NIL
Gonzaga transfer portal targets 2.0
Now that college basketball’s transfer portal has officially closed, Gonzaga can move on from keeping its most important players – something head coach Mark Few and his staff did successfully last week with Graham Ike and Braden Huff both committing to another year in Spokane – to filling the vacancies left by outgoing seniors/transfers and […]
Now that college basketball’s transfer portal has officially closed, Gonzaga can move on from keeping its most important players – something head coach Mark Few and his staff did successfully last week with Graham Ike and Braden Huff both committing to another year in Spokane – to filling the vacancies left by outgoing seniors/transfers and reloading at key positions.
On the transfer front, it’s been an unusually quiet offseason for Gonzaga, which still has six scholarships it can fill before the 2025-26 season.
As of Saturday morning, 77 of 81 high-major schools (the Power Five conferences along with Memphis and Gonzaga) have picked up at least one transfer commitment. On average, those programs have added 3.8 transfers, with some bringing in up to seven or eight.
The four yet to do so? Gonzaga, Duke, Stanford and Marquette.
Duke isn’t as transfer-dependant, bringing in three freshmen that make up the third-ranked recruiting class in America. Marquette continue to stay clear of the transfer market under coach Shaka Smart, who hasn’t added anyone from the portal in three seasons.
Gonzaga has a solid core of returning rotation members that Few will pair with three players coming off redshirt seasons and one incoming freshman.
Still, the Zags probably have at least a couple of portal moves to make in order to rebuild their backcourt and establish depth at other positions.
We look at five more transfer targets Gonzaga’s been in contact with or could make sense on Few’s roster as the Zags continue to retool.
Adam Miller, G, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
Previous schools: Arizona State, LSU, Illinois
The scoop: The first of our Millers on this list, Adam is searching for his fourth school after previous stops at Illinois, LSU and most recently, Arizona State. The former four-star prospect has reportedly heard from a number of schools, including Gonzaga, Baylor, Arkansas, Indiana, in addition to the Illinois and ASU programs for which he’s previously played. Miller’s been a primary starter at each college stop, making 113 starts in 117 college games. He owns a career scoring average of 10.3 points per game, posting a career-high 12.0 points during the 2023-24 season at ASU. The shooting guard opened his career making 34% of his shots from the 3-point line and withstood two seasons at LSU and ASU where he shot 31.6% and 30.3% to elevate his percentage to a career-high 42.9% last season.
The fit: It’s widely thought that Miller’s down to two schools: Gonzaga and the program that upended the Bulldogs for the 2021 national championship. Depending how GU rebuilds its roster, Miller could be a logical replacement for Nolan Hickman at the shooting guard position, taking roughly the same amount of 3-point attempts as Hickman did last year with the Zags while hitting at a slightly lower percentage. Gonzaga’s plenty familiar with Miller, who teamed up with former Zag Chet Holmgren on the United States’ 2021 U-19 FIBA World Cup team that won a gold medal. Miller also has one career appearance against Gonzaga, scoring eight points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field in ASU’s 88-80 loss at the Kennel last season.
Desmond Claude, G, 6-6, 201
Previous schools: USC, Xavier
The scoop: The transfer portal often works in funny ways. Maryland’s Rodney Rice, a GU portal target one week ago, committed to USC on Tuesday, choosing the Trojans over the Zags, Villanova and Tennessee. Hours after Eric Musselman snagged a commitment from Rice, who’s reported to earn an NIL deal exceeding $3 million, the Trojans’ top scorer from last season, Claude, sneaked into the transfer portal hours before the 9 p.m. deadline on Tuesday. Now the Zags are in contact with Claude, who immediately became one of the top guards available on the transfer market upon entering. Claude’s early list of suitors also included BYU, Ole Miss, Virginia and Indiana, according to Dushawn London of 247Sports.
The fit: Claude would check a number of boxes for Gonzaga as a score-first guard with a big frame who can play off the ball or facilitate. He is capable of creating shots and has a strong finishing ability at the rim but hasn’t proven to be much of a perimeter shooting threat during his career, making 30% last season at USC after hitting 29.3% and 23.9% his first two seasons at Xavier. Claude is still one of the most accomplished scorers available in the portal, averaging 16.6 and 15.8 ppg the past two seasons, and likely caught the eye of Gonzaga’s staff when he posted 19 points and five assists in a charity exhibition against Few’s team last season in Palm Desert, California.
