Kirby Smart says recruits are making $20K/month in NIL to stay committed
We cannot leave well enough alone, now can we? As a society, we love to meddle and consume ourselves with other people’s business, mostly because we cannot stomach the lives we are currently leading. It is the sad state of existence in today’s world, so the wonderful world of NIL shall be no different. Man, […]
We cannot leave well enough alone, now can we? As a society, we love to meddle and consume ourselves with other people’s business, mostly because we cannot stomach the lives we are currently leading. It is the sad state of existence in today’s world, so the wonderful world of NIL shall be no different. Man, have we opened up another can of worms with this serious allegation on it now?
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart told Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports “that collectives are striking deals with high school recruits to keep and gain their commitments — paying them as much as $20,000 a month in this unregulated market. If they de-commit, they are being asked to return the compensation.” So a top college football recruit can make $100,000 over a semester for being loyal?
This is not about Georgia getting or not getting someone. It is all about the entire system being established on a house of cards with an even flimsier foundation. It is why Deloitte is setting up a college sports clearinghouse for NIL called “NIL Go”. This is to make sure every NIL deal is legit. Dellenger does a far better job of explaining what all is going on in this with his latest for Yahoo.
This feels like NIL is becoming part of the FDIC, but who knows what each collective is trying to do.
Smart argued that teams who are recruiting abnormally well are taking advantage of this system.
Why is Kirby Smart so mad about the state of college football NIL?
Look. This is not about Georgia as much as it is about the rest of the sport. Georgia regularly recruits inside the top 10 as a top-five program of today and a top-15 program of all time. It is about those punching up and trying to have a seat at the big kid’s table. Collectives appear to be gumming up the process and preventing free enterprise from happening. NIL is still the wild west, but it is being tamed.
Not to say Smart’s opinions of this are directly tied to what one of his former players experienced coming out of high school, but he did coach Jaden Rashada for a year. His recruitment was a nasty mess, painting everyone involved in an awful light. We also saw a former quarterback of a rival team in Nico Iamaleava leave Tennessee abruptly for less money at UCLA over a hostile internal NIL debate.
What I am gathering from all this is there could be even more dirty money being exchanged under the table than we even realized. Collectives are not part of a university, but serve as a slimy conduit to one. Again, this is not about Georgia missing out on recruits, but rather prospective teenagers effectively being paid hush money to stay silently with the team that offered them the biggest bag.
Eventually, we will get the regulations the players and coaches deserve. Everybody deserves to get a slice of the pie, but we cannot be handing out pies that do not meet the requirements of the FDA of college football. Red tape will kill us all, but not as fast as red meat will. For the last time, these are kids. Many of them want to do the right thing. They may not always have the best people in their ears.
Bringing in $20,000 a month to stay quiet for one year could give a kid who cannot even vote nearly $250,000!
Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher returns for her seventh year as the Nittany Lions[apos] volunteer assistant coach. Kuntz-Herlocher works mainly with the defense. Her work with the defense has been instrumental in Penn State[apos]s great success over the past few seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the country in goals against average followed in 2007 […]
Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher returns for her seventh year as the Nittany Lions[apos] volunteer assistant coach. Kuntz-Herlocher works mainly with the defense.
Her work with the defense has been instrumental in Penn State[apos]s great success over the past few seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the country in goals against average followed in 2007 when Penn State finished second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country, while last year finishing tops in the conference and second in the nation.
A former Penn State player from 1990-94, Kuntz-Herlocher brings additional on-field experience to the staff. Kuntz-Herlocher currently plays for the perennial club powerhouse and three-time defending national champion (indoor and outdoor) Red Rose Field Hockey Team. While at Penn State, Kuntz-Herlocher appeared in three NCAA Semifinals. She was also the team captain in 1994, an NCAA Third Team All-American in 1994, First Team All-Big Ten in 1994, and Second Team All Big-Ten in 1993. She made the All Mid-East Regional Teams from 1992 to 1994, and received the NCAA Academic-Athletic Achievement Award in 1993 and 1994. Kuntz-Herlocher was part of Penn State[apos]s first Big Ten Title in 1993 and won the gold medal in the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. Her love for field hockey comes from learning the game through the eyes of two of the greatest and most passionate coaches, Linda Kreiser at Lower Dauphin High School and Charlene Morett at Penn State.
