- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
It’s worth asking again: how many sports can we compete in with NIL?
Posted on 2/17/25 at 11:43 pm
Posted on 2/17/25 at 11:43 pm
The basketball “news” about NIL is disheartening. We have a head football coach asking for donations and matching fan dollar amounts. It’s clear this board cares about football, baseball, and men’s hoops…seemingly in that order.
Where does women’s hoops and gymnastics fall? Fan support seems to be solid, even great, for those two sports. I have no clue how much NIL money is even needed for those sports.
I’m of the theory that any winner is good publicity for LSU. Seeing the Tigers finally break through in lady’s hoops and gymnastics was certainly fun. We seem to expect a trip to Omaha if the boys stay healthy, and an improvement in football is expected.
Statistically, Louisiana isn’t a state loaded with money. Not compared to the pockets for Texas and Texas A&M. Who knows how we compare in NIL bucks versus Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, the Mississippi schools etc. When it comes to the 3 major men’s sports, plus women’s hoops, LSU has one glaring weakness. It seems like most other schools have dead wood too…Georgia basketball, SC basketball, Texas hoops is sliding, etc.
I feel like there’s a limit somewhere, and you almost have to prioritize where you want to win, at least until there are some constraints on this monster. In regards to basketball, how do we even know McMahon’s ceiling if we can’t afford to get talent?
Where does women’s hoops and gymnastics fall? Fan support seems to be solid, even great, for those two sports. I have no clue how much NIL money is even needed for those sports.
I’m of the theory that any winner is good publicity for LSU. Seeing the Tigers finally break through in lady’s hoops and gymnastics was certainly fun. We seem to expect a trip to Omaha if the boys stay healthy, and an improvement in football is expected.
Statistically, Louisiana isn’t a state loaded with money. Not compared to the pockets for Texas and Texas A&M. Who knows how we compare in NIL bucks versus Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, the Mississippi schools etc. When it comes to the 3 major men’s sports, plus women’s hoops, LSU has one glaring weakness. It seems like most other schools have dead wood too…Georgia basketball, SC basketball, Texas hoops is sliding, etc.
I feel like there’s a limit somewhere, and you almost have to prioritize where you want to win, at least until there are some constraints on this monster. In regards to basketball, how do we even know McMahon’s ceiling if we can’t afford to get talent?
6
Posted on 2/18/25 at 2:57 am to TexasTiger08
LSU can compete with all of them. Louisiana may be a poor state, but that doesn't mean LSU doesn't have wealthy albums, and Louisiana may be a poor state, but it's also small. One major university in a P4 conference.
ETA: looked it up, Louisiana was 38th in per capita GDP.
ETA: looked it up, Louisiana was 38th in per capita GDP.
This post was edited on 2/18/25 at 3:00 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 6:45 am to LSUSkip
quote:
LSU can compete with all of them. Louisiana may be a poor state, but that doesn't mean LSU doesn't have wealthy albums, and Louisiana may be a poor state, but it's also small. One major university in a P4 conference.
Correct, LSU has dropped some fire albums over the years.
This post was edited on 2/18/25 at 6:51 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 7:10 am to TexasTiger08
2-4
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:08 am to LSUSkip
GDP might be 38th, but family income is 49th. We broke! We were 48th in 2023. Going in the wrong direction. We were ahead of Mississippi and Arky, but now only Miss. and sliding.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:25 am to TexasTiger08
Damn shame it has come to this.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:34 am to LSUSkip
quote:
ETA: looked it up, Louisiana was 38th in per capita GDP.
Louisiana is not poor. You have to break it down by demographics.
White household income: $67k per year
Latino household income: $57k per year
Black household income: $36k per year
The money is there. The statewide numbers are skewed by having a large black population that is at half the national average, and $20k below the black national average.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:43 am to TexasTiger08
The problem is LSU uses an outsized portion of its NIL on baseball. Which is dumb for 2 reasons.
1.) Baseball doesn’t require such a large NIL commitment to build a very good team, because a large portion of the country doesn’t care enough about it to compete against you with their NIL funds
2.) Being that such a large portion of the country doesn’t care about college baseball, LSU gets very little name recognition and national exposure for having a great college baseball program. Therefore, the ROI for all of that NIL money dedicated to baseball is not good.
