Update on The Light The Tower Collective

[Glad To Be Green]

Some may see Glad To Be Green and go oh no. I want to let everyone know that I will be using this board to share information and answer questions and not to rehash negative comments that might be left on the threads. The Light The Tower Collective should be a positive addition for our athletic program so I ask regardless of how some of you might feel about collectives or me personally let's keep the topic positive for student-athletes and potential donors that might visit the site. 

To start, I want to addrees the latest release on the LTTC kickoff event to be held next Friday at Apogee. I want to clarify that is in no way meant to be exclusionary to anyone. It is our goal to create a large fund pool quickly and so a list of people who personally or through giving history would be willing to help at certain levels to provide the kick start needed to be viable and have substantial funding available before the end of the month. Honestly, if we have missed anyone who would like to be a part of this initial group please let me know and we will get you an invite. We are fianlizing another more generaal event to get more information to those who desire it. Everyone will be able and have the opportunity to join the cause.

As we release information we want to make sure we are fully prepared to take donations and that we have created ways for everyone to participate. While we have moved swiftly, we are still tying uo the final loose ends of all the tools necessary to operate properly. Many of you may have seen the release this morning that SMU will be giving football and basketball players $38,000 annually. They have been working on theri collective for over 8 months and are just getting to the point they are ready to make deals. 

One poster asked when I became an NIL guru. Well I am not and don't proclaim to be. I don't think there is one as this process is still so fluid. However I understand many of the facets involved that make up the process having served on two NCAA committees that have discussed this topic fo the last 10 years.. I accepted this role because I know I can adminster the program, provide beneficial service to student-athletes inside the guidelines provided and make sure the Collective represents itself in a manner that reflects well on the University and the athletic program.

The website is set to be complete in the next 7 days and will provide information on the purpose of the Collective, how donors can get involved and the benefits associated at a number of levels. There are also areas that talk about how companies, corporations and charities can join with compensenstaed athletes in beneficial programs. Again as the rules fo the game change, the website will grow to reflect new an pertinent information.

Yes I am participating finanacially in the Collective. I have always participated financially in the causes I work for and this will be no different. Hard to ask people to financially support if you are not. I know some of you have asked how you can give and if you want to do so without knowing the options and benefits available please email me at rick@lightthetower collective.com and I will make it happen.

We appreciate everyone's patience in getting this endeavor rolling. I, like some of you, was frustrated that it took so long to get started and why it did I am not sure. At this point it doesn't matter. We will have a functioning program operating this fall and be competitive with most of the schools in our new home, the American Conference.

GO MEAN GREEN and let's LIGHT THE TOWER!

 

[DentonStang]

Please support this. You can make a difference with just regular guy donations. 

We can't have you in the conference with no NIL.  It's like when Bud Fox went to lunch with Gordon Gekko in a cheap suit. You can't come in here dressed like that!

[meangreen11]

Thanks for the update Rick.  Great to have you back on board and we are  excited about the upcoming meeting.   Exciting times to be a part of the North Texas family. 

[cousin oliver]

Thanks RV.  Looking forward to the meeting and the website.  I admit that I am still trying to understand NIL better but it seems that it may be very important for us to get behind this if we want to be successful in the AAC.

[Hunter Green]

Thank you, Rick.

Go Mean Green!

[Green Lantern]

Appreciate you and the other leadership of the collective stepping up to make North Texas competitive in this area.

[Quoner]

I do have one piece of feedback I hope is taken constructively.

As the official lead and face of this effort, when you start typing posts, announcements and any other official or unofficial materials from you or the collective, put them in a word document and run editing software before hitting publish. Between the flyer typos and ones in this post, there’s plenty for naysayers to poke at that distracts from the bigger goal and this is all easily catchable in an extra five minutes.

[meangreenfaninno]

Thanks Rick, am really excited about this initiative and am looking forward to participating in it.  I really appreciate you taking this on and will support you as best I can.

[MeanGreen_MBA]

Let’s look at this realistically. We have over 200K alumni in the area….roughly another +200K wondering around the US.  
 

we have less than 200 athletes I am estimating here at good old UNT. 
 

if we can get 10K -12K to donate $500 a year to NIL. Tough for some, but doable for at least 12K alumni. We could pay each and every athlete at least $25K a year to come play for us. That is a doable goal. 
 

