What do coaches really think of the NIL mess?

Although after 20 years being paid by the University of Texas, Mack Brown probably doesn’t need his current $3.75 million income. But he deserves every penny of it before a down has been played in the new season.

Summing up the incredibly complicated and somewhat dangerous new world of Name, Image, Likeness in college athletics, Brown says he has one basic piece of advice for his players. “Don’t let your brand get ahead of your ball.”

In other words, remember you are still a UNC football player and student. And if you don’t excel on the field and you get in trouble in the classroom (or anywhere else), your brand value goes down along with any money you can make from it.

Brown is head coach/CEO, so he has to know something about all of this. But the specifics are being handled by Bubba Cunningham and the marketing group that has at least three names. Brown, in fact, is not allowed by NCAA rules to give NIL advice to any player.

Aware of the half-million dollars a gym owner in Florida has pledged to the entire Miami football team, he hopes Carolina “find things that benefit all the players who would share the money.” Brown knows Sam Howell will get, and already has, his NIL deals, but hopes there could be something for everyone.

UNC has contacted the local Chambers of Commerce and all 17,000 members of the Rams Club to find ways “within the rules” that businesses can pay as many players as possible for their NIL rights, whether it be a name on a jersey or a logo on their social media posts.

Personally, Brown wishes all the NIL rights fees could be paid to the university in one lump sum and distributed to all athletes when their college careers are over and they graduate. He knows that with unregulated agents pouncing on his players and families and high school recruits, as well, there could be trouble brewing somewhere.

Howell will make the big bucks while still in college, but Carolina would be well-served by facilitating less-famous players earning money from local small businesses that want to help but can’t pay a lot so at least, in Brown’s words, “some make a little.”

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