wardly

I agree, but I doubt they want us either. From what I have read the MWC has told the PAC 2 that it's all or none. If they stick to their guns then its a mute point. However if the PAC 2 cherry picks SDSU,Fresno St., Boise, Air Force,Colorado State and UNLV then those "left behind" will be looking for help. CUSA or the WAC would probably throw them a lifeline. Personally I like us in the AAC. The MWC has a scheduling agreement with WSU and OSU , and a few weeks ago their Commissioner alluded to scheduling more games with AAC members. Perhaps that is why Wyoming is on this season's schedule. Also it appears that once again I was wrong about realignment as many pundits are projecting the implosion of the ACC as early as July with Clemson and FSU leading the charge. [so much for their iron clad conference media rights contract ]. If this happens then the BIG 10,SEC, and soon to be renamed BIG 12 will pick it apart. There may be a few leftovers who could find a home in the AAC,but the good news for the conference would be that Memphis, Tulane, and USF would once again be passed over.

Every scenario I have seen that adds Texas teams to the MWC does not include UNT. Rice,USTA,Texas State and even UTEP are mentioned.

Sure. They still need "W's" to be bowl eligible, and the lower divisions need the big paycheck.

This

Seems real as I don't see many references to the PAC 2 as a P5 program. Also the POWER Conferences are mainly referred to as P'4's. Regardless at some point the PAC 2 will find its G Spot.

The PAC 2 will add at least 6 G5 schools to its 2 team conference next year and become an official a G6 program. Regarding the K-State fan base, they sell out their home football games and put their money where their mouth is. UNT has never had a strong fan base and does neither.

With the big dogs having greater access to NIL money the separation between "haves" and "have nots"will become even greater.However we will continue to schedule each other as they need a "W" and we need at least one money game. Regarding Texas State, they ranked higher because they have a much better team As you know we passed on hiring their new coach last year. On another note I saw Trey Smith AAC podcast where he discussed the PAC 2 possibility thinking outside the box and reaching out to UTSA, Tulane, USF, and Memphis as possible new members. I give this less than a zero chance of happening but once again we are shaded by UTSA who has admittedly done an excellent job in building a football program while UNT continues to struggle.

THIS!

Yes. I thought for a moment I was in Lubbock. K-St. has a rabid fan base but I didn't their pockets went that deep. Programs like UNT don't have a chance to compete with programs that have this type of money. In my opinion the G6 conferences need to separate themselves from the P4 programs and try to establish their own NIL guidelines. I am not an attorney and don't know if conferences can legally cap NIL payouts. If it could be done then you could establish a maximum amount each school is allowed to distribute as well as to which sports in an effort to maintain some semblance of a level playing field. In addition, while it may seem far fetched now, I would explore the possibility of selling naming rights to our athletic program such as we have done at our football stadium.If the BIG 12 does partner with Allstate Insurance and become the Allstate 12 Athletic Conference, which is estimated to bring $5 million annually to each member, then either the American Athletic Conference should follow suit or allow its members to individually explore their options. It's a brave new world and every school needs to be thinking outside of the box for ways to drastically increase revenues if they want to survive .

Not at present, but when they receive NIL pay from the school they should be. Why don't we just agree to disagree and see how things play out in the next few years if not sooner. At present its just speculation as to how players will be classified in the future. At age 81 I could be dead by then and it won't matter, at least to me. However, you could find yourself rooting for the HEB/UNT GREEN GROCERS football team trying to schedule a game with a member of the ALLSTATE 12 FOOTBALL CONFERENCE. Who knows?

Agreed, but an employee is an employee is an employee. The IRS makes no distinction except for part time vs full time.

If he answered a " help wanted" ad he was recruited.

