BuddyMartinBlog: What I Learned About The NIL. Why I'm Impressed By Its Potential For Reconnecting.

Selling the brand. It now includes players. And the Gators are in. (Chris Spears Photo)

What we have concluded is that each of these players have their own unique stories and, given the chance, can make a connection with fans and the media. From that standpoint, I believe this will be well-received. This connection is sorely needed.

“So what the hell is this NIL deal, anyway?” That question was asked quite a few months ago. Ever since, I’ve been looking for the answer, but apparently I am a slow learner. Then I decided: Hey, maybe it’s time for this Old Dog to learn these new tricks. What is this “Name, Image, Likeness” all about? I dove in. And I must say it’s not at all what I expected. But let me warn you: Be careful to discern what “it” is. Because “it” can be lots of things.

I started out with a series of phone calls with Eddie Rojas, former Gator pitcher and founder of The Gator Collective, kicking the tires. It led to a conference call with my friend, Gator All-American and fellow broadcaster Ben Troupe. After seeing and agreeing that Rojas had a solid concept and wasn’t some dude out to line his own pockets, Ben and I decided to take the next step in our learning process. That led to interviewing four Florida players, past and present.

Ever since one-on-one relationships for the media were ka-boshed by schools and personal contact with coaches or players was discouraged, if not eliminated, those of us who believed in building trust in order to learn about our subjects were severely hamstrung by the new impersonal method of Zoom conferences. After Troupe and I talked to Rojas and his assistant Jen Grosso, we concurred that having some of the Gator Collective athletes on The Buddy Martin Show might be a good way to re-establish connections. So that is where we began.

No money was exchanged, no favors granted, no promises made – just a desire to know these young men better and decide for ourselves if their stories needed to be told, whether we could have any role in that and whether this might develop into a new conduit for future conversations.

Over the next two weeks we quickly became educated as we hosted Rojas on The Buddy Martin Show, which drew a surprisingly strong and favorable reaction from our thousands of Gator fans. Right away, 10 of our listener/viewers signed up with #thegatorcollective.com. Next was to meet the players.

I must admit there were – and still are – many skeptics who feel this NIL is a money-grab for gifted athletes who already receive a paid education. And besides, isn’t there the danger of schools simply buying players? They can already slide in and out of the lanes, breaking commitments, an unhealthy environment created by the transfer portal.

Didn’t we read about Alabama quarterback Bryce Young having a “seven figure deal” before he won the Heisman Trophy? And wasn’t there a Texas booster whose company agreed to pay every Longhorn offensive lineman on scholarship 50 grand each? This is the hot mess that college football has become?

Yecch! Clearly this was already messed up, but despite that, Troupe and I were determined to move ahead with our own research. And hopefully learn.

Derek Wingo led off an impressive lineup from Gator Collective. (UAA Photo)

Up next was former Penn State commit Derek Wingo of Naples, who spent four years away from his mother while playing for St. Thomas Aquinas on the east coast and decided against signing with the Nittany Lions because he wanted to be closer to his family.

“Why am I and going to travel halfway across the country to play when I can stay and play in my home state and be close to my family?” Derek asked himself. It was after that his mom moved to Gainesville to be closer to her son and started a bakery specializing in cupcakes, Mama Wingo’s Sugar Shack.

On a visit to UF he had gotten to know, and like, since-departed LB coach Christian Robinson, so he signed with UF. Now he has to get accustomed to a new defense and new co-coordinator Patrick Toney, but has already been convinced by him to “spend more time in the film room and learn the defense” and eagerly awaits the fall season.

The linebacker position took a small hit in transition with loss of Mohamoud Diabate (Utah) and Ty’Ron Hopper (Missouri) transferring, but it was bolstered by return of Ventrell Miller. Wingo will have the benefit of Miller’s leadership and experience. And should Florida pull off the coup of landing former Texas A&M commit Harold Perkins, the No. 4 ranked linebacker, all of a sudden the defensive potential sparkles.

It didn’t take us long to realize that Wingo was a very together young man, articulate, with strong family values and a commitment to academics. He chose Florida over 30 other schools, but admittedly had concerns when his coaches were fired. As he talked for a few minutes, listeners began messaging how impressed they were with comments like “I hope this young man can be in the press conferences” and “Florida needs to take Derek to SEC Media Days.”

Right after Napier’s arrival, Wingo noticed the difference. What he liked was that Napier addressed immediate needs of the players – among them the age-old issue of parking and the thousands of dollars they are forced to pay in parking tickets. His solution? Have them park their cars on the north lawn of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium until the issue was resolved.

Ben and I were also impressed as we heard Wingo talk about education and life after football. He said the quality of his education also factored in his decision and that with a degree from UF “I’m pretty sure I can walk up to somebody’s door and have a good shot at getting a job.”

Big Fella Gervon Dexter wants everyone to know last year wasn't acceptable. (UAA Photo)

Next we caught up with Gervon Dexter, the centerpiece of Billy Napier’s defensive line, with a huge 310-pound frame and quick feet who occupies two people most of the time and is a forceful run-stopper. Gervon admitted he is just learning technique and did most of his damage last season with pure raw talent. He is certain he can be better with coaching.

