I think we can compete in NIL

9N9

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And don't forget this gem from @NociHTTP 😂😂😂
 

W1LDCAT22

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It is a relief that UK does have this type of funds. I was one who was a little frustrated early on when we kept missing on higher-end talent, and I would voice my concerns saying that we had the funds, so I was puzzled. Numerous people on this board claimed that we DID NOT have that kind of NIL bank, but I just knew that we did. Looking back, it's obvious Pope had a plan, hopefully the correct one. We are a basketball state, so we should always have one of the higher amounts of funds along with our little sister.
 
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It is a relief that UK does have this type of funds. I was one who was a little frustrated early on when we kept missing on higher-end talent, and I would voice my concerns saying that we had the funds, so I was puzzled. Numerous people on this board claimed that we DID NOT have that kind of NIL bank, but I just knew that we did. Looking back, it's obvious Pope had a plan, hopefully the correct one. We are a basketball state, so we should always have one of the higher amounts of funds along with our little sister.

Money has ALWAYS been there.

Pope wants to build a functioning ROSTER, not just grab the most expensive players imaginable.

For instance, I bet we got Lowe AND Aberdeen for roughly the same price that Donovan Dent cost.

I'd say we won that arrangement.

LOVE this roster.
 

W1LDCAT22

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Money has ALWAYS been there.

Pope wants to build a functioning ROSTER, not just grab the most expensive players imaginable.

For instance, I bet we got Lowe AND Aberdeen for roughly the same price that Donovan Dent cost.

I'd say we won that arrangement.

LOVE this roster.
Agreed. I think Pope does try to get a lot of these kids a year early. He wants to get a kid that's going to have his breakout this year instead of them already having theirs which in hindsight saves a lot of money. A prime example of this was Oweh.
 

Trinity45

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Seen a narrative from certain people on this board that we can't compete in NIL....

Sisk says we might be spending close to $20 Million.

Maybe that's true, maybe it's not, but one thing is clear...

NIL IS NOT AN ISSUE- we are clearly one of the best in the country in NIL, if not THE best.




Last piece I read which was about a month ago, UK was in the top 5 in NIL money, so not sure who besides trolls are saying UK can't compete in NIL.
 

anon1751545683

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Boosters were clearly out on Cal and prioritizing the NBA, so that is why the money dried up. Its very obvious that they are flexing their muscles this offseason…love to see it!!
They were never out on Cal either. UK has not lost a player because of money. Not under Pope or Cal. It's a non story.

The money never "dried up". Nor will it.
 
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HogFan2012

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Nobody knows how much money a school has in the NIL fund but the school and staff.
Anybody that says a number is just guessing.

Edit you can look at the so called 10M club, do you really think only those schools have at least 10M?
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
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@Tampa_cat54 more receipts! Poor guy was ready to jump off the Clays Ferry Bridge after week 1 of the portal opening 😂 @Son_Of_Saul
Hilarious. You must really be butt hurt about my comment about you starting a silly thread on why the depth wouldn't work within minutes of the Aberdeen commitment. Plus, it's ironic given that you're using my post when UK just added two Final Four rotation pieces in Mo D and Aberdeen. By the way, I'm enjoying this new account of yours. Keep the good threads coming!



:)
 

9N9

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Hilarious. You must really be butt hurt about my comment about you starting a silly thread on why the depth wouldn't work within minutes of the Aberdeen commitment. Plus, it's ironic given that you're using my post when UK just added two Final Four rotation pieces in Mo D and Aberdeen. By the way, I'm enjoying this new account of yours. Keep the good threads coming!



:)
Patience is a virtue.
 

FLBBNFAN

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Mar 25, 2025
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Seen a narrative from certain people on this board that we can't compete in NIL....

Sisk says we might be spending close to $20 Million.

Maybe that's true, maybe it's not, but one thing is clear...

NIL IS NOT AN ISSUE- we are clearly one of the best in the country in NIL, if not THE best.




