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Topic: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Topic: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

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FearLeon
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,653

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Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 8:12:57 AM

Feel like this deserves its own thread.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2... /

It’s discouraging to read this and not feel like Ohio’s basketball program is behind Akron when it comes to so many things off the court…especially with NIL. Akron embraces it and clearly has a strategy in place on how to attack it. And yes, it helps that Akron has Bud Wentz financing it.

The mindset coming out of Akron feels so much different from Athens. Akron staff embraces it fully while all we hear the last couple of seasons in Athens is how we lose bigs because we got “outbid”. When is the last time you saw anyone with the program instruct alumni or fans on how they can donate to the 1804 Collective? Anyone see a donation link promoted anywhere? All I keep seeing is the program asking fans to donate to the 1804 alumni summer reunion team. I made a donation to the NIL Ohio Hoops golf tourney last summer, but that truly is the only thing I have ever seen mentioned publicly on how to support Ohio hoops NIL.

Hell, even Mr. Personality Sendy got on Twitter last night pumping out NIL Kent State info.

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 8:28:08 AM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

ohiocatfan1
General User

Member Since: 9/6/2016
Post Count: 374

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 8:40:06 AM

FearLeon wrote:

We are light years behind in every respect. Like you said our program has ZERO NIL promotion out there. The season-ending message from the leader of the program....blame injuries. Not exactly inspiring.

shabamon
General User

Member Since: 11/17/2006
Location: Cincinnati
Post Count: 6,711

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 8:58:46 AM

The word "collective" appears only once in that article. Realistically how does theirs compare to ours? Until that information is known I'm not going to share in this wallowing.

Since NIL and the portal have really come into play we have lost exactly one player who was truly a program cornerstone*. Elmore James is probably the second best player we have lost. That's way above the median. If our NIL pales in comparison to Akron, then our culture must be pretty darn good to retain guys like Clayton, Mitchell, Paveletzke, etc.

It's not our "culture" that doesn't offer enough high school bigs. It's not our "culture" that struggles to develop young bigs. It's not our "culture" that sprains our players' ankles.

*BVP doesn't count. A guy who was with the program for five years and pretty much maxed out what he could do athletically and academically at Ohio is not someone "lost".

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 8:59:57 AM by shabamon

FJC31
General User

Member Since: 3/31/2022
Post Count: 1,700

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 9:13:08 AM

FearLeon wrote:

I've done my fair share of outreach for work to a number of different collectives over the past two years.

This is what I've noticed in terms of responses and engagement -- collectives started and ran by alumni/fans, are far more responsive, have a vision, and strategies implemented on how to navigate the current landscape. Not just with generating donations, but also unique ways for athletes to create income through brand partnerships.

On the flipside, there's a lot of collectives powered by Blueprint Sports. Observation -- Blueprint Sports is equivalent to Shopify but for NIL Collectives. It'll build the shell (website) and funnel for donations for those schools interested, but they're not giving you someone to drive the car (why would they).

The 1804 Collective is Powered by Blueprints Sports. So, it's very barebone and doesn't seem to have a face to it or a POC who is passionately putting a strategy in motion. It just provides a Blueprints Sports employee as a POC to answer questions -- basically a customer service rep that isn't affiliated with the school.

I mean, the social media handles of it are non-existent and that's a great way to get the word out.

Fear the Roo is the exact opposite -- it's independently operated, has all sorts of basketball content on it, its own social handles, and Akron's men's bb IG embedded on its main page. It's just far more engaging and proactive than the 1804.

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 9:14:41 AM by FJC31

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Member Since: 2/3/2005
Post Count: 3,016

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 10:23:35 AM

They’re only 50k away from only losing by 20 in next year’s tournament.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,188

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 10:23:46 AM

FJC31 wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

To your point and to check it out, I went to the 1804 website, scrolled down, and clicked on Donate. This is what comes up _ page can't be found.

https://1804sportcollective.com/?page_id=571

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 11:07:02 AM by Alan Swank

greencat
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 2,465

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 10:32:38 AM

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 10:35:10 AM by greencat

SBH
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,184

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 10:47:06 AM

This thread reminds of the horrible 1970s (?) movie "1941." The Japanese are not bombing Athens, folks. This is blown way out of proportion.

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 7,362

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RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 10:57:10 AM

Someone on here mentioned that Boals and staff are handling all of the NIL internally. I'd like to know more about that so we can calm the F down about all of this.

