2024 Offseason

Change to the business model for college athletes is nearly upon us. What this means for the WCC is unclear but "revenue sharing " with athletes in addition to damage payments are likely to be significant. The linked article may require a subscription unfortunately.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/23/ncaa-settlement-revenue-sharing/

Are the power conferences now likely to separate further from mid-majors? Who among mid-majors can afford anything approaching the arrangement for the power conferences?

No paywall here: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/40206364/ncaa-power-conferences-agree-allow-schools-pay-players

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ncaa-compensating-athletes_n_664fe1cbe4b01123ffe4cb6a

I am seeing predictions that athletes may become "employees". And that things like scholarship limits and eligibility limits (i.e. 4 years plus 1 redshirt year) may be eliminated.

I have not seen much about how this might impact the schools not in the Power 5.

Ultimately, current fans may end up with a lot more time for golfing and fishing.

Enjoyed your comments. Implied by the additional time to golf and fish, is that remaining competitive for mid-majors may become extraordinarily difficult. The possibility of collapse of athletics among small D1 schools may be too early and perhaps alarmist to suggest. But it is an outcome which now bears discussion.

Yes, the mid-majors may be relegated to lower status, or athletics may just not make financial sense any more for schools that cannot generate millions of dollars in revenue.

Or, we could just decide we don't care as much for "pro" sports, where it is only about the dollars.

I read that the average "salary" or revenue share for a power conference amateur athlete in revenue generating sports is projected at $ 30,000 plus, then their NIL money, then their scholarship. Star players will command more.

Nic Saban retiring because his "salary cap was too low" may be a sign of the coming storm for all. It seems hard to imagine this ends well for small D1 schools like Portland.

An analysis of the effect of the settlement from one quarter, including a comment concerning small D1 schools:

The bottom line is, yes, paying athletes is fair, but this will also crush non-power conference programs and change the face of college sports as we know it. There will be people laid off, some small schools will shut down programs and recruiting will be an elite business model that will bury the little guys.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/what-this-former-byu-ad-said-about-historic-ncaa-settlement-including-the-challenges-it-brings/ar-BB1n0oJn?ocid=BingNewsSearch

wrv wrote:https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/what-this-former-byu-ad-said-about-historic-ncaa-settlement-including-the-challenges-it-brings/ar-BB1n0oJn?ocid=BingNewsSearch

From the article:

Questions abound.

Do athletes become school employees or contract workers?

Is there a scale for direct payments or will the money be the same in all sports?

Will schools cease giving out athletic scholarships?

If salaried employees, do health and other benefits become part of the package?

Will there be salary caps?

Will non-power conference schools need to pay players?

Thank You up7587 and wrv for your comments. I would not want to be an Athletic Director now. As a fan I am so fed up with this crap. I feel that as a fan I am being used. If some young athletic entrepreneurial wants to go for the money grab, more power to them. Good luck. I really don't blame them. At the same time I will make a point to not spend my money to see them fumble around and just go through the motions. In my past life, compensation was pegged to my performance. I don't see it with the men's team, sorry Coach L. Here is an idea, If these players want to consider themselves an employee of the University, then have them sign a no compete clause in their contract. If you want to play for us, and you expect us to pay you, then we own you. Little bit harsh? Maybe, maybe not.

@PortlandMBB wrote:Officially signed—welcome to Portland Mezziah Oakman

Mezziah Oakman is a 7'0" C who was at UCSB. He appeared in one game there. He is Class of 2021, so maybe two years to play? He played two years at City College of San Francisco, scoring 11 ppg his SO year. Born in NYC, went to Mt. Diablo HS in Concord, CA.

up7587 wrote:

@PortlandMBB wrote:Officially signed—welcome to Portland Mezziah Oakman

Mezziah Oakman is a 7'0" C who was at UCSB.  He appeared in one game there.  He is Class of 2021, so maybe two years to play? He played two years at City College of San Francisco, scoring 11 ppg his SO year.  Born in NYC, went to Mt. Diablo HS in Concord, CA.

If he only played one game he would have 3 years of eligibility , wouldn’t he?

Geezaldinho wrote:

up7587 wrote:

@PortlandMBB wrote:Officially signed—welcome to Portland Mezziah Oakman

Mezziah Oakman is a 7'0" C who was at UCSB.  He appeared in one game there.  He is Class of 2021, so maybe two years to play? He played two years at City College of San Francisco, scoring 11 ppg his SO year.  Born in NYC, went to Mt. Diablo HS in Concord, CA.

If he only played one game he would have 3 years of eligibility , wouldn’t he?

Maybe, I never know now who gets a 5th Covid year. I was thinking it was players who were in college during the 2020-21 season. If that's the case Oakman was in high school that year.

Geezaldinho wrote:If he only played one game he would have 3 years of eligibility , wouldn’t he?

Currently, Oakman has just one year of eligibility, but because he played only 4 minutes at UCSB, the university will be petitioning the NCAA for a "Medical Hardship Waiver" to get him an extra year of eligibility.

During his second year at City College of San Francisco, the Rams went 29-4 and Oakman was the Coast Conference North Division Most Valuable Player and on the All-Defensive Team...

Interview with Coach Legans.

Talks about some of the challenges last season and the roster for next year.

https://collegehoopswatch.com/marching-to-madness-episode-934-portland-head-coch-shantay-legans/

Andy Patton of the Locked on Zags podcast gives his Way too early WCC rankings.

https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/wcc-basketball-power-rankings-gonzaga-saint-marys/

He has Portland at #10 only above Pacific. I feel that Portland should at least finish above Pacific, San Diego, and Pepperdine with Pacific and Pepperdine in the middle of coaching and roster changes. San Diego also lost key players like Kevin Patton and haven’t been very active this offseason.

We will see how this young team will do.

What do you all think?

UP24 wrote:Andy Patton of the Locked on Zags podcast gives his Way too early WCC rankings.

What do you all think?

I think I have no idea who Patton is...

DoubleDipper wrote:I think I have no idea who Patton is...

It turns out Andy Patton was at one time an academic advisor at UP, and was very helpful with the men's soccer team while on campus.

He attended Seattle U. and Gonzaga and was the leader of the Kennel Club while at GU.

He is currently considered "Mr. Zag" for his writings and podcasting about GU basketball.

After learning his credentials, I finally read the article:

https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/wcc-basketball-power-rankings-gonzaga-saint-marys/

And learned it was simply a list of key gains and losses of players listed by team...and with 11 freshmen on the team, it is easy to see why he picks the Pilots at #10.

It is easy to be optimistic in July, but with the departure of the many players who brought the team down last season, and with the arrival of some exciting young players, this year's squad should finish in the Top-6 or better...not 10th...and not only will there be freshmen in the rotation, but there will also be freshman starters.