Three letters have changed the world of college sports: NIL. For nearly three years now, student-athletes have been able to make money off their name, image and likeness."First of all, NIL in and of itself is awesome," UAB Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer said while leaning on the balcony of his office that overlooks the Blazers practice field. Things have changed since Dilfer was playing quarterback for Fresno State in the early '90s. "I was a Heisman candidate, All-American, married and have $471," Dilfer said. Until 2021, college athletes couldn't make a penny off endorsem*nts or autographs without losing their NCAA eligibility. Now, we've seen student-athletes play while reportedly racking up millions of dollars.Sports outlet "On3," estimates former Alabama QB Bryce Young made $3.5 million in endorsem*nt deals during his time with the Crimson Tide. In 2020, Young was working as a DoorDash driver just to make some cash. That changed in July of 2021 when college athletes were allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness. It kickstarted a whole new era of college football. "I'm really happy they can capitalize on it. The money laundering is the problem," Dilfer said. When NIL was approved in 2021, athletes could make money on endorsem*nt deals after they enrolled in a school. >> 'Our program is built on something bigger': Trent Dilfer on aftermath of team signing with players' associationRules in place prevented deals from being presented as a part of the recruiting process; but a Tennessee court ruling earlier this year stopped the NCAA from punishing programs or athletes for negotiating NIL deals during the recruiting process. "At some point the players will be like 'wait a second, it's a $16B pie. What are we getting?'" Dilfer said.Since the ruling, it's been a huge priority for schools to boost their NIL collective funds. The more money you have, the better the chance the nation's top players will play for your school. "Now there's teams that are spending $30 million, but let's talk about your power five that's trying to get into that top ten. They have about $15 million," Dilfer said. Some smaller schools in UAB's conference are also starting to see cash pour in.In April, FedEx pledged $25 million to NIL collective funds for the University of Memphis — $5 million over the next five years. All of which is designed to be spent on deals for student-athletes. Memphis is, of course, an in-conference rival for UAB."They have tens and tens of millions. I've been transparent, we're doing everything we can to get a couple hundred grand," Dilfer said.It's a clear financial disadvantage. "So they're 10 times, 20 times what we're at. So how do you win?" Dilfer asked. "I'm not going to say that we can't beat them. In fact, I expect to beat them."Dilfer says it's his team's underdog mentality that will be key moving forward. "We're bootstrapping everything we can do to put together a really, really good organization and we got to win by the sum of the parts," Dilfer said. "Everybody's against us and these kids know it." Dilfer knows money talks in this new era of college football, but he also believes all the money in the game can present added challenges. He thinks it partially led to Nick Saban's retirement. "This is why I think Nick got out because he knows outside of talent it's can you do this," Dilfer said, as he tightened his hands together to demonstrate a team working together. "It's hard when the guy next to you is making $150,000 and you just beat him out and you're making $25,000." >> THE DAY IT HAPPENED: Nick Saban retires from AlabamaAlthough much has changed in college football over the past few years, the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback says the NIL craziness is just getting started."The chaos in college football right now that everybody thinks is at a seven is really at a two, and an eight is around the corner, but that could be an awesome eight, too," he said.In April, the NCAA passed a new rule allowing universities and third parties to help student-athletes find NIL deals. Under this rule, athletes would be required to disclose any deals worth more than $600.This could be the first step to truly knowing how much money student-athletes are making.UAB is the first ever Division I program to have its entire roster join a players association. Every Blazer football player signed up for Atheltes.org >> COVERING UAB: UAB becomes first Division I football team to join players' associationStay updated on the latest sports stories with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Three letters have changed the world of college sports: NIL.
For nearly three years now, student-athletes have been able to make money off their name, image and likeness.
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"First of all, NIL in and of itself is awesome," UAB Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer said while leaning on the balcony of his office that overlooks the Blazers practice field.
Things have changed since Dilfer was playing quarterback for Fresno State in the early '90s.
"I was a Heisman candidate, All-American, married and have $471," Dilfer said.
Until 2021, college athletes couldn't make a penny off endorsem*nts or autographs without losing their NCAA eligibility.
Now, we've seen student-athletes play while reportedly racking up millions of dollars.
Sports outlet "On3," estimates former Alabama QB Bryce Young made $3.5 million in endorsem*nt deals during his time with the Crimson Tide.
In 2020, Young was working as a DoorDash driver just to make some cash.
Jared C. Tilton
That changed in July of 2021 when college athletes were allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness.
It kickstarted a whole new era of college football.
"I'm really happy they can capitalize on it. The money laundering is the problem," Dilfer said.
When NIL was approved in 2021, athletes could make money on endorsem*nt deals after they enrolled in a school.
>> 'Our program is built on something bigger': Trent Dilfer on aftermath of team signing with players' association
Rules in place prevented deals from being presented as a part of the recruiting process; but a Tennessee court ruling earlier this year stopped the NCAA from punishing programs or athletes for negotiating NIL deals during the recruiting process.
"At some point the players will be like 'wait a second, it's a $16B pie. What are we getting?'" Dilfer said.
Since the ruling, it's been a huge priority for schools to boost their NIL collective funds. The more money you have, the better the chance the nation's top players will play for your school.
"Now there's teams that are spending $30 million, but let's talk about your power five that's trying to get into that top ten. They have about $15 million," Dilfer said.
Some smaller schools in UAB's conference are also starting to see cash pour in.
In April, FedEx pledged $25 million to NIL collective funds for the University of Memphis — $5 million over the next five years.
All of which is designed to be spent on deals for student-athletes.
Memphis is, of course, an in-conference rival for UAB.
"They have tens and tens of millions. I've been transparent, we're doing everything we can to get a couple hundred grand," Dilfer said.
It's a clear financial disadvantage.
"So they're 10 times, 20 times what we're at. So how do you win?" Dilfer asked. "I'm not going to say that we can't beat them. In fact, I expect to beat them."
Dilfer says it's his team's underdog mentality that will be key moving forward.
"We're bootstrapping everything we can do to put together a really, really good organization and we got to win by the sum of the parts," Dilfer said. "Everybody's against us and these kids know it."
Dilfer knows money talks in this new era of college football, but he also believes all the money in the game can present added challenges.
He thinks it partially led to Nick Saban's retirement.
"This is why I think Nick got out because he knows outside of talent it's can you do this," Dilfer said, as he tightened his hands together to demonstrate a team working together. "It's hard when the guy next to you is making $150,000 and you just beat him out and you're making $25,000."
>> THE DAY IT HAPPENED: Nick Saban retires from Alabama
Although much has changed in college football over the past few years, the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback says the NIL craziness is just getting started.
KMazur
"The chaos in college football right now that everybody thinks is at a seven is really at a two, and an eight is around the corner, but that could be an awesome eight, too," he said.
In April, the NCAA passed a new rule allowing universities and third parties to help student-athletes find NIL deals.
Under this rule, athletes would be required to disclose any deals worth more than $600.
This could be the first step to truly knowing how much money student-athletes are making.
UAB is the first ever Division I program to have its entire roster join a players association. Every Blazer football player signed up for Atheltes.org
>> COVERING UAB: UAB becomes first Division I football team to join players' association
Stay updated on the latest sports stories with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.