Kuntz-Herlocher graduated in 1995 with a major in health & human development and a minor in business administration. She was an assistant coach at Penn State in 1995 when she helped lead the Lions to their second Big Ten Championship. In 1996, Kuntz-Herlocher left for Boston University, serving as assistant coach from 1996-98 and helped lead the Terriers to two America East Championships and NCAA appearances during her tenure there.
Kuntz-Herlocher returned to State College where she married Neil Herlocher in 1999. The couple has three children, Charlie (7), Phebe (5), and Helena (2). She currently owns and operates Solutions Marketing in State College and is a marketing consultant for Nittany Bank and (her husband[apos]s company) Herlocher Foods, the makers of Herlocher[apos]s Penn State Dipping Mustard.
GETTING TO KNOW COACH KUNTZ-HERLOCHER Nickname: Sharon Favorite Food: Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard & cheese Favorite Color: Violet Favorite Musical Artist: Van Morisson Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption Favorite TV Show: Divine Design Favorite Website: www.herlocherfoods.com Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Bob Costas Favorite Pro Teams: State College Spikes, Penguins Favorite Athlete: Todd Rucci Childhood Idol: Ed (Too Tall) Jones, Mary Lou Retton Hobbies: Yoga, laughing with my kids & dogs, shopping with L.B. & Char Biggest Fear: Making a parenting mistake Teams I[apos]d Like To See Added To The Schedule: Stanford, Boston University (both for travel reasons) Best Player I Ever Played With: Chris McGinley Magazine Cover I[apos]d Like To Be On: The Penn Stater Most Prized Possession: My health Place I[apos]d Like To Visit: Greece (and eat unlimited fresh fruits and veggies) If I Didn[apos]t Coach Field Hockey, I Would: Watch PSU Field Hockey If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Invest it in a major marketing campaign for Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard, build a hotel in downtown State College After Penn State, I Would Like To: Grow the sport of field hockey and keep every Penn Stater playing for years to come. College sports are just the beginning.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY: A fourth former Statesmen goes pro this summer | Sports
GENEVA — Of the seven Hobart College ice hockey seniors who graduated in the class of 2025, three have signed professional contracts. Defenseman Austin Mourar is the latest grad to sign and with that, the number of former Statesmen who will move on to play professionally in Europe is up to four. 2024 grad Artem […]
GENEVA — Of the seven Hobart College ice hockey seniors who graduated in the class of 2025, three have signed professional contracts.
Defenseman Austin Mourar is the latest grad to sign and with that, the number of former Statesmen who will move on to play professionally in Europe is up to four. 2024 grad Artem Buzoverya signed a professional contract earlier this month as well.
Mourar has signed with Les Bouquetins Hockey Courchevel-Meribel-Pralognan in the French Division I Hockey League, where he will clash with former teammates he won three national championships with.
“This is a great opportunity for Austin,” head coach Mark Taylor said. “He was huge for us in achieving what we have achieved as a program. He’s another guy that did it athletically and academically to a very high standard and level of achievement, individually and as a great teammate. I’m grateful we had him for five years thanks to our Master’s program. Courchevel-Meribel-Pralognan is a great mountain region in France, a beautiful place. Certainly, another athletic experience but what a life and educational opportunity this will be. It should be entertaining to hear the banter when he, Coop and Icer play against each other.”
Mourar, who graduated in May with a master’s in management, was a four-time NEHC All-Academic selection. He will join fellow Statesmen Matthew Iasenza and Cooper Swift, who signed earlier this summer with other teams in the same league.