Baba Miller, F, 6-11, 215
Previous schools: Florida Atlantic, Florida State
The scoop: A familiar face for fans who follow what the Zags do on the recruiting trail. If not for Drew Timme’s decision to return to Gonzaga for his fourth college season, Miller might be in a Zags uniform, taking an official visit in spring 2022 before committing to Florida State. Miller’s developed since posting modest numbers at FSU as a freshman, when he appeared in just 15 games due to injury and averaged only 4.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg. The Spaniard improved to 7.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 2023-24 and took another leap when he arrived at Florida Atlantic, scoring 11.3 ppg and grabbing 7.0 rpg for first-year Owls coach and former Gonzaga Director of Basketball Operations John Jakus.
The fit: Miller hasn’t technically been linked to Gonzaga, but his connections and ties to the program make it hard to leave him off this list. Aside from his prior recruiting history with Gonzaga and playing under Jakus, Miller is also a former teammate of Zags guard and ex-FSU player Jalen Warley. Both Miller and Warley played at FSU while GU assistant R-Jay Barsh worked on Leonard Hamilton’s staff in Tallahassee. Miller is also familiar with Gonzaga center Ismaila Diagne, who overlapped with the FAU transfer while both played for Real Madrid’s youth academy. Miller’s fit at Gonzaga is interesting, particularly with news that both Ike and Huff will return next season. In theory, the Zags could roll out a huge lineup, with the 6-11 Miller playing at the “3” alongside the 6-10 Huff and 6-9 Ike, then slide over to the “4” when either of those two go to the bench.
Andrej Stojakovic, F, 6-7, 205
Previous schools: Cal, Stanford
The scoop: The son of former NBA great Peja Stojakovic spent his first two college seasons in the Bay Area but is looking to branch out after missing the NCAA Tournament both years. Stojakovic recently wrapped up a visit to Illinois, but he’s also receiving interest from the Zags, Florida, North Carolina, USC, Washington and Cincinnati. It’ll take a strong pitch to lure Stojakovic away from Illinois, which has a quartet of European players committed to its 2025-26 roster, and potentially a lucrative offer to convince him to go somewhere other than Florida, UNC or UW. Stojakovic was a part-time starter for Stanford as a freshman, averaging 7.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg before transferring to rival Cal, where he started in 28 of 29 games, averaging 33.4 minutes and scoring 17.9 ppg.
The fit: Stojakovic’s 3-point percentage leaves something to be desired – he made 32.7% as a freshman, followed by 31.8% last season – but otherwise, he’d be a fairly seamless fit for Gonzaga at the small forward spot, giving the Zags length, scoring and rebounding next to Huff and Ike. Stojakovic didn’t shoot the 3 with consistency, but he offered glimmers of hope he can be a reliable perimeter threat, making 7 of 13 from behind the arc in two games at the ACC Tournament. The sophomore forward also combined to score 66 points in those games, closing the year with a career-high 37-point effort against his former school, Stanford, and ex-Washington State coach Kyle Smith.
RJ Luis Jr., F, 6-7, 215
Previous schools: St. John’s, UMass
The scoop: It’s still not clear if Luis, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, will be playing for any school next season. The St. John’s transfer is in both the transfer portal and NBA draft, but went on record saying he’s focused on the professional route. Luis also entered the portal with a “Do Not Contact” tag, meaning the forward can initiate conversation with coaches but not the other way around. If he declines the opportunity to go pro, Luis will be one of the most coveted transfers still available by June 15, the final day college players are able to withdraw their names.
The fit: Because Luis is in the predraft process and not hearing directly from college coaches with his tag, it’s hard to get a read on which schools have had dialogue with the versatile wing. Gonzaga, not unlike most schools, wouldn’t have any trouble plugging in the Miami native, given his scoring numbers (18.2 ppg in 2024-25), rebounding ability (7.2 rpg) and defensive skills (1.4 steals per game). Luis has improved from the 3-point line, hitting 33.6% of his attempts last season, and had a knack for getting to the free-throw line last season, taking 5.1 trips per game. The Zags have a history with Luis’ agency, Roc Nation Sports, which also represented Battle during his lone season in Spokane.
