Written by Brian Murphy for WRAL

The ever-evolving world of major college football transforms individuals, including a highly successful coach, a national title holder, and a Hall of Fame member, into fundraisers for their respective programs.

Alternatively, one could view them as someone who constantly asks for money.

Mack Brown, head coach of North Carolina, urged supporters on Monday to support the team’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) collective. This support is crucial for the program to maintain its success, attract new players, and ultimately achieve more victories.

According to Brown, the upcoming implementation of the 12-team college football playoff will significantly benefit UNC football and allow them to surpass their previous record of eight or nine wins. He believes that this new opportunity will help propel the team to national contention, especially after finishing 9-5 and 8-5 in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively. It is an exciting time for the team to make a major advancement.

The program’s collective, Heels4Life, announced a fundraising campaign on Monday with the goal of raising $5 million. They hope to reach $1 million in the next two weeks and increase their membership to 5,000 fans.

The group assisted in retaining UNC’s talented quarterback, Drake Maye, for the 2022 season. However, according to executive director Graham Boone, they have relied on generous donors for funding and have not received as much recognition and publicity as others.

The goal of the “Hold the Line” initiative is to address both concerns.

Boone, a former NBA agent who assumed leadership of Heels4Life in August 2022, expressed the importance of spreading awareness about the pressing need for support for Carolina football. He emphasized that every contribution, whether it’s a monthly donation of $25 or an annual donation of $100,000, holds significant value for the organization. It is both desired and necessary for the success of the team.

Boone expressed a desire to expand the reach of our football program beyond just alumni to encompass the devoted Carolina fan community. Many non-alumni fans are interested in gaining access to the university and supporting the team they enjoy watching on game days. This aim to involve the entire fan base reflects our goal of making our football program more accessible to all.

According to Boone, the collective has fulfilled all financial obligations to athletes, a statement that he believes is unique compared to other collectives.

Require zero dollars

Brown, who has 282 wins in 35 seasons as a head coach, previously said that the lack of NIL funding impacted which transfers the Tar Heels could attract. He said Monday that program’s recruiting hasn’t been as good since the NCAA opened the door for name, image and likeness payments on July 1, 2021.

The concept of NIL being utilized to provide compensation for player appearances, autographs, and jersey sales rapidly evolved into a tactic for recruiting and retaining athletes.

Brown, who achieved victory at Texas in 2005, stated that it’s a concept we must all accept. He urges our supporters to join in, whether they are visiting our websites, are grassroots fans, season-ticket holders, or part of our alumni association. All North Carolina fans should unite and support this cause because it exists, it’s genuine, and it’s just. Our players deserve equal opportunities with NIL, just like other athletes in the nation.

It is still prohibited by the NCAA to entice potential players with offers or agreements related to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). Recently, the NCAA penalized Florida State for violating this rule.

However, NIL is definitely a factor in the game and athletes are conscious of the potential consequences if they participate.

Brown stated that if the correct players are being recruited and they are aware of potential opportunities upon arrival, they will come legally. However, if they are not guaranteed proper support through NIL after arriving, they will not come.

This also entails ensuring the well-being of existing players. The transfer process works in both directions, and UNC has experienced the departure of numerous starters through the transfer portal in the past two years.

According to Brown, it is not possible to compensate an individual in the transfer portal if the players in the locker room are not receiving payment. He suggests implementing a system similar to the NFL where starters and backups have different salary levels, and certain positions may have higher salaries. This would ensure that players like Drake, who have a higher value, receive appropriate compensation compared to other players on the team.

“If another school is earning three times the amount your school is, it is likely that word will spread among students and discourage them from attending.”

‘A fan tax’

The conferences are responsible for securing profitable television deals with networks. This money is then distributed to member schools within the league, and is used for various purposes such as scholarships, coaching salaries, athlete services, facility improvements, and administrative expenses.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, North Carolina’s athletic department generated $140 million in revenue, while NC State’s athletic department reported $105 million in revenue during the same period.

As of now, the money cannot be utilized for NIL payments. Instead, fans who already contribute money to the athletic association and buy season tickets and team merchandise to support their favorite college in various ways are also responsible for compensating the players.

Boone stated that this is a tax for fans. He believes that without making changes, the responsibility falls on fans to ensure their programs remain competitive in the current environment.

The NCAA is deliberating a potential alteration that would allow schools in a newly established top division to compensate their own athletes. The courts are currently faced with legal challenges from athletes advocating for this change as well.

Currently, the responsibility falls on the fans. Coaches are becoming more open about explicitly communicating this to their supporters.

Following their victory over UNC in November, NC State football coach Dave Doeren utilized his post-game press conference to urge Wolfpack supporters to contribute to group efforts. The collective affiliated with the football program has been revealing the names of players, both current and newly enrolled transfers, who have committed to the collective.

Boone stated that many of our competitors have effectively promoted their campaign and objectives to the public. We are striving to be among those successful organizations.

By Tuesday afternoon, the group had gathered over $56,000 in donations. Boone stated that the total amount, which encompasses individual contributions and funds from membership sites, is even greater.

Boone stated that this campaign serves as an illustration of our attentiveness to our supporters and the demands of the market. We are providing a straightforward solution for individuals to participate, as long as they have an interest in Carolina football. For the cost of a Friday night dinner, we can make a significant impact.

Source: wralsportsfan.com