NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has transformed college sports. There is a new frontier that programs are trying to figure out. For Michigan football many people, including myself, have been critical of Michigan’s lack of NIL opportunities. Now fans can put their money where their mouth is. A new NIL collective allows fans to help Michigan players.
Ann Arbor NIL Club
BREAKING: The Ann Arbor NIL Club is LIVE NOW
Join the AANC now and support the whole team ⬇️ https://t.co/goEsFIctfX
— Ann Arbor NIL Club 〽️ (@AnnArborNILClub) August 23, 2022
The Ann Arbor NIL Club recently launched which allows fans to donate money that will go to the players. The collective isn’t just about giving money. They advertise joining the ultimate fan experience. Fans who donate will be provided with digital content and experiences player recorded content, digital meet-and-greets, and much more. Fans can choose how much to give and the minimum is a $5 per month donation meaning that anyone can be a part of the collective. The NIL collective is a great way for fans to directly impact the Michigan players.
Other Perks of the NIL Club
BREAKING: Our team-wide NIL initiative is live now #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/bXDc3ukWLH
— Erick All Jr. (@eallindi83) August 23, 2022
With the $5 minimum donation, fans get complete access to the message boards and digital experiences listed above. If you can give more, there are more prizes and experiences waiting. A pledge of $25 per month gets you a free Aiden Hutchinson jersey. For fans that can give more, a pledge of $100+ per month gets fans a steak dinner with the players. This seems like just the start. More perks and prizes might pop up from time to time.
How Does This Help Recruiting?
If the collective becomes very popular, there will be more money to be distributed to the players. It seems that every player that is a part of the collective will get an even split of the money at the end of each month. The more people that donate, the more money goes to players. If this becomes serious money, it will have a drastic impact on Michigan’s recruiting. If Jim Harbaugh and his staff can give solid numbers for a recruit that can start right away, this could be a massive draw to come to the Wolverines.
This is a really cool idea. It seems to benefit both fans and players. Fans get fun experiences and prizes. Players get paid. An NIL collective also gives fans an opportunity to help in recruiting players to Michigan. It will be interesting to see how this changes Michigan’s recruiting strategy and whether other collectives pop up for other programs.
1 Comment
Seems weird to call it a donation when it is to pay the players. They aren’t Non-profits, are they? I’m all fine with the players making money from their likeness, but calling it a donation sounds off.