NIL
George Mason Names Janard Estell Inaugural Director of Player Management & NIL
FAIRFAX — George Mason University Athletics is proud to announce the appointment of Janard Estell as the department’s inaugural Director of Player Management and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Estell will report directly to Ashton Henderson, Senior Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer. Estell will transition from his current position as Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts for […]
Estell will transition from his current position as Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts for the Patriot Club, where he has worked closely with ICA senior leadership, advisory board members, and coaches to elevate philanthropic support for Mason Athletics.
In this new role, Estell will lead a comprehensive NIL and entrepreneurship strategy, focused primarily on supporting men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes, while also enhancing education, group licensing, and NIL strategy for all Mason student-athletes.
Estell will also collaborate with Malcolm Grace, Deputy AD for Compliance & NCAA Governance, to ensure all third-party NIL deals are properly reported and tracked within NIL GO, powered by Deloitte—a system recently adopted by the department to enhance transparency and compliance.
Estell brings extensive experience in player management, athletics administration, and corporate engagement.
Prior to joining George Mason, he served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Chipola College, where he played a key role in program development. His efforts included securing financial sponsorships, organizing fundraising events, and fostering community partnerships to support the team’s operational needs. He played a pivotal role in enhancing athlete development programs, improving training facilities, and increasing team visibility through targeted public relations and marketing efforts—ultimately helping to elevate the program’s competitive standing.
As Director of Player Management and NIL, Estell will oversee NIL contract execution, donor and sponsor engagement, student-athlete benefit distribution, and educational programming designed to empower student-athletes to thrive both on and off the court.
“We are thrilled to have Janard Estell transition from his impactful role within the Patriot Club to help shape and lead our growing NIL ecosystem,” said Henderson. “His passion for student-athlete development, business acumen, and deep understanding of the evolving NIL landscape makes him an ideal leader for this role. Janard’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to develop champions and transform lives through the power of sports.”
Aligned with George Mason’s mission to unite communities and inspire transformation through athletics, Estell’s appointment reinforces the department’s commitment to delivering innovative, ethical, and student-first NIL solutions. He will work closely with internal and external partners to create new revenue streams, enhance visibility for Mason student-athletes, and support their long-term success through entrepreneurship and brand-building education.
NIL
Tennessee Baseball Dealt Massive Blow In Transfer Portal
Tennessee pitcher Michael Sharman (35) celebrates Tennessee pitching a no-hitter after a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and St. Bonaventure at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday, March 6, 2025. / Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 0
NIL
After two years preparing for House settlement, Virginia is ready to embrace it
Athletic Director Carla Williams stood amid a press gaggle Wednesday, orange and blue balloons behind her, after another coronation for a new head coach. For just the second time in the last three months, she spoke to the media. And for the second time, even as reporters asked about new baseball Coach Chris Pollard, another […]
Athletic Director Carla Williams stood amid a press gaggle Wednesday, orange and blue balloons behind her, after another coronation for a new head coach. For just the second time in the last three months, she spoke to the media.
And for the second time, even as reporters asked about new baseball Coach Chris Pollard, another line of questioning intruded. This time even more pronounced than before.
Yes, Williams said. She was pleased — “ecstatic,” actually — with the House v. NCAA settlement that gained final approval June 6, establishing revenue sharing, scholarship expansion and name, image, likeness (NIL) regulations after months of chatter.
No, she said, her athletic department had not yet ironed everything out. But it was getting there.
This is the settlement that has cast a shadow over college athletics since it appeared a little over a year ago. Its most foundational impact is establishing direct payments from schools to players, known as revenue sharing. Schools will be able to pay athletes up to $20.5 million this school year, and more beyond that as the payment cap increases annually.