1.) Baseball doesn’t require such a large NIL commitment to build a very good team, because a large portion of the country doesn’t care enough about it to compete against you with their NIL funds
2.) Being that such a large portion of the country doesn’t care about college baseball, LSU gets very little name recognition and national exposure for having a great college baseball program. Therefore, the ROI for all of that NIL money dedicated to baseball is not good.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:50 am to paulb52
Money will eventually dry up. Having to fund at least Football, Baseball, Gym, Softball, and M&W Basketball, there is only so much money to go around. In football alone, NIL budgets have skyrocketed at record speed, up to about 20mil today, in another 2-3 years. Like easily be over 50mil. Then Baseball which will need to be funded to keep up with Tenn Texas and A&M. Could easily be up to 75mil with just those two sports and we haven’t even touched basketball and the women’s sports.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:03 am to Lgrnwd
quote:
The problem is LSU uses an outsized portion of its NIL on baseball.
I believe most NIL donors are giving to specific sports. LSU happens to have a huge baseball following.
As far as basketball goes, we are kinda in the middle of a chicken or the egg argument. People don't want to throw their money away for nothing. When Mulkey got here, people felt their money would matter so they invested in the program. I don't believe our fans ever felt comfortable enough with McMahon to put a lot of money into it. It's almost self-sabotaging when you think of it like that.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:13 am to TexasTiger08
Smaller sports will be hit or already being hit. Things like track and field, swimming and diving, maybe soccer or la crosse at some schools.
For instance, SEC and other conferences are limiting roster size to 22 for swim and dive. Previously, they had limited scholarships but no limit to roster size.
After the House vs NCAA ruling, they really cannot have walk-ons anymore. They have to be compensated on some level. So, those sports are in a situation where they are able to compensate more athletes, but are limited in roster size.
It also takes away opportunities from other students who would otherwise be Division I Athletes as wak-ons.
For instance, SEC and other conferences are limiting roster size to 22 for swim and dive. Previously, they had limited scholarships but no limit to roster size.
After the House vs NCAA ruling, they really cannot have walk-ons anymore. They have to be compensated on some level. So, those sports are in a situation where they are able to compensate more athletes, but are limited in roster size.
It also takes away opportunities from other students who would otherwise be Division I Athletes as wak-ons.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:15 am to Lgrnwd
When people donate to Bayou Traditions they can specify which sport they want their money to go to. In 2024 baseball had twice as much contributions coming in as men's hoops and the women's team got almost the same.
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 2/18/25 at 9:17 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:28 am to TigerCub
Yes I am aware. When I say “LSU uses”, I am also referring to the LSU fan base.
Bottomline is, the LSU fanbase as a whole is too enamored with college baseball. And this is coming from some who likes college baseball a lot, I really do. But from a big picture perspective, the LSU athletic department would be better off if it committed itself to building a consistently competitive men’s basketball program.
Bottomline is, the LSU fanbase as a whole is too enamored with college baseball. And this is coming from some who likes college baseball a lot, I really do. But from a big picture perspective, the LSU athletic department would be better off if it committed itself to building a consistently competitive men’s basketball program.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:42 am to jbeard
quote:
Smaller sports will be hit or already being hit. Things like track and field, swimming and diving, maybe soccer or la crosse at some schools.
This is across the board though, not an LSU specific problem.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:51 am to LSUSkip
quote:
LSU can compete with all of them. Louisiana may be a poor state, but that doesn't mean LSU doesn't have wealthy albums, and Louisiana may be a poor state, but it's also small. One major university in a P4 conference.
JMHO, but when NIL was approved and implemented I expected that donors would eventually get tired of funding teenager payouts especially when 75% of them do not prove worthy of the price. Most of them like buying bricks and mortar projects or one time personnel improvements.
So what will be left is grass root donations (only P4 team in state will help this), very rich donors with FU money, and real commercial endorsements that actually have value. Net is that schools will likely pick which niches they want to excel in and ones they let grow wild.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:54 am to TexasTiger08
Rev share starts this upcoming school year. That changes everything as to where the money is coming from.
Too many people look at useless stats like state household income rankings. They are meaningless.
New York and California may be wealthy, but no one there cares about college sports.
Louisiana residents care, and are passionate about college sports. There is plenty of people here, with plenty of money to fund LSU’s sports programs.
Too many people look at useless stats like state household income rankings. They are meaningless.
New York and California may be wealthy, but no one there cares about college sports.
Louisiana residents care, and are passionate about college sports. There is plenty of people here, with plenty of money to fund LSU’s sports programs.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 12:22 pm to TexasTiger08
Correct, absolutely not LSU specific.
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News