Former Florida Gator coach Urban Meyer never had to deal with the NIL Era and was able to leverage things like getting players to the NFL when recruiting players. Since stepping away from coaching for good, money has turned into the name of game in recruiting.
And while Florida's NIL situation doesn't quite match what some of the big boys are able to do, including Meyer's last school at Ohio State, it's still way better than what FSU might be trying to get away with.
Urban Meyer calls out FSU for their revenue-sharing situation
With revenue sharing now the way of the land, schools are having to figure out how to distribute the extra money to players. CBS Sports ran a story last week highlighting FSU's plan, and there are some doozies in it.
According to CBS:
"One clause, which CBS Sports has seen a copy of, allows the team to extend a player at the end of their contract unilaterally without having to negotiate with the player. Another section on team rules -- common in most NIL or rev share deals -- includes a maximum $2,500 fine on the first offense if a player loses team equipment such as a pair of cleats. The max fine for using a controlled substance for the first time is $1,000.
There's another clause about things that would constitute a breach of contract. Among them is "illness or injury which is serious enough to affect the value of rights granted to the school." The way it's written allows Florida State to renegotiate or even cancel a player's contract at its discretion after any sort of injury -- among other potential liquidated damages provisions included as part of the contract -- including those that happen on the football field."
Appearing on The Triple Option, Meyer made the point that if this is actually the path the Seminoles try to take, they will never be heard from again in college football:
"I'll make this statement if this is legit, this goes through, which I'm so skeptical, then the days of Florida State are numbered. It won't happen. It won't happen. It can't happen. No chance."
The flaw in FSU's plan is that no five or four-star prospect is going to want to wind up in Tallahassee, knowing they have no bargaining power if they were to outperform their initial deal.
Combined with zero protections if a player gets injured, word will leak very quickly to look elsewhere.