2026 tOSU Recruiting Discussion

[calibuck]

From an administator perspective, it's hard to use tax dollars to provide services (housing, money, etc) to a HS talent. Called 'a gift of public funds', and pretty much illegal. Illegal as in not offered to the masses, but a small percentage of the students. Have purchased homes, but have utilized them as training places for both teachers, and meeting rooms for Cabinet/administrators (some schools, older, simply did not plan for teacher or staff training) venues. Could possibly be from a privately funded school, Catholic comes to mind, but could be expanded to 'other funding', not taking federal or state tax dollars. Remember that CAPE, from Cincinnati, made athletics paramount, and education (reading, writing, and arithmetic) secondary, and now IMG etc has found loopholes in their state laws.

 

[pnuts34]

I can’t speak for every local team, but the common theme I’m seeing in a football factory, suburban town….is free housing.

For an upscale town, the homes the players and family are put in are VERY modest, normally old homes near the high school.

Beyond the free housing, is the access to the school district which is 99% of the time, a major upgrade over the eduction they’re getting at previous school. And since it’s an elite athletics program in state, the facilities are as good as some colleges.

I actually don’t see much in terms of local advertising….I think the housing and access to school is what sells it. It’s an opportunity for better development, with a better program, while Mom or dad or both get 1-2 years of a free house.

I can see that. But just what I've heard from parents of athletes, is that the local companies are offering food and/or money. It’s Going to be different based on the school district(economic status of area). But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jamier Brown cutout in a restaurant or store in Huber Heights. I could see a school like St. Xavier getting a deal with the Skyline chili by the school for example.

From an administator perspective, it's hard to use tax dollars to provide services (housing, money, etc) to a HS talent. Called 'a gift of public funds', and pretty much illegal. Illegal as in not offered to the masses, but a small percentage of the students. Have purchased homes, but have utilized them as training places for both teachers, and meeting rooms for Cabinet/administrators (some schools, older, simply did not plan for teacher or staff training) venues. Could possibly be from a privately funded school, Catholic comes to mind, but could be expanded to 'other funding', not taking federal or state tax dollars. Remember that CAPE, from Cincinnati, made athletics paramount, and education (reading, writing, and arithmetic) secondary, and now IMG etc has found loopholes in their state laws.

But the thing is, NIL isn’t coming from tax payers. That’s what so many don’t seem to get. NIL is independent businesses, citizens, etc using their money to spend on a HS athlete. And that essentially gives them carte blanche to spend how they see fit. If a booster/alum for Hoban has his own car dealership, he can loan out cars to athletes if he wants. If a restaurant owner in Mentor wants to give free food to the OL for Mentor then that’s his decision.

 

[johnson2443]

I can see that. But just what I've heard from parents of athletes, is that the local companies are offering food and/or money. It’s Going to be different based on the school district(economic status of area). But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jamier Brown cutout in a restaurant or store in Huber Heights. I could see a school like St. Xavier getting a deal with the Skyline chili by the school for example.

But the thing is, NIL isn’t coming from tax payers. That’s what so many don’t seem to get. NIL is independent businesses, citizens, etc using their money to spend on a HS athlete. And that essentially gives them carte blanche to spend how they see fit. If a booster/alum for Hoban has his own car dealership, he can loan out cars to athletes if he wants. If a restaurant owner in Mentor wants to give free food to the OL for Mentor then that’s his decision.

What would stop Big college boosters from offering NIL $$$ to HS kids at this point? Couldn’t the billionaire from Texas Tech (and many others) just start paying juniors to commit and start paying immediately? I may be missing something but I don’t see this just being Tommy’s Pizza sponsoring a kid from UA.