The settlement’s other sasquatch-sized footprint is its attempt to regulate name, image and likeness (NIL). Such deals had not, since they began in 2021, faced any scrutiny. But the settlement fashions a clearinghouse called NIL Go. All deals over $600 must go through the clearinghouse to ensure they meet market value.
Beyond that, the settlement disposes of scholarship limits, imposing roster caps instead. The scholarship limits, and the impending shifting of scales when some schools create more scholarships than others, has been a source of particular consternation among coaches.
Pollard, for one, said he has spent a year discussing the settlement with other coaches, the scholarship situation in particular.
“Hey, where are you guys going to land after the settlement?” one coach would ask.
“I don’t know, where are you guys gonna land?” went the response.
For two years, Virginia has been preparing. Williams said as much in a June 12 update posted to the athletics website and social media, projecting the same confidence in the settlement she did after basketball Coach Ryan Odom’s introductory press conference in March, the last time she spoke to the media. She said much the same Wednesday.
“[I am] very optimistic that this settlement is going to stabilize our industry,” Williams said. “There will always be changes. Because we’re going to a place. We’re not there yet, but I feel really good.”
In preparation, Virginia invested in facility updates, opening the Hardie Football Operations Center in June 2024 and the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center this September, state-of-the-art headquarters for the football team and Olympic sports programs.
Virginia also focused on fundraising, college sports’ new open-air arms race. Virginia Athletics Foundation, the athletic department’s fundraising arm, raised $15.76 million in May, its largest May total ever. The foundation is up 71 percent from last year so far.
“Our donors have been phenomenal,” Williams said Wednesday.
Most of the money will funnel toward revenue sharing. Virginia will distribute the maximum allowable, Williams wrote in her update.
But it has not yet decided how to divvy up the money, she added Wednesday. The department will decide whether to devise its own algorithm or follow the 75-15-5-5 model becoming the industry standard — 75 percent for football, 15 percent for men’s basketball, 5 percent for women’s basketball and 5 percent for other sports.
Of the $20.5 million, $2.5 million will go toward new scholarships, according to Lo Davis, the executive director of Cav Futures, under a clause in the settlement that says the first $2.5 million will count toward the revenue sharing cap. Virginia has created 30 new scholarships so far in women’s sports, Williams said.
The fundraising race is on, and that is nothing new. Its stage has just shifted.
Fundraising is more important than ever for athletic departments, where scholarships and revenue sharing are concerned. But NIL collectives, the organizations that have sprung up over the last few years at every school to fund athletes’ NIL opportunities, shifted overnight away from fundraising.
Cav Futures, the University’s official NIL collective, is “out of the fundraising business” and “into the sponsorship business,” Davis said in an interview Friday.
“We’re basically moving away from fundraising to fully marketing and sponsorships,” Davis said. “And so instead of having donor outreach, we’re now looking at opportunities to work with local, regional and national businesses.”
Davis is unsure exactly how the clearinghouse will look. Questions abound, mostly about how one actually determines market value.
But for most, there is no question — no matter where they fall on the spectrum of skepticism — that this is a step in the right direction. At least from what came before.
“It was a donor-centric model,” Davis said. “There were some collectives who did it the right way, like us, in terms of creating opportunities for the student-athletes so they earned what they got. But then there were others who just basically had the Venmo account directly to the student-athlete.”
Now, it is a world of “true NIL,” as Davis calls it. It is about brands and sponsors, about facilitating deals, educating athletes, helping them build their personal brands.
Davis thinks it will take about a year to understand the market. It will be a little bit of trial and error until then. Before they submit deals to the clearinghouse, Virginia athletes will send their deals to the school’s compliance department for review.
“They can’t dictate to the student-athlete what their value is,” Davis said. “But they certainly would say, ‘This may not pass. You may want to go back and renegotiate the scope of work for the value that they’re giving you.’”
It is uncertain for everybody. For the first time since NIL launched in 2021, the playing field, from a governance and regulation standpoint, is level.
Which schools can maximize the new landscape? That is the question of the day.
Virginia, being in a smaller market, is at a disadvantage to big-city schools. But Davis points to existing partnerships with McDonald’s and Hilldrup, and he is looking to expand into Richmond and Lynchburg, and to Northern Virginia, to use the school’s vast and successful alumni base.