Mourar — affectionately called “Moose” by his teammates — played all 31 games in 2024-25, helping Hobart to its third straight national championship. He finished the year tied for fifth on the team with 21 points, recording nine goals and 12 assists on his way to earning first- team All-American recognition. Mourar set up the game-winning goal against Geneseo in the national semifinals. He had three multi-point games this season. Mourar played a key role for the Statesmen’s defense that was first in the nation in scoring defense (1.01) and a penalty killing unit that was eighth in the nation (.871). Mourar shared the team lead with 21 blocked shots.
He also is the all-time leader in games played for Hobart with 118 in four seasons in Geneva. He recorded 74 points on 31 goals and 43 assists. During the 2023-24 campaign, Mourar was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He also earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team during Hobart’s first two national championships. Mourar helped Hobart to a 106-11-4 overall record, three national championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, three NEHC tournament titles and four NEHC regular season championships.
Michael Pezzetta Among Maple Leafs Spotted As Guest At Team’s Hockey School This Summer
Michael Pezzetta is already showing love to Toronto Maple Leafs fans. The 27-year-old was spotted hanging out with kids from the Maple Leafs’ hockey school earlier his month. Pezzetta, who grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, spoke, took photos with the children, and even signed each of their Maple Leafs jerseys. Advertisement Pezzetta signed a […]
Michael Pezzetta is already showing love to Toronto Maple Leafs fans.
The 27-year-old was spotted hanging out with kids from the Maple Leafs’ hockey school earlier his month. Pezzetta, who grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, spoke, took photos with the children, and even signed each of their Maple Leafs jerseys.
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Pezzetta signed a two-year, $1.625 million contract with Toronto as a free agent when free agency opened up on July 1. The annual average value of his contract is $812,500. He’s been with the Montreal Canadiens ever since being drafted by them in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.
In 200 career NHL games with the Canadiens, Pezzetta has 15 goals and 23 assists. He’s likely to play a depth role with the Maple Leafs within their bottom six. Pezzetta grew up a Maple Leafs fan, idolizing players such as Mats Sundin and Curtis Joseph, among others.
Ranking Every NHL Arena Media Meal Part 3, No. 9 Through 16 Revealed
Ranking Every NHL Arena Media Meal Part 3, No. 9 Through 16 RevealedWelcome to Part 3 of The Hockey News Toronto’s ranking of the media meals that are served around the NHL. This week, we move further down the rankings to look at the teams and venues
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“I know my mom’s super excited that I get to stay home, it’s been a while. And then even all my friends and everybody’s like all Leafs fans, just through and through, and they’re so excited,” Pezzetta said in his first media availability as a Maple Leaf.
“So many people messaged me the last day-and-a-half now, and it’s just surreal. Like, to think that it’s a possibility I get to put this sweater on, so I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.”
Pezzetta, though, isn’t the only Maple Leafs player who’s visited the kids at Maple Leafs hockey school. Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, and Morgan Rielly, each of whom is spending a lot of time in Toronto this summer, have also stopped by to take photos at the camp.
‘I Think He Really Wore It’: Matt Martin Reflects On Mitch Marner’s Move To Golden Knights And His Two Seasons With Maple Leafs
‘I Think He Really Wore It’: Matt Martin Reflects On Mitch Marner’s Move To Golden Knights And His Two Seasons With Maple LeafsMatt Martin might be retired, but he remembers playing with Mitch Marner on the Toronto Maple Leafs like it was yesterday.
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The two-week-long event, held by the Maple Leafs’ development team, is “a recreational/beginner level camp that welcomes players of all ability levels. Participants will have fun, step outside their comfort zone, learn and improve upon their hockey skills while also continuing to develop their fundamental movement skills,” their website reads.
“Our program is designed to provide young athletes with an all-around professional hockey camp experience both on and off the ice. Off-ice programming includes dryland training, special guest seminars and team building activities.”
Other Maple Leafs who’ve surprised the kids in recent years at the camp are John Tavares, Chris Tanev, Joseph Woll, and former Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe. The organization has even had Toronto Sceptres forward Emma Maltais as a guest at the camp.