If UNT deducted Social security and taxes from your paycheck you were considered by them as an employee . If not, you were considered an independent contractor. UNT still exercised the same control over you but without contributed to F.I.C.A. The benefits afforded you as an employee depended upon the number of hours you worked which classified you as a full time or part time employee. I was an "independent contractor " for a medical device manufacturer as their distributor in North Central Texas, Oklahoma, and N.E. Louisiana for 30 years and I assure you that they controlled, directed, and treated us as employees . After WW 2 they got a ruling from the IRS which affirmed our independent contractor status. Since I treated my sales force in the same manner I obtained a "letter ruling " from the IRS which also ruled that my salesmen were independent contractors and not do any employee benefits such as insurance, 401K, etc. The hammer hanging over my head is that if one of my salesmen had successfully challenged the letter ruling and the IRS reversed their original decision I would have been libel for their uncollected taxes. I had 2 salesmen declare bankruptcy while working for me and was fortunate that the IRS didn't come at me for a portion of their taxes owed. If I had it to do over again I would have made them employees from the beginning and adjusted their commissions to cover my additional expenses. I have been retired for 21 years but it is my understanding that it has become more difficult to obtain independent contractor status for what are essentially employees based upon their day to day control and direction by their employer.

First, when the NIL comes in house players will become employees. Second , we can afford to pay all players in specific sports , just not at the same salary. You know, like the real world. UNT will have a certain amount of money available for NIL payment, which we can call a salary cap, and allocate those funds for specific sports, such as football and men's basketball. There will be a pecking order established as to who get how much based upon how many beans are in the pot, if you are a starter,at what position etc. Out biggest problem is getting donors to financially support projects such as expansion of athletic department facilities , donate to Mean Green Club, and also donate to NIL. I doubt you will get students to agree upon increasing fees to financially support athletics when they don't attend athletic events. Basically UNT is between a rock and a hard place financially . Just a thought. If the Big 12 can sell conference naming rights, such as "General Motors Football Conference ", then individual universities , perhaps needing conference approval, should be able to do the same. How does the H.E.B./U.N.T. football team sound? Go Grocers!

When the athletic departments start paying players the NIL money they are in fact are employees. If memory serves one schools in a secondary east coast conference whose name escapes me have their players trying to form a union.

Until recently good friend of mine was treasurer of the LSU Tiger Club . This is the alumni arm that raises funds for the Athletic Depart, who in return request release of those monies for approved expenditures . When LSU hired Baylor's women's basketball coach the response was "great, now we can lose several more millions in women's basketball."

Well not many athletic programs such as UNT actually make money, especially a at the G6 level. Also, why not pay a player for making the team as you would for any other employee. Trust me, the players are treated as employees whether they are classified as such or not. Some of us don't want to realize that the old way is dead and the NIL is alive.

But unless they are part of a team why would you give them NIL money unless they were a super star like the women's basketball player when she was at Iowa? Just asking.

I think only those who make a roster are going to make money from the NIL no matter how you paint it.

Well the courts have ruled that the NCAA can't prevent play for pay in college ports so we need to determine the best way to live with it. I think making athletes university employees deserves consideration. You would think that UNT could , as a condition of employment, could have contracts that specify terms and conditions that would prevent players annually hopscotching without a financial penalty as well as define the actual total compensation, such as room and board, etc. The problem with North Texas is that any money that donors like myself give towards NIL is money that I won't be giving to our athletic department. I have allocated a defined amount that I am willing to contribute to athletics regardless of which pocket it goes in. On another note the past AD of Colorado State stated that he sees a "Super G6 " conference it the future. I have heard of but not seen the article but it would appear to be another layer between the 'haves and have nots". Unfortunately I view us as being on the outside looking in without the financial commitment from donors that would put us in the conversation for some sort of upward projection.

Thanks for reminding me.

Good point. Backups get paid at the Professional level. I wonder how that will trickle down to college. So for example you pay a quarterback from North Texas to go to Cal for $440,000 but he either gets hurt or is beaten out by a backup. Does the former UNT quarterback lose the money which is given to his replacement, a former backup? The fine print in NIL pay could get interesting. Fun times .

This.

Beam me up Scottie. There is no sign of intelligent life here.

Why would you think that the NIL is going away? It is allowed by our court system and the NCAA has no control over it. I assume if you make a donation to an athletic department it will be tax deductible regardless if it ends up in the NIL pot or not. Will donors tire of players moving annually to play elsewhere for more money. Sure they will, but this is the new reality of college sports. You keep thinking that if you shut your eyes you can wish it away. I am not an attorney, but perhaps one way to slow the train down is to make athletics employees and have them sign contracts for a specific number of years that financially penalize them if they leave for another school during its time frame. We don't have to like the new reality of college athletics but we need to accept it and hope our administration can figure out how North Texas is going to navigate thru these financially challenging times.