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,188

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 11:16:43 AM

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

The first link worked but the second took me to the page not found. But check this out from the contribution page. Really makes you want to give (not).

Help our student-athletes by contribution today! All your support go directly to making a difference for our cause.

FearLeon
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,653

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 12:58:57 PM

Brian Smith (No, not that one) wrote:

They’re only 50k away from only losing by 20 in next year’s tournament.

Call me crazy, but I would love to be only 50K away and have the opportunity to lose by 20 in next year's tournament.

Last Edited: 3/26/2025 12:59:13 PM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

JSF
General User

Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,538

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 1:50:57 PM

You’re crazy.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Online

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 1:59:06 PM

I think Groce is a better Coach than Jeff Boals. Not arguing that.

But that Akron Journal piece is a puff piece that basically says nothing. The evidence that Akron's program is ahead of ours is on the floor and there's nothing in that article that made me feel like Akron is light years ahead of us, beyond the fact that they've won the conference 3 out of the last 4 years, and we've won it once in the last 13 seasons.

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,246

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 3:36:06 PM

FearLeon wrote:

I totally get what you are saying, on lack of times you see the collective advertised to give. I’m not sure it’s even on Ohiobabcats.com. But I do know it competes directly against the department for the money they try and raise for their projects such as renovations, equipment, facilities. That’s why our collective is ran by an outside group.

BillyTheCat
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Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,246

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 3:38:57 PM

FJC31 wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

Curious about this and Blueprint sports. They may partner with the 1804 group to expand the opportunities, but we do have a group that are active and have fundraisers coming like the football golf outing on 4/26.

ohiocatfan1
General User

Member Since: 9/6/2016
Post Count: 374

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 4:55:25 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Agree 100%.

Bobcat Tattoo
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2022
Post Count: 105

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/26/2025 9:12:24 PM

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

ohiocatfan1
General User

Member Since: 9/6/2016
Post Count: 374

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 8:06:44 AM

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

Our program is right on top of things for sure.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Online

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 8:24:50 AM

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

And, if you look at the scoreboard, we're getting beat by Toledo at home. Feel the excitement.

ohiocatfan1
General User

Member Since: 9/6/2016
Post Count: 374

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 9:20:16 AM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

And, if you look at the scoreboard, we're getting beat by Toledo at home. Feel the excitement.

Details matter.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,572

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 10:46:19 AM

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

This is proof positive that Coach Boals has never looked at that page. After he recovered from a coronary he would have asked that that photo be replaced.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

FearLeon
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,653

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 10:50:20 AM

ohiocatfan1 wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

And, if you look at the scoreboard, we're getting beat by Toledo at home. Feel the excitement.

Details matter.

None of how the website looks and is presented makes sense. So lazy.

And yet, look how polished and easy it is to go through this site.

https://www.feartheroocollective.com/contribute

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

TWT
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,140

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 2:39:43 PM

What is the right approach and formula for NIL? Until another mid major places in the Sweet 16 we don't have a success blueprint to follow in this space. I don't count the new PAC-12 as mid major either with a 60 million dollar athletic budget requirement. They sent two teams this year to the round of 32 (Gonzaga, Colorado St) and the Big East also placed two (Creighton, St.Johns). I'd say its another reason to want to give Boals a little more time with everyting in flux as revenue sharing is additionally starting next season.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

FearLeon
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,653

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 3:06:54 PM

Has Boals ever go on social media to ask for NIL support from fans/alumni? Or at least direct them as to where to make donations? Seeing more and more college coaches do this on social media.

https://x.com/HokiesMBB/status/1905288709282443665

Last Edited: 3/27/2025 3:07:36 PM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

ohiocatfan1
General User

Member Since: 9/6/2016
Post Count: 374

Status: Offline

RE: Akron NIL/Portal/Culture

Posted: 3/27/2025 3:22:11 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Bobcat Tattoo wrote:

greencat wrote:

Try this link instead....

https://1804sportcollective.com /

and/or this....

https://1804sportcollective.com/basketball /

(but apparently you do have to email them to donate)

Not at all the most important thing, but I find it ironic that the homepage for our basketball collective features a photo with Mark Sears.

This is proof positive that Coach Boals has never looked at that page. After he recovered from a coronary he would have asked that that photo be replaced.

If our head coach has to see that for it to be changed our program is even worse off than I thought.

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