Thinking about Schloss' interview with the Star-Telegram this weekend that details that even aTm is making cuts in baseball by firing an admin in the middle of the year when ranked number one, it's very obvious that Keith, as well as most ADs, see football and men's basketball success as the best path forward for athletics viability.
Baseball is a fun sport for Ole Miss fans because of our success, but it is fringe nationwide. Our success in football and men's basketball is more important to move our brand and financials forward in this new era.
Another point to consider is that football and men's basketball NILs are being prioritized right now. You don't hang on to Chris Beard from Arkansas by telling him we're about to drop millions more in baseball NIL so his budget is going to get shrunk. You just don't.
And NIL isn't monopoly money. There is a certain amount allocated for each sport, and football is king, followed by basketball. You fire Bianco and hire a new coach, he is going to ask for substantial NIL budget increases, which would either require Keith to engage donors again and risk fatigue before the next football portal round or for him to get a lesser qualified head coach.
All that on top of having to refill the football coffers in six months. A lot comes off the payroll, but prices in some of those positions are increasing, so the total budget will need to be much bigger, particularly offensive line and defensive line. And potentially quarterback if the two in waiting aren't ready.
In the end, it completely sucks, but when you take what Keith did in context, it still makes a lot of sense. There's way too much volatility and uncertainty in college athletics right now to double-down on a non-to-minimal revenue sport. It's not what Ole Miss fans want to hear, but it's frankly the truth.
Baseball is a fun sport for Ole Miss fans because of our success, but it is fringe nationwide. Our success in football and men's basketball is more important to move our brand and financials forward in this new era.
Another point to consider is that football and men's basketball NILs are being prioritized right now. You don't hang on to Chris Beard from Arkansas by telling him we're about to drop millions more in baseball NIL so his budget is going to get shrunk. You just don't.
And NIL isn't monopoly money. There is a certain amount allocated for each sport, and football is king, followed by basketball. You fire Bianco and hire a new coach, he is going to ask for substantial NIL budget increases, which would either require Keith to engage donors again and risk fatigue before the next football portal round or for him to get a lesser qualified head coach.
All that on top of having to refill the football coffers in six months. A lot comes off the payroll, but prices in some of those positions are increasing, so the total budget will need to be much bigger, particularly offensive line and defensive line. And potentially quarterback if the two in waiting aren't ready.
In the end, it completely sucks, but when you take what Keith did in context, it still makes a lot of sense. There's way too much volatility and uncertainty in college athletics right now to double-down on a non-to-minimal revenue sport. It's not what Ole Miss fans want to hear, but it's frankly the truth.