NIL Go opened June 11. Revenue sharing starts July 1. It is all moving fast now, after Virginia’s two years of bracing for change, and the school is embracing it.
“Change is going to be a normal part of college athletics moving forward, and you just have to see it as an opportunity,” Williams said. “You cannot see it as a loss or as a negative.”
Still, everyone is in wait-and-see mode.
“Let’s see what happens 60 days from now,” Davis said. “I think it’s not where fireworks are going to happen July 1. I think it’s going to be a ramping up period. Obviously, school doesn’t start until August, so I think we’ll see how this all plays out by October.”
Xander Tilock contributed reporting.
NIL
UW sues Miami over NIL tampering with football player
Listen to this article IN BRIEF UW and VC Connect file lawsuit alleging Miami tampered with player. Lawsuit centers around former Badger cornerback Xavier Lucas. Claims Miami induced player to break NIL contract for transfer. The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of […]
Listen to this articleIN BRIEF
- UW and VC Connect file lawsuit alleging Miami tampered with player.
- Lawsuit centers around former Badger cornerback Xavier Lucas.
- Claims Miami induced player to break NIL contract for transfer.
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this upcoming season.
Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics.
The player in question in the filing is referred to only as “Student-Athlete A.” But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.
Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas’ name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall.
The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore.
“Indeed, student-athletes’ newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,” a portion of the lawsuit reads.
Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers cornerback decided to transfer.
Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers, and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and “a declaration that Miami’s conduct directed towards Student-Athlete A constituted tampering.”
In a text message, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit, but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football.
Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to “ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics.”
“While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,” the statement said. “In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community.
Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season.
Heitner said that Lucas hasn’t received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player’s request.
Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn’t put Lucas’ name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement.
In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts.
Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up.
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks’ NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.
NIL
College Basketball Insider: NC State’s Darrion Williams ‘should unequivocally be the ACC Preseason Player of the Year’
NC State has brought in eight transfers as part of an all-new roster for year one under Will Wade in Raleigh. Among them, though, was the Wolfpacks’ addition of who Jon Rothstein thinks should be the clear favorite as Preseason ACC Player of the Year. Rothstein looked at what the candidates for that recognition could […]
NC State has brought in eight transfers as part of an all-new roster for year one under Will Wade in Raleigh. Among them, though, was the Wolfpacks’ addition of who Jon Rothstein thinks should be the clear favorite as Preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Rothstein looked at what the candidates for that recognition could look like considering the movement around the league on his show with CBS Sports on Monday. He, after looking around at all the programs, felt that Darrion Williams should “unequivocally” be the choice there as Preseason Player of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I started to dive in last week to the ACC, and you start looking at the personnel of the conference…The bottom line is this. When you’re evaluating next season, returning personnel in the ACC and you’re evaluating the optics of who’s coming into the conference with cachet? It is very difficult to forecast, in some ways, who the best players in the league are going to be entering next season,” said Rothstein. “Duke lost Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Clemson lost Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin. And now you’re looking at what teams have brought in. Louisville did a tremendous job in the transfer portal bringing in Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely. Obviously, Duke’s going to bring in a talented freshman class, and also Cam Boozer who I love as a face-up big man.”
“But, I think if you really split the atom, I think if you really look in deep? I think, unequivocally, you look at the personnel, you look at the criteria for the personnel, and then you start looking at the production of the personnel – and Darrion Williams, who transferred from Texas Tech to NC State, should unequivocally be the ACC Preseason Player of the Year,” Rothstein stated.
Williams, who withdrew his name from the 2025 NBA Draft, was the No. 5 player in the portal per On3’s 2025 Top Transfer Portal Players. That’s coming off his career-best season as a junior in Lubbock where he averaged 15.1 points (43.9% FG, 34% 3PT on 1.4 makes), 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He then improved his scoring, rebounding, steals, and three-point makes in their four games of March Madness in reaching the Elite Eight. He did all that while not being the leading contributor in any category for the Red Raiders, which Rothstein expects he’ll now get to be for the Wolfpack.
