Mark Stoops knows NIL money makes it easier to recruit players like edge rusher Brian Robinson of Ohio. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops noting the impact NIL money has had on the Georgia football program has had one unexpected result — South Carolina coach Shane Beamer agrees with Stoops.
Stoops and the South Carolina coach have not exactly been friendly rivals since the two are both striving to raise their team’s status in the conference. However, Beamer did understand what Stoops meant on his radio show about Georgia’s talent edge due in part to NIL money.
“I did see that comment last night from Coach Stoops. I don’t know, I can’t speak for his program, I can’t speak for the Georgia program, but NIL is certainly a major factor not just in college football but all across college athletics, in every sport, whether it be with (women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley) and her women’s (basketball) team or (men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris) or (baseball coach Mark Kingston),” Beamer said at his press conference Tuesday.
“NIL is part of it, particularly among young men and women that are transferring from a school for different reasons, as well.”
He had more to say about NIL, too.
“If you want to win at the highest level and you want to win championships, like we do here at Carolina, we’re going to have to be very active from an NIL standpoint, collective standpoint,” Beamer said.
“Absolutely I hear coach Stoops and what he’s saying, and I’m grateful for our fans and every amount of money that they give to this university, this football program.”
According to On3, 41 Georgia players are valued at over $100,000, compared to just 10 from South Carolina which seems logical since Georgia has won two straight national titles and lost just one game in three years.
Georgia also has 14 straight wins over Kentucky, including 11 over Stoops. Maybe that’s one reason Georgia coach Kirby Smart did not seem overly upset by what Stoops said.
“No reaction,” Smart said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “It’s much to do about nothing, really. Mark is trying to garner interest in money from his fan base for his collective. We’re all trying to do the same in terms of trying to get money for our collective.
“Mark and I talked about NIL pregame and we talked about it in our meetings. I’m not biting on that.”