The last few months have been life-changing for the former Lake Wales product, having lost his father recently and now an expectant father himself.

This is a new beginning for Gervon and he is dedicated to shedding that “loser” image created by last year’s 6-7 record and that painful Gasparilla Bowl loss to Central Florida. He let us know right away that image doesn’t set right with him and he’s determined to remind his teammates that “6-7 and a bowl” is not what’s expected of the Florida Gators.

As told on these pages elsewhere by GatorBait’s Kyle Curtis, Dexter is very much about bringing game and attitude:

“Attitude is contagious,” said Dexter. “The attitude that Coach Napier and his staff have brought in has been a very positive change. I feel like they brought a winning attitude onto us ... as long as we follow that and what they have planned for us I feel like it will be a good season.”

Gone but not forgotten: Antonio Valentino. He wants the NFL or the Media. (UAA Photo)

Our third interviewee from Gator Collective was former defensive lineman Antonio Valentino, who has his bachelors degree from Penn State in communications and hopes to be in the media someday, but right now is trying to make it in the NFL. It became evident right away that if there’s talking involved in a media job, this guy’s got a real shot. He’s bright, thoughtful, entertaining and has the gift of storytelling.

Valentino regrets he doesn’t have another year of eligibility to play for Napier and his staff. He was impressed when he met the new Gator coach and was told by him “I really like the way you play the game” – knowing full well he was no longer of useful to Napier.

He also spoke about “Coach Chaos” -- as the Gators’ new defensive line coach Sean Spencer was known as at Penn State -- in glowing terms.

“I was with him for five years. ‘Spence’ was the best defensive line coach I have ever been around,” said Valentino. “Spence holds a special place in the hearts of all his players because it’s not just ‘ball’ with him. Spence knows my family. KNOWS my family. My sister was born my freshman year. Spence met her at the same time I did. I still talk to him. Even when he was with the Giants, I still talked to him every other week.’”

From JUCO All-American to UF, Jadarrius Perkins hopes to make an impact. (UAA Photo)

Our next interview was with the Gator Collective’s Jadarrius Perkins, a 6-2, 185-pounder with 4.42 speed and two years experience at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College who originally committed to Missouri. He was full of gratitude for getting a chance to play at Florida — as refreshing as the last three — even though there were nearly 40 other schools interested.

On his Twitter account “Perk” pledged that when he made his first big check that he would “give it all away to a foster home.” He confirmed that in his interview.

”That’s why I keep it pinned up there,” he said. He showed his generosity of spirit in saying his intention was to make money and send it home to his little brother and mother.

Perkins went to JUCO out of high school where he played with Diwun Black at Gulf Coast CC and was a JUCO All-American. He initially signed with Missouri in late January and then also went through spring ball before entering the transfer portal and signing with Florida.

What we have concluded is that each of these players has their own unique stories and, given the chance, can make a connection with fans and the media. From that standpoint, I believe this will be well-received. This connection is sorely needed.

The other day I read a suggestion from CBS columnist Dennis Dodd that given the option of spending $10M in booster money on a coach’s buyout or to “buy better players” with NIL money, the latter would happen first. Of course that’s off-the-charts absurdity and we hate that idea – but we get the point. In this new world of economics, coaches and ADs realize that importance.

In an interview about the NIL with Jeff Cardozo on WRUF, Scott Stricklin pointed out “who would have thought a year ago I would be sitting here talking about this?” A few days later Stricklin would be announcing a new partnership with The Gator Collective as a media sponsor for UF Sports. Stricklin added:

”"We are excited to welcome the Gator Collective as a new sponsor of Florida Athletics," he said. "The NIL space is governed by our state statute along with NCAA Bylaws and the Gator Collective provides fans a way to support NIL opportunities for athletes within those rules."

It’s a new day with a new way. That’s why NIL governance is critical, and we know by history that giving it over to the government would be a disaster. And that’s the reason people like Rojas and his Gator Collective make a great deal of sense.

"I'm about the confetti," Rojas told CBS sports. "I want to create an environment where Florida becomes NIL-U."

The piece went on to say: “Rojas, 44, is also CEO of his own company, 401K Generation. He has 16 years experience in portfolio management and pension consulting with his company currently managing $3.28 billion in assets. That confetti he's talking about? He's referring to the post-game stuff shot out of cannons celebrating national championships, a level of success he wants to help bring back to Florida.”

Gator Collective prides itself on teaching its disciples about handling money and the importance of setting aside taxes, etc. Inspiring Troupe to come up with the concept of the goal for athletes to “graduate with Florida with a degree and a 401K.”

In an interview with former Florida DL Antonio Valentino @_groovy55, this week, he asked folks to buy his little sister's Girl Scout Cookies. Her goal was to sell 55 boxes. @BenTroupe84 bought 50 on the show. Shannon Snell bought the rest. At last count after my @buddyshow Tweet hit neariy 50,000, his sister approached the sale of more than 1,000 boxes. #RandomActOfKindness.

Yeah, I think this can work.