Revisiting NIL and Fowler Avenue Collective
I was maybe slightly possibly wrong
It’s been a very sad season. Pretty much it was getting excited and then losing or just losing for the entire 60 minutes.
But a highlight for me was I started writing about college football and the Bulls and that’s been a lot of fun. I seem to be able to look back at every word or take I wrote this season and can stand behind them all… except one.
I took a position that doesn’t sit as well with me now as it once did early in the season. NIL had exploded all over college football, but early this season it seemed to stumble out of the gate at USF. I was part of the contentious, “hold up, who are you?” crowd. If you want to read the 3 part series I wrote as it played out, you’re more than welcome to go back and read NIL and the Age of Collectivismizing Part I, II, III.
I want to cover a few things where I think I was right, and maybe possibly slightly potentially off the mark (wrong).
First, if you don’t know Fowler Avenue Collective, and NIL organizations for all programs, operate as entities to help facilitate student athletes making money off of their name, image, and likeness - their brand. The money comes from the fans or businesses.
Where I think I was right:
NIL is an untamed beast. It is becoming a weapon of wealthier programs to bludgeon let’s call them “normal” programs. It has done a ton to unlevel a playing field that was already off its axis. What was sold as letting kids have YouTube channels and make money off of advertisements very predictably blossomed into million dollar deals for high school recruits.
Secondly, I stand by the point laid out in NIL Part III, that the big heads of college football knew these kids needed to get paid, but they conveniently outsourced that to fans and businesses all the while their TV deals continue to explode. UCF will go from 7 million dollars a year in TV revenue to over 40 in the next few years. The B1G will see ungodly numbers from its new deal with Fox and CBS. But somehow fans and (often local) businesses will be asked to hand over more… you know so the players can get a slice. It doesn’t sit right with me, it shouldn’t with you, but guess what folks - most college football fans begged for this arrangement. They just never thought it through to its end result.
That’s just the world we’re living in. That’s where college football is right now.
What’s still to be figured out:
One slice of this game, and I don’t think this part is here just yet at USF, is paying players who then transfer. Some of these boosters have got to be figuring out that pouring thousands, and sometimes millions, into a 19 year old kid isn’t so cool when they put their name into the portal 8 months later. I’m sure they have some contractual protection - but they aren’t walking away without losing some cash. That’s more a Texas Longhorns issue than a USF Bulls one, but it exists. But hey, we are seeing guys transfer here, some on good terms… some maybe who didn’t finish the season till the last whistle not as much in my opinion. I’d rather see more NIL targeted in an after the season format. But my job isn’t to figure these things out.
Where I was wrong:
Fowler Avenue Collective. This thing had a rough opening and saw some online doubting that I admit I was a part of. Maybe it was the UCF Mission Control attachment, maybe it was just that it was new and USF fans are wired to be cautious after years of abuse, or maybe it was just that I am not a huge fan of NIL to begin with because of the above stated reasons. [NGL probably because they had ties to UCF and I just can’t stand those people].
I spoke with Corey Staniscia, the head man at Fowler Ave Collective for an extended chat about FAC and how it works and what it wants to accomplish, as well as how he got into the NIL space, and where USF stands in that space… First off I want to thank him for taking the time, this is a fan written Substack typed on an iPhone, not the Tampa Bay Times. He didn’t have to take the call, but he did and it was a good one and I appreciate that. I also asked a few USF groups why they do or don’t participate in FAC. Just to see where people stood. To answer some of the questions I had, and they had…
FAC is all about the players. Very minimal is used for administrative/operating cost. He told me the figures - they check out.
Corey has probably as much experience in the NIL space as anyone in Florida, he was working NIL before it was here. USF grad and from what I can tell, a great guy to have in place here.
Attachment to the previous Dreamfield / UCF organization is no longer in place on the administrative side.
More things to come after football season. Twitter Spaces are fun, but FAC has more lined up when these kids aren’t locked into football mode.
I’m not going to get into details, but FAC is beginning to make sizable moves for our guys. The more support they get long term, the more support we’ll get in the win column.
NIL is an important factor when it comes to drawing in better coaches. It is important to this coach, and it will be important to the next one we need to bring in. They want to know they have support in the NIL space.
FAC is operating independently, but in a manner to support the goals of USF Athletics. USF Athletics understands how important NIL is to its student athletes. Everyone is looking at the same target.
Fowler Avenue has already delivered on getting fans engaged with athletes on twitter. [Early on I said this wasn’t my cup of tea, but fans love it, so I think it’s good]. They are getting off the ground with fan experiences like the USF UCF tailgate.
And I think there is plenty more to come.
(USF Athletics)
In conclusion… I wrote this for the same reason I started the stack. I love USF and want it to succeed and I don’t have a problem admitting when a take is cold. I was wrong.
From what I heard USF has a lot of work to do here to catch the P5, but it does stand in good position versus the current G5. But dress for the job you want. We need to beat the G5 and show the P5 overlords we’re ready, in every aspect of the game.
Don’t give what you can’t afford. Balance it with Bulls Club. But Fowler Avenue Collective is important to the success of USF Athletics and I’ll be signing up.
Go Bulls!
Notes:
If FAC gets around to reading this, I know for me I’d love to see our guys spending time in elementary schools in the community. As former teacher, I know my students would have loved a visit from college football players. Especially in schools and communities that don’t always get that kind of visit.
You goblins can get back to scrolling for Deion and Chadwell updates on twitter now! I kid, I am never on that app…
(@Bull_Disclosure if you haven’t followed)