AD Scott Stricklin was on with Steve Russell this week and went deep on a variety of topics important to fans:
NIL
Deftly reiterates that the NCAA is toothless and afraid of an anti-trust case, so they are choosing to do nothing. He only sees three options: First, proceeding as is in a free market. Second, trying to make players employees where they could unionize, which might have issues in the state of Florida. Lastly, hope that congress gets involved and passes a law, which he feels is very unlikely to happen and not something that is imminent.
If Florida is at NIL Disadvantage
Cautions that a lot of rumors regarding NIL might be untrue. Thinks other schools are using NIL as an inducement and believes other programs were doing that before NIL was legal. Focus is on helping current student athletes with NIL, as they cannot orchestrate deals themselves or create inducements to attend a school. Feels Florida is well-positioned with fanbase, that the UAA expects a record-breaking year for fundraising, and that Florida will be "well-positioned for success."
Conference Regulation on NIL
Says that the SCOTUS ruling stated that the NCAA, nor conferences, could work together to limit benefits to student athletes. Key part there is working collectively. Believes conferences can each independently try to limit benefits, but that might be contested. They work hard not to have conversations with other conferences about this. Feels this NIL stuff is completely unprecedented and doesn't seem to have any answer for it other than the three options he laid out.
Flipping the camera perspective in the O'Dome to face the Rowdy Reptiles
They are having conversations on that, but there is a "significant cost," to build the structure for the camera and the cabling necessary is extremely expensive. He wants to get it done but not sure if it will happen in this budget year. Knows it would be better if the camera was on students.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Renovations
After the football facility is done, and the new soccer clubhouse, updating the Swamp is the number one priority. The stadium is 92 years old and is due for some updates. Anticipates major changes to the gate structures in next renovations. The space in BHG Stadium used currently for football operations, they will renovate and reuse that space for administrative purposes once the new football facility is open.
Mobile Ticketing Inefficiencies at Football Games
Stresses to download tickets prior to showing up at the game due to connectivity limits.
Heavener Football Facility Update
Looking to get players in by summer before camp. Haven't put in graphics and signage yet, which is the last piece. Feels the new dining hall for all students will have a big impact. Thinks that sometime in 2023, fans might be able to tour the facility.
Facilities Arms Race
Doesn't believe facilities are ever finished and that they require constant and consistent updates, even if just minor. Says having facilities that always need updates is "good job security for athletic directors."
Parking Garage and Congestion by Baseball Stadium
Defers to planning people on campus, but doesn't feel another parking garage is going in there anytime soon. Works to not schedule baseball and softball simultaneously.
Other Facilities Update
New locker rooms for swim and dive teams, looking into renovations for volleyball and track. Looking at tennis locker room. No mention of basketball updates.
Mental Health in Athletics
UAA has 7 counselors in addition to what is available to students at the University of Florida. Feels mental health is a real topic of concern coming out of the pandemic and civil unrest over the past two years.
Firing Coaches
Claims a lot goes into it, but that wins and losses are often just symptoms of other issues. Believes that when losses do mount up, something is wrong from either a recruiting standpoint, character standpoint, or strategic standpoint. Last thing he wants to do is make a coaching change and only does so when he has lost confidence in the coach. Cites Foley's "what must be done eventually should be done immediately."
Vetting Process for Hiring New Coaches
Tries to get as much feedback as possible from people that have interacted with candidates including former players, coaches, and media. Says "It's hard to bat 1.000 and even the greatest athletic directors miss occasionally." Sometimes mistakes of fit are made on the way. Has high hopes for new coaches.
Fan Expectations
Thinks we are competing in the best league in college sports in basically every sport. Thinks fanbase's competitiveness fuels the athletic department. Says they always talk about competing and winning the SEC.
SEC TV Contracts
Contract states payments will grow proportionally to who is joining, but they can't renegotiate their contracts. Is looking forward to new ESPN/ABC deal that replaces the CBS deal. Believes the Texas/OU additions will have an impact when negotiations begin again around 2029.
Future of College Football
Feels that in an open market the bigger brands become more powerful. Indicates he thinks that there will be two dominant conferences in football, with the SEC being one of them. Thinks some of the smaller conferences will survive, but compares them to the Big East. Thinks the other major conference will be the Big 10.