“Look at what Williams did in the NCAA Tournament last year. Four NCAA Tournament games for the Red Raiders, who advanced all the way to the Elite Eight before losing to Florida in a devastating loss in Northern California. What did Darrion Williams do in those four games? 21 points, seven rebounds, about three assists. That is what you are looking at if you are an NC State fan,” said Rothstein. “This is somebody, again, who was not the focal point for Texas Tech because Texas Tech had the Big 12 Player of the Year and an All-American in JT Toppin. Now Darrion Williams comes to NC State and he gets a bigger bite of the apple. Now Darrion Williams comes to NC State and he gets the opportunity to showcase his ability to be a focal point for Will Wade and the NC State Wolfpack.”
Williams will have to not only produce in a leading role but help NC State, with ten new players led by a Top-30 portal class, to success in their debut under Wade. If Rothstein’s very early projection is right, though, the Wolfpack could have one of the best players in the league, at least based on conference awards, for the first time in around a decade with Williams.
“If you’re looking again at a Preseason All-ACC First Team, I would go with Cam Boozer, I would go with Darrion Williams, I would go with Ryan Conwell…I would also go with Markus Burton, and I would go with Seth Trimble,” said Rothstein.
“It’s really, when you split the atom, based on winning, based on production, and based on the situation that he’s going to find himself in? Darrion Williams from NC State should unequivocally be the ACC Preseason Player of the Year entering the ’25-’26 season – and I don’t think it’s even much of a debate”
NIL
Dabo’s recent one-liner about NCAA, NIL football
I know football season is still a few weeks away, but let’s get the conversation going. First, a confession. As a native of Hickory, N.C., and graduate of NC State, my first college sports loyalty is to the Wolfpack. That is especially true in basketball, as I was lucky enough to be in school there […]
I know football season is still a few weeks away, but let’s get the conversation going.
First, a confession. As a native of Hickory, N.C., and graduate of NC State, my first college sports loyalty is to the Wolfpack.
That is especially true in basketball, as I was lucky enough to be in school there when David Thompson and the Pack took down Bill Walton and UCLA for the national championship in 1974.
But as a very happy and very lucky resident of Columbia since 1978, I have for 47 years pulled hard for the Gamecocks as well. From football glory with Steve Spurrier to basketball glory with Dawn Staley to baseball glory with Ray Tanner, I’ve enjoyed it all.
And by the way, that two-time national championship winning USC baseball coach and retired athletics director is also an NC State grad who came to Columbia from Raleigh. As did Coach Tanner, I liked it here and stayed forever.
That said, this column is not about memorable wins. It’s about memorable words. And sports fans, when it comes to memorable words, it’s hard to beat Dabo.
After all, Swinney is the coach who famously said, “You gotta bring your own guts!”
The legendary comment came in an ESPN on-field interview after Clemson stopped a two-point conversion in the final seconds to defeat Notre Dame in a 2015 nationally televised game. Asked by the reporter what he said to his team at halftime, Dabo replied:
“I told them, ‘We give you scholarships, we give you stipends and meals and a place to live. We give you nice uniforms. But you gotta bring your own guts!’”
Swinney let fly another never to be forgotten (or forgiven) quote after Spurrier had (allegedly) thrown some shade at Clemson before the annual clash with South Carolina, though Spurrier denied there was any insult involved.
But the die was cast, as Dabo had already cut loose with this burn for the ages response about the Gamecocks:
“They ain’t Alabama. They ain’t LSU. And they’re certainly not Clemson. That’s why Carolina is in Chapel Hill and USC is in California and THE university in this state always has been, always will be Clemson.”
While there are many other notable Dabo quotes over the years, I’ll close with one from just a few weeks ago. In a pre-season interview on ESPN, he was discussing the new realities of college football, big money and “amateur” athletics in the NCAA.
Noting that this is his sixteenth season as Clemson’s head coach, Swinney said: “Rules change, and there’s lots of things we can do now that 16 years ago you’d be in jail for.”
It was a great line that drew laughs. But it’s also true. Literally. The NCAA is now both a joke and the joker in the professionalization of college sports.
As always, thanks to Dabo for telling it like he sees it, and doing so with both fire and fun.
And Go Cocks!
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