I hate this whole pay for play program, but we are where we are. Do we want to compete?  This included men, women, Olympic sports and all. Every athlete. That would be huge. 

[Glad To Be Green]

4 hours ago, Quoner said:

I do have one piece of feedback I hope is taken constructively.

As the official lead and face of this effort, when you start typing posts, announcements and any other official or unofficial materials from you or the collective, put them in a word document and run editing software before hitting publish. Between the flyer typos and ones in this post, there’s plenty for naysayers to poke at that distracts from the bigger goal and this is all easily catchable in an extra five minutes.

I fully understand and do take it that way. Trying to get so many thigs done in a short time but no excuse. This must be done correctly in every facet. Appreciate your feedback.

[UNTLifer]

Never try to do too many thigs.

[NM Green]

When it gets boiled down into small logical sensory nuggets like the 12,000 at $500 a year, that makes total sense. There are a lot of closet alumni who love to be part of “The Club.”

The way Dallas is SMU’s energy source. Size is UNT’s fuel. The sheer number of alumni who could be approached to contribute directly to the salary of a UNT student athlete and the pride that brings is Real.

Our on the field competitors are in the AAC. Our neighborhood involves the Ponytails, Red Raiders, Cougars and Cowboys. 

Brain gears churning.

GMG

[UNTcrazy727]

On 8/10/2022 at 1:23 PM, MeanGreen_MBA said:

Let’s look at this realistically. We have over 200K alumni in the area….roughly another +200K wondering around the US.  
 

we have less than 200 athletes I am estimating here at good old UNT. 
 

if we can get 10K -12K to donate $500 a year to NIL. Tough for some, but doable for at least 12K alumni. We could pay each and every athlete at least $25K a year to come play for us. That is a doable goal. 
 

I hate this whole pay for play program, but we are where we are. Do we want to compete?  This included men, women, Olympic sports and all. Every athlete. That would be huge. 

Seems simple when you break it down like this. Hopefully, our top donors sweeten the pot enough to where we only need 5K-6K people donating $500. 

[GrayEagle]

Question, RV.  Do we designate who gets our donation or does the committee decide?

[GMG_Dallas]

10 minutes ago, GrayEagle said:

Question, RV.  Do we designate who gets our donation or does the committee decide?

I think ideally the donations would be enough to where all the major sport athletes get a set amount like SMU and Texas Tech are doing. Hopefully eventually all athletes would get something.

[UNTLifer]

In my humble opinion, this is a disaster waiting to happen.  We will be robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

First, what makes you think 12,000 people are willing to pay $500 a month to the NIL Initiative but we never got close to that many spending that amount or less for the scholarship fund?  I would rather have those 12,000 giving to the MGSF that would benefit all players and not just those that choose to play football and men's basketball.

Second, I still believe their is great value in what these young student-athletes receive in the form of free education, free books, free living, free food, free healthcare, free tutoring, etc. in exchange for them putting on the uniform of our university and performing to the best of their abilities.

What Texas Tech, SMU and other schools that are putting together similar programs are doing is circumventing the original intent.  Is it their fault?  No, this falls squarely on the NCAA for unleashing this stupid program with zero guidelines.  The majority of these kids aren't making money off of their name, image or likeness, they are just getting paid to suit up and be a part of the team.

[Glad To Be Green]

INrither I or the Board have stated that we would need 12,000 people to make the Collective work. However we do want everyone to have the opportunity to donate and be a part of the initiative and help us be competitive in helping attract and retain players that can help us win. The Collective didn't create this situation but we are trying to make sure we are not at a disadvantage in the realm that is now a part of intercollegiate athletics.

[Glad To Be Green]

2 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

I think ideally the donations would be enough to where all the major sport athletes get a set amount like SMU and Texas Tech are doing. Hopefully eventually all athletes would get something.

The objective is to retain and attract the highest level players necessary to win. Using all of the donations that come in without designation allows the Collective to maximize allotments to those players and adjust as needed from season to season. So to be most effective. donations, as is the case at most schools. should be to the general Collective.

