I think NIL is a good step forward for student athletes, but I don't know if fans handing cash over to players to try and get them to stay is the right thing to do.

I don't have any problem with a player getting paid to attend an event, give autographs, pose for pictures, answer questions, etc. I don't have any problem with companies signing NIL deals for endorsements and payments to athletes as a marketing tool. And I don't have any problem with alumni associations and booster clubs receiving donations from fans for the running of the athletic program.

But asking fans to stuff cash in players pockets as a bribe when those fans get nothing in return except possibly being able to watch that player another year isn't cool. And skimming 40% of the money off the top isn't cool. The players who stand to make any real amount of money from these types of things also have the biggest chance of making a lot of money in the pros - asking fans to put money in a future millionaires pocket rubs me the wrong way.

I'm sure there are some creative ways that players and fans can leverage the NIL landscape now to compensate players, but asking for straight up donations while skimming almost half of it off the top aint it.