Bill Belichick Agrees to Lead UNC's Football Program, Top Basketball Recruit Chooses BYU + ICYMI | Newsletter #296
Today’s Thursday newsletter includes highlights from this week, important news from past weeks, and what to watch for.
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Recapping Major News This Week:
Bill Belichick Set to Become the Head Coach of North Carolina’s Football Program
It’s official, Bill Belichick will be UNC’s next head football coach. Although financial details have not been revealed just yet, Coach Belichick and UNC have officially agreed to a 5-year deal "pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees and Board of Governors."
Given Coach Belichick’s extensive NFL resume and link to many NFL head coach positions for 2025, the news comes as a shock to the football world. However, Belichick explained on the Pat McAfee Show why it may be a good fit for him.
In particular, Coach Belichick stated the following: "I think there are a lot of football programs that are being structured similar to NFL programs… I think it's a little different version of the NFL model, much more so than it's ever been before.”
He also went on to say that if he was to ever run a college program, “it would be a pipeline to the NFL for players that had the ability to play in the NFL.” “It would be an NFL program at a college level and an education that would get the players ready for their career after football whether that was the end of their college career or the end of their pro career.”
As part of the deal, UNC is reportedly increasing their NIL commitment from $4 million, to $20 million - around the amount that would be allowed as part of the proposed House settlement.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
No.1 Basketball Recruit, AJ Dybantsa, Commits to BYU
Despite being recruited by every major blue blood program in the country, Dybantsa decided to stay close to his high school squad (Utah Prep) and join BYU and new coach Kevin Young.
In particular, Dybantsa chose BYU over Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and North Carolina. Although all of these schools are more accomplished with more established coaches, Dybantsa noted that the BYU coaches NBA experience played a major factor in his choice.
“Kevin Young was an NBA coach, so he is telling me that he will bring a lot of NBA styles and concepts to the program. He told me that he thought he would be a good coach to help me get to that next level. “It’s good that he has NBA experience…. I mean, I’m trying to get to the NBA, so anyone that has NBA experience or anyone that has brought people to the NBA or coached in the NBA is going to have knowledge for that.” - Dybantsa back in June
At the moment, there is no word on how much NIL played a role in Dybantsa’s decision.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Quick Hitter News:
Texas One Fund partners with NIL FanBox - LINK
Alabama's Jaylen Mbakwe inks NIL deal with Collegiate Legends for a custom action figure - LINK
Should the CFP format be changed already? - LINK
On3’s Transfer Portal Preview - LINK
ICYMI
Penn State Heads to Trial Against Vintage Brand
Jury Selection for the trial between Penn State and the online retailer, Vintage Brand, began Tuesday in a Pennsylvania federal district court.
In 2021, Penn State sued Vintage for selling “counterfeit Penn State-branding clothing and accessories” without the school’s permission, and they accused the company of blatantly using schools’ trademarks without permission to generate sales - the online retailer sells throwback T-shirts, hats, tees, socks, mugs, and other products associated with sports teams.
Michael McCann highlights the significance of this case in his article for Sportico where he states that “at stake [in the Penn State v. Vintage case] is whether teams’ imagery can be used without consent to create unlicensed products. But also at play is whether teams can exclude others from using historical memorabilia that, as relics of history, are already in the public domain.”
Purdue, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal Berkeley, UCLA, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Stanford, Utah, Washington and Washington State have also filed similar suits against Vintage.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
What To Watch For: College Player’s Association
Although college athletes today can be paid through their Name, Image, and Likeness; and, the proposed House Settlement would, if approved, allow schools to directly their pay players, more change is coming in the near future to college sports. On Dec. 2, three class representatives from the House case —ASU swimmer Grant House, TCU basketball player Sedona Prince, and Stanford soccer player Nya Harrison—wrote a letter to the judge of the House v. NCAA case - Judge Claudia Wilken - asking to establish a players’ association. In particular, the players said that “without independent, formal representation separate from schools or their affiliates, athletes will inevitably remain in a vulnerable position, perpetuating the cycle of inequity and paving the way for continued litigation.” These athletes are right.
Ever since players were given the ability to be compensated through NIL, the NCAA has been faced with countless lawsuits from different groups seeking compensation for the NCAA’s use of their name, image, and likeness. And the NCAA and their affiliated schools and conferences have been trying to desperately resolve these disputes. However, they are not consulting the athletes. Given the nature of the current college landscape, it is inevitable that some form unionization and collective bargaining will take place in the future.
If Judge Wilken agrees with the plaintiffs that their should be a player’s association, we could see one implemented alongside the House settlement’s approval. Even if this is not successful, however, there are currently a couple of organizations - such as the NCPA and Athletes.org - trying to get college athletes to unionize. Eventually, they will.
CLICK HERE if you want to learn more about ASU swimmer Grant House, TCU basketball player Sedona Prince, and Stanford soccer player Nya Harrison’s call for a College Players’ Association.
Thanks for Reading!
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters, and following us on Twitter!