NIL

[thebigdawg]

GWU has posted their rules for NIL. Setting ourselves back for no reason making it harder for our student athletes. For example other universities are allowing players to use team gear and facilities (with written request or paid rent). As written GWU athletes cant make a dollar while wearing a running bulldog logo. Also athletes cannot do profit off of any competitor to any existing University sponsorship or agreements.

[gwebb1994]

Well, we might as well drop everything down to D3. We've always been behind the 8-ball in recruiting, this will basically ensure no D1/FCS level talent will ever want to play here.

When you have an idiot like Burch in charge, a crooked car dealer running your BOT, and a royal leftie cheerleader that pisses off the locals as your President, this is what you get.

We know Lamb wasn't going to be here long to begin with, but this will speed up his exit. I fear Craft and Simmons will start looking for greener pastures as well. I can't say that I blame any of them. I'm no longer going to blame any student-athlete that wants to leave either.

[gwebb1994]

I'm putting a link to the "Interim NIL Rules" below.

Saying "interim" is basically saying, "when we find out how bad we've screwed the pooch and the horse has not only left the barn but the back forty as well, and the permanent damage is done, we'll change them".

s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gwu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2021/7/1/Gardner_Webb_NIL_Rules.pdf

[GDubbDude]

Wait--"a royal leftie cheerleader"? Is there the presumption that we're all right-wingers?

What leads you to believe that he's left-leaning? Everything I've seen suggests that he's simply a scholar and former poli-sci professor/dean. As an alum, I'm thankful, frankly, that his background isn't theology/religion. (No offense to anyone; I'm not anti-religion, but I do think that any university marketing itself as Christian has to walk a fine line. And, fair or not, that might be more true of a university with historical ties to the Southern Baptist Church. If it's going to proudly proclaim a religious mission, in other words, it should probably also demonstrate that it welcomes students of any faith--or none at all--fosters intellectual curiosity, and believes in intellectual freedom. Otherwise its academic reputation suffers and its applicant pool shrinks.)

[notsofast]

Yeah I'm a pretty left-leaning Democrat, so I don't see that as one of his flaws. I would have rolled my eyes...if Dr. Downs hadn't already pissed me off and made me ashamed to be an alum half a dozen times in the short time he's been at GWU. Your point about welcoming a diverse student body is correct and well taken, however Downs has been an empty suit thus far -- lots of slick talk about cultural change and excited social media posts about athletics, but he's consistently shown total disregard for faculty and staff across the full spectrum of the campus community. Faculty and staff morale are very low and while I'm sure he's a decent academic mind, there is not a lot of respect for him as a leader.

'94 and I will bicker a little bit on here from time to time, but not on this one. The BOT took a big swing and it appears to be a miss. I hope he sees the light and learns how to treat employees, but unfortunately people are who they are by this point in their careers. He's shown who he is: a pseudo-intellectual who was not ready for the big chair.

[gwebb1994]

Two good takes gents.

The BOT gambled, Downs had zero private liberal arts college experience. This isn't ECU, someone should inform him.

The essence of a President at a place like GW isn't if they are a royal prick or not (see White, M Christopher and Bonner, Frank as great examples), it is if they can raise $$$. The only good trait White had was his ability to raise coin. We haven't had anyone with that ability since he wrote his own exit.

Most college Presidents are not liked by faculty and staff, that's not a stretch, it's not a phenomenon exclusive to GW.

As for Downs, I haven't seen any evidence of his fundraising capabilities thus far but he's done what none of his predecessors didn't do, that is piss off the local community, especially in Boiling Springs proper. If you don't believe me, nice time you are in Boiling Springs, stop the average person and ask their opinion.

[gwebb1994]

Just read where GW screwed over the American Legion when originally agreeing to allow them to play their regional softball tournament there. The Boiling Springs Town Council apparently put $4000 behind it then GW backed out. Now the games will be played at Crest High.

Really sick and tired of the Downs And Burch Clown Show.

[notsofast]

Finally read all the way through the NIL document. Having sat in Chuck Burch’s office trying to pitch forward-thinking ideas, I can’t imagine how terrible it will be for athletes trying to get an NIL endorsement offer approved by him. He has reflexively said no to progressive ideas for the last 15 years and I can’t imagine that will change now.