Thanks for watching Coach & The Cowboy Show! This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at Power-4 college athletics and NIL, boosters and what is the real impact to the athlete.
Brad Gray, Vice President Elect of Michigan State’s Downtown Coaches Club, discusses his deep involvement with Michigan State football as a lifelong fan and booster.
Michigan State Booster Club Insight: The episode delves into the history of the booster club, its structure, and how it supports Michigan State football and athletics through fundraising.
Brad's Journey in Sports: Brad talks about growing up around sports, with his father being a coach, and how he transitioned from wanting to play Division I sports to supporting teams through booster efforts.
NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) Impact: The discussion shifts to how NIL has changed the landscape of college athletics, allowing athletes to receive compensation. Brad explains how the booster club started to get involved in NIL deals and how players now interact with donors.
Working with Players: Brad shares how they negotiate NIL deals for players to attend booster events and how this process works through the NCAA-sanctioned portal. He explains that the focus of these events is networking, allowing players to connect with influential alumni and business leaders.
Challenges of NIL and Changes in Coaching: They talk about how the last two coaching regimes at Michigan State limited coaches' involvement in booster events, but the current coach, Jonathan Smith, offered solutions to bring players instead.
Building the Club Back Up: With the involvement of players at events, the booster club has seen a resurgence, leading to higher membership and excitement among fans. The conversation touches on the broader implications of NIL, the potential risks for players in the transfer portal, and the speculation about how college sports might evolve with regulations or salary cap systems.
This episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how NIL is influencing college football, player involvement with fans, and the business side of supporting college athletics!
