This wild NIL idea involving live in-game donations might just work
From Arizona State to Kentucky, and everywhere in between, FBS head coaches are pounding the table for everyone from boosters to average fans to find ways to get involved in the NIL efforts.
Funding NIL has quickly become both a top priority and absolute necessity in an effort to keep up with the tops programs in college football.
Maybe there's an outside-the-box solution out there that could get everyone more involved in NIL efforts?
That's where this idea from Bill Busch, a veteran former college coach turned permanent radio host on 93.7 The Ticket, could come in to "make it fair, and make it fun,"
Busch has a background where he's coached at Nebraska during three different stints as well as stops at Ohio State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Utah, Utah State, and New Mexico State so he brings an interesting perspective of a veteran college coach to the conversation.
"Here's how it works. Make a play. Get paid," he explains.
Busch then lays out a situation where a player makes a big play, and the Jumbotron immediately flashes the player's Venmo account on the screen, allowing fans to donate in real-time and then the screen tracks and displays the total donations coming in live for all to see.
Imagine if something like that were in place for plays like the "Iron Bowl's Kick Six," or Michael Crabtree's tiptoe up the sideline to beat Texas in 2008, or the "Trouble with the Snap" (Michigan State vs. Michigan) in 2015.
A defensive lineman could rack up some serious dough for a sack in a big game, or blocked field goal or extra point to win the game like North Dakota State had last weekend to knock Montana State out of the playoffs.
A few weekends ago, in the Division III playoffs, Alma knocked off D-III power Mount Union in the waning moments of the game with a jump-pass. In the situation Busch lays out, key players involved there could have easily made a few thousand dollars capitalizing on that moment.
The one spot that may not see the impact of this would be the offensive line, but programs may be willing get creative, doing pancake highlights, or just be very intentional in shining a light on those guys in creative ways to get them involved.
There's likely some NCAA or legal red tape regarding NIL donations that would have to get sorted through if this were to ever even flirt with becoming a reality, but it's a fascinating idea that would immediately get everyone involved in-game and make games a fascinating and interactive experience for everyone watching.
If this gets some legs, it's very possible that instead of seeing social media handles on the backs of players jerseys in spring games this fall, we could see their Venmo tag. Who will be the first to do that?
Hear more from Busch in the clip.
