donations" are deductible will be in question.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/...e-and-likeness As you might guess from the headline, not putting a positive spin on the charity

Basically the press release https://finance.yahoo.com/news/horns...210000635.html

[FUBARDoorBuster]

Texas boosters have announced "Horns with Hearts" which promises to pay each offensive lineman on scholarship 50K next season to allow their NIL to be used for local charities. It appears that 8 UT boosters put up 100k each to guarantee the payments and provide some operational support to connect players with charities for events, ads etc.

This appears to be genius on several fronts:
-By announcing now, every OL recruit or potential transfer knows that they start the season with 50K guaranteed.
-50K is a substantial sum for a highly impt, but largely anonymous position group, especially one which often takes several years to develop enough strength and weight
-By setting this up as a charity the 8 boosters presumably get a full tax deduction regardless of their personal business
-By setting this up as a charity instead of a business marketing UT athletes, they do not have to attempt to show that it is a legitimate attempt to have a profitable business, or to justify cost to advertisers, although there could be quibbles as to value provided (See, Favre, Brett)
-By only being used for charity, players remain free to pursue NIL deals with for profit businesses, sell autographs, etc

Don't know that the interest would be there for football, but I could see a similar effort for Duke hoops with every scholarship player getting say 75K if they allow their NIL to be used for charity while they are on campus. It gives every player a floor, while allowing them to pursue any commercial NIL deals they wish.

Caveat, I do not know whether the IRS will accept the "Pancake Foundation" as a legitimate charity instead the fairly transparent attempt to pay current and future athletes to play at UT. If it is not deemed a valid charity, whether the "donations" are deductible will be in question.

I find this idea fascinating and nefarious all at once. While this type of set-up could be exploited easily, at least it's out in the open. I have long argued for some type of compensation at the high college sports level, as the revenue generated for the school is unfairly kept from the athletes in the current setting. My wish has always been that professional leagues draft players for major sports as early as 18, then place their draftees in the college setting to develop. Currently, pro teams have no burden of developing younger players in our current system. Placing drafted players, and paying their tuition, would create more scholarships for non-drafted players, who could enter drafts at later ages when their skills develop, but still keep college eligibility. Salaries could be kept reasonable and the balance as well as draft bonuses could be placed in a trust. More players would stay for four years and this could increase graduation rates- the true mission of the university.
With a charitable arm, the professional team could contribute their portion for the player they draft , then develop at a university. These 'charities' could be crafted to do a great service, and recognize the service already being done , by college athletes in the community.
Regardless of participation from pro leagues, imagine Duke creating this organization to offer similar benefits for MBB and WBB equally. Imagine the mission of the Charity is to have college players teaching middle and high school athletes about financial stewardship and planning. Or lessons regarding institutions of governance and voting rights. The relationships with Medical Centers are easy to foresee, but other great areas could be explored. What a super way to congratulate players like JGold, Wendell, QCook for staying the long path! Would DJ or Matt have stayed longer? This could be seen not only as preparation for the pro-career, but a counterbalance, or even competition to keep players from going pro too early . I feel like this could offer the stability that Coack K was discussing when he talked about the future of college basketball in a world of NBA OAD and other pseudo-professional organizations waving big money in the face of HS and college talent, then flaming out with nothing. Obvious examples come to mind for football, soccer, tennis , lacrosse and other sports on campus as well.