[Glad To Be Green]

3 hours ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

Seems simple when you break it down like this. Hopefully, our top donors sweeten the pot enough to where we only need 5K-6K people donating $500. 

And that would be awesome. Every dollar will help get us there. While we have never had that size response for any initiative, it is our hope that we get to that level of participation moving forward to meet all the needs of the athletic department over time. And again every dollar heps. Hope you will consider joining the cause.

[tmjerm]

2 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

In my humble opinion, this is a disaster waiting to happen.  We will be robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

First, what makes you think 12,000 people are willing to pay $500 a month to the NIL Initiative but we never got close to that many spending that amount or less for the scholarship fund?  I would rather have those 12,000 giving to the MGSF that would benefit all players and not just those that choose to play football and men's basketball.

Second, I still believe their is great value in what these young student-athletes receive in the form of free education, free books, free living, free food, free healthcare, free tutoring, etc. in exchange for them putting on the uniform of our university and performing to the best of their abilities.

What Texas Tech, SMU and other schools that are putting together similar programs are doing is circumventing the original intent.  Is it their fault?  No, this falls squarely on the NCAA for unleashing this stupid program with zero guidelines.  The majority of these kids aren't making money off of their name, image or likeness, they are just getting paid to suit up and be a part of the team.

Just to be clear, are you criticizing the system (or lack thereof) or this particular initiative?  I sure hope the former.  

[UNTcrazy727]

3 hours ago, Glad To Be Green said:

And that would be awesome. Every dollar will help get us there. While we have never had that size response for any initiative, it is our hope that we get to that level of participation moving forward to meet all the needs of the athletic department over time. And again every dollar heps. Hope you will consider joining the cause.

Absolutely. And I have some friends who are eager to donate as well. I hope people can get over their negative feelings toward NIL and understand that as long as it exists in its current form having a well funded collective, like Light the Tower, should be the #1 priority for every program. 

[UNTLifer]

3 hours ago, tmjerm said:

Just to be clear, are you criticizing the system (or lack thereof) or this particular initiative?  I sure hope the former.  

Both.  They need to set up specific guidelines and also let the NIL serve as intended, players making money off of their name, image and likeness and not just paying them to be part of the team.  Right now, teams are just buying, or attempting to buy, players.

[UNTcrazy727]

37 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Both.  They need to set up specific guidelines and also let the NIL serve as intended, players making money off of their name, image and likeness and not just paying them to be part of the team.  Right now, teams are just buying, or attempting to buy, players.

Because right now it’s 100% legal. You’d rather UNT fall behind everyone because paying players makes you feel icky? 

[Salsa_Verde]

7 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

In my humble opinion, this is a disaster waiting to happen.  We will be robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

First, what makes you think 12,000 people are willing to pay $500 a month to the NIL Initiative but we never got close to that many spending that amount or less for the scholarship fund?  I would rather have those 12,000 giving to the MGSF that would benefit all players and not just those that choose to play football and men's basketball.

Second, I still believe their is great value in what these young student-athletes receive in the form of free education, free books, free living, free food, free healthcare, free tutoring, etc. in exchange for them putting on the uniform of our university and performing to the best of their abilities.

What Texas Tech, SMU and other schools that are putting together similar programs are doing is circumventing the original intent.  Is it their fault?  No, this falls squarely on the NCAA for unleashing this stupid program with zero guidelines.  The majority of these kids aren't making money off of their name, image or likeness, they are just getting paid to suit up and be a part of the team.

Antiquated thinking. The NCAA makes billions of dollars off these athletes. You’re focusing on the term NIL as if it actually literally just means that. It makes no logical sense for one entity to make billions while another gets zero and told you get a free education. The athletes put their bodies on the line and make millions for their schools. They deserve more than just a scholarship and some lunch money. 

[Salsa_Verde]

2 hours ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

Absolutely. And I have some friends who are eager to donate as well. I hope people can get over their negative feelings toward NIL and understand that as long as it exists in its current form having a well funded collective, like Light the Tower, should be the #1 priority for every program. 

Yes. The game has changed, adapt or fall behind…..further behind.