NIL
Deftly reiterates that the NCAA is toothless and afraid of an anti-trust case, so they are choosing to do nothing. He only sees three options: First, proceeding as is in a free market. Second, trying to make players employees where they could unionize, which might have issues in the state of Florida. Lastly, hope that congress gets involved and passes a law, which he feels is very unlikely to happen and not something that is imminent.
If Florida is at NIL Disadvantage
Cautions that a lot of rumors regarding NIL might be untrue. Thinks other schools are using NIL as an inducement and believes other programs were doing that before NIL was legal. Focus is on helping current student athletes with NIL, as they cannot orchestrate deals themselves or create inducements to attend a school. Feels Florida is well-positioned with fanbase, that the UAA expects a record-breaking year for fundraising, and that Florida will be "well-positioned for success."
Conference Regulation on NIL
Says that the SCOTUS ruling stated that the NCAA, nor conferences, could work together to limit benefits to student athletes. Key part there is working collectively. Believes conferences can each independently try to limit benefits, but that might be contested. They work hard not to have conversations with other conferences about this. Feels this NIL stuff is completely unprecedented and doesn't seem to have any answer for it other than the three options he laid out.
Flipping the camera perspective in the O'Dome to face the Rowdy Reptiles
They are having conversations on that, but there is a "significant cost," to build the structure for the camera and the cabling necessary is extremely expensive. He wants to get it done but not sure if it will happen in this budget year. Knows it would be better if the camera was on students.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Renovations
After the football facility is done, and the new soccer clubhouse, updating the Swamp is the number one priority. The stadium is 92 years old and is due for some updates. Anticipates major changes to the gate structures in next renovations. The space in BHG Stadium used currently for football operations, they will renovate and reuse that space for administrative purposes once the new football facility is open.
Mobile Ticketing Inefficiencies at Football Games
Stresses to download tickets prior to showing up at the game due to connectivity limits.
Heavener Football Facility Update
Looking to get players in by summer before camp. Haven't put in graphics and signage yet, which is the last piece. Feels the new dining hall for all students will have a big impact. Thinks that sometime in 2023, fans might be able to tour the facility.
Facilities Arms Race
Doesn't believe facilities are ever finished and that they require constant and consistent updates, even if just minor. Says having facilities that always need updates is "good job security for athletic directors."
Parking Garage and Congestion by Baseball Stadium
Defers to planning people on campus, but doesn't feel another parking garage is going in there anytime soon. Works to not schedule baseball and softball simultaneously.
Other Facilities Update
New locker rooms for swim and dive teams, looking into renovations for volleyball and track. Looking at tennis locker room. No mention of basketball updates.
Mental Health in Athletics
UAA has 7 counselors in addition to what is available to students at the University of Florida. Feels mental health is a real topic of concern coming out of the pandemic and civil unrest over the past two years.
Firing Coaches
Claims a lot goes into it, but that wins and losses are often just symptoms of other issues. Believes that when losses do mount up, something is wrong from either a recruiting standpoint, character standpoint, or strategic standpoint. Last thing he wants to do is make a coaching change and only does so when he has lost confidence in the coach. Cites Foley's "what must be done eventually should be done immediately."
Vetting Process for Hiring New Coaches
Tries to get as much feedback as possible from people that have interacted with candidates including former players, coaches, and media. Says "It's hard to bat 1.000 and even the greatest athletic directors miss occasionally." Sometimes mistakes of fit are made on the way. Has high hopes for new coaches.
Fan Expectations
Thinks we are competing in the best league in college sports in basically every sport. Thinks fanbase's competitiveness fuels the athletic department. Says they always talk about competing and winning the SEC.
SEC TV Contracts
Contract states payments will grow proportionally to who is joining, but they can't renegotiate their contracts. Is looking forward to new ESPN/ABC deal that replaces the CBS deal. Believes the Texas/OU additions will have an impact when negotiations begin again around 2029.
Future of College Football
Feels that in an open market the bigger brands become more powerful. Indicates he thinks that there will be two dominant conferences in football, with the SEC being one of them. Thinks some of the smaller conferences will survive, but compares them to the Big East. Thinks the other major conference will be the Big 10.