Nice to see all the doomsday prophets eat crow. Pope can't recruit, nobody wants to come here, no money blah blah blah. Utter BS and proven as fact now. Shows the boosters and deep pocket folks were sour on Cal not the program.
 
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In his defense, I mean you did make some of the following remarks without knowing what you were talking about:

I have hope in Pope, but not so much in Kentucky's nil. And without the nil, Pope is going to be limited going forward.

So mighty UK, with its "elite" NIL, couldn't keep up from a financial perspective with SDSU?

I don't trust the UK NIL situation. We're not going to win shizz if we don't overpay for elite portal players.

You haven't been ALL doom and gloom, but you definitely have had a negative slant quite a bit during this portal season and doubted our ability to get dudes at different points.

Pope & Co knew what they were doing, and they have assembled a top-5 roster, and we've got Jeff Goodman of all people saying things like this:

 

TFCat11

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Yeah, I was one of those posters! And when Yaxel, Dent, and others were available, UK wasn’t spending the money! It doesn’t matter if you have $20 or $20 million, if you aren’t spending it, you might as well not have it!

With that said, the ship is righted, and we ride
at dawn now!
 
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Son_Of_Saul

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In his defense, I mean you did make some of the following remarks without knowing what you were talking about:







You haven't been ALL doom and gloom, but you definitely have had a negative slant quite a bit during this portal season and doubted our ability to get dudes at different points.

Pope & Co knew what they were doing, and they have assembled a top-5 roster, and we've got Jeff Goodman of all people saying things like this:


No one on this message board knew Kentucky's NIL situation until about 3 hours ago. Did you know ahead of everyone else?

I'm glad that I was wrong about how much money they had to work with. The bottom line was that none of us knew.

I've heard numbers that we had around $8 million, then $11 million, but today it came out that we might have closer to $20 million for this portal cycle. Goodman is just now realizing how much money Kentucky had to work with, and he's finding out the same day we are.
 
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bnewt

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May 29, 2001
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Last piece I read which was about a month ago, UK was in the top 5 in NIL money, so not sure who besides trolls are saying UK can't compete in NIL.
Because people raise a ?, they are trolls! Come on get a grip. I don't think anyone knows which school has what amount or what they spend, except that school. I guess you could get the irs records and check....
 
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bnewt

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May 29, 2001
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No one on this message board knew Kentucky's NIL situation until about 3 hours ago. Did you know ahead of everyone else?

I'm glad that I was wrong about how much money they had to work with. The bottom line was that none of us knew.

I've heard numbers that we had around $8 million, then $11 million, but today it came out that we might have closer to $20 million for this portal cycle. Goodman is just now realizing how much money Kentucky had to work with, and he's finding out the same day we are.
Just don't think anyone knows the true amount that uk has, had, or spent, except UK. Just like his recruiting, I hope pope keeps it silent
 

LmdCat

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Jan 8, 2006
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Pope has clearly shown us that it isn't just about having money to spend. It is more about spending it wisely. It is clear that Pope is looking for players who fit his system, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
 
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Apr 22, 2011
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Just don't think anyone knows the true amount that uk has, had, or spent, except UK. Just like his recruiting, I hope pope keeps it silent

But that's the problem. You went around the board acting like you DID know, spouting negativity about how we "can't compete with our NIL" and saying things like (these are all exact quotes from you):

"They must have an oil well as their NIL fund, while uk's is a dried up mud puddle that they can't even touch"

"disagree, UK can not compete"

"Agree, been saying this for a long time Nil funds are limited and must be used properly"

"Nil will hurt uk. Just not enough money in the state"

"Uk can't compete in the nil market, not enough boosters with large open pockets"

"the days of UK dominating are over, especially with NIL. Some of these other schools can buy titles like Ohio State did, UK does not have that type of $"

"The fans can not deliver a large enough nil to remain on top"

These are just some examples, there are more.

THAT is why you are being called out. You walked around like you knew for sure that we couldn't compete. When you had no clue.

Now that we know for sure that we CAN compete, and actually can DOMINATE the NIL landscape, you back-pedal and try to say "nobody knew for sure", yada yada.
 
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