Will an AD in the future consider offering a new coach a reduced salary, say $100K or $200K per year, and put the money saved toward players' NIL? Doubt they would do this with an existing coach's contract. But wouldn't this be putting your money toward something that would produce better results on the court or field?

Correct. And important note.

Well, the exorbitant coaching salaries are why there is NIL. It makes sense that this could happen. Let’s say one of these P5 guys who make 5M. If you give 50k to 15 guys and pay him 4.25M. That’s a start. Mid major? Not that much room to move, but it’s possible.

What came first? The chicken or the egg. It’s the salaries that caused the players to want to get paid above a scholarship. No other reason.

Greed coupled with opportunistic and unethical posse and handlers exploiting young adults? Nahhh couldn't be that.

Definitely coaches salaries. That's it.

Yes, I would 100% believe my college scholarship worth 10's to 100's of thousands of dollars is plenty compensation as an amateur, playing a game part-time, while going to school. And that's exactly how I viewed my scholarship when I was in college.

Why would I care what the coaches made, unless I was jealous or greedy? Maybe they worked long and hard, toiling through years of making 10k to get to where they are. They're professionals with families. They're the ones recruiting the players, building the team, creating the culture, handling the media/PR, enticing the donors, fostering an entire support staff (including their families) and assistant coaches. If they're winning games and championships and bringing money into the university such that their market value is worth it, more power to them. Free market is a wonderful thing.

I've never bought the athletes were employees argument for a single minute. They were compensated via scholarships, not pay. NOW, with NIL however? Yeah, it's basically pay for play - which is much closer to being an employee than ever before. Was never supposed to be that way and brings all sorts of different laws and regulations into play.

Same could be said about the Amazon worker, McDonald’s worker etc. Not sure why you have an issue with one and not the other.

The free market is exactly why the players are now being compensated. It’s the coaching salaries plus the rights money that the players thought where’s mine. The money is huge and I’m glad they are getting some.

So, you have a very narrow view of what a free market is. I get it. If you paid for college you think a full ride is utopia and the players should be happy with that. But things have changed dramatically with the amount of hours they put in and the huge money that is out there.