‘Looking Forward To Playing A Long Time Here Like (Phil) Kessel’: Why Dakota Joshua Will Wear No. 81 With Maple Leafs This Season
‘Looking Forward To Playing A Long Time Here Like (Phil) Kessel’: Why Dakota Joshua Will Wear No. 81 With Maple Leafs This SeasonWhen Dakota Joshua puts on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey for the first time, he’ll be wearing a number that many fans are familiar with.
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This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Michael Pezzetta Among Maple Leafs Spotted As Guest At Team’s Hockey School This Summer
(Top photo of Pezzetta: @leafsdevelopment / Instagram)
Celeste Brown enters her fourth year as an assistant coach with Penn State women’s hockey in 2020-21 not far removed from her reputable career on the ice. Primarily responsible for coaching the team’s forwards, Brown has had a direct impact on the Nittany Lion offense which scored 73 goals in 2018-19, the second-highest total in […]
Celeste Brown enters her fourth year as an assistant coach with Penn State women’s hockey in 2020-21 not far removed from her reputable career on the ice. Primarily responsible for coaching the team’s forwards, Brown has had a direct impact on the Nittany Lion offense which scored 73 goals in 2018-19, the second-highest total in program history.
An alumna of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Brown returned for her second stint in College Hockey America (CHA) after serving as an assistant coach at Connecticut College for the 2016-17 season.
Before beginning her coaching career, Brown played for the New York Riveters during the inaugural season of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) in 2015-16. While coaching at Connecticut College, Brown played for the NWHL’s Connecticut Whale in 2016-17.
Brown closed out her collegiate career as RIT’s Division I career leader with 30 goals between 2012-15 and her nine-career game-winning goals rank in the top 10 at RIT.
Her class tallied a 15-2 record in postseason play, which included an NCAA Division III National Championship in 2012. After the Tigers elevated to Division I in the 2012-13 season, she helped the Tigers to back-to-back CHA titles in 2014 and 2015. She was a two-time captain and netted 70 points on 42 goals and 28 assists in 139 career games played, the fifth most games in program history.
The 2012 NCAA Division III National Championship game featured Brown recording the go-ahead goal 1:23 into the third period to help lead the Tigers to a 4-1 victory over Norwich.
In the classroom, Brown posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.73, was named a three-time CHA All-Academic Team honoree and received the 2014 CHA Academic All-Star honor for posting a 4.0 GPA.
From Great Falls, Montana, Brown graduated from RIT in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology.
Maryland coach Mike Locksley: I lost the locker room over NIL payments last year
In another sign of how name, image and likeness payments have fundamentally changed college football, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley admitted this week that player payments became such a contentious issue on his team that it caused strife in the locker room. “A year ago, Coach Locks lost his locker room,” Locksley said. “We had […]
In another sign of how name, image and likeness payments have fundamentally changed college football, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley admitted this week that player payments became such a contentious issue on his team that it caused strife in the locker room.
“A year ago, Coach Locks lost his locker room,” Locksley said. “We had haves and have-nots for the first time. The landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson. And that valuable lesson is it’s important for me, even in the midst of this change, to continue to educate our players on the importance of what playing for something bigger than yourself is all about. And I can tell you, if I have to put my desk in the locker room, I will.”
Locksley said he was torn between paying younger players to attract new recruits, and paying older players to reward those who had been valuable contributors to the program for years. Maryland fell to 4-8 last year after winning bowl games each of the three previous seasons.
“Losing the locker room a year ago, for me, was really personal, because it’s bigger than football,” Locksley said. “Last year was tough on me as a coach because for the first time, those really strong relationships were questioned. Because I had to decide whether to pay a freshman coming in or take care of a veteran player who helped me go to three bowl games.”
Locksley said he now has a sign at the locker room entrance telling players to leave their finances out of the locker room. A sign of a major change in college football.
