It's time to make a decision. If we want a competitive football program beyond next year, some people on this board have got to change their stance on NIL. Dabo isn't the issue—money is. The funds available for football players are limited, and despite what people think, Dabo hasn’t hindered the program with his views on paying high school prospects. The money simply isn’t there. If Clemson pursued that route with the current resources, we’d see massive roster turnover.
As fans and Alumni, we are at a crossroads. We’ve got to decide where we want this program to go moving forward. With current NIL contributions, we're looking at being a fringe top-25 team after the 2025 season. We don’t need to match OSU’s $27 million payroll , but we need to double the $7 million we're spending now.
Yes, Dabo should have been more upfront about the funds needed, but we know Dabo. He is not going to do something “publicly” that backtracks on his previous pay-for-play stance. But that’s what the sport has become.
I’m sure there is a lot of people on this board who can’t afford a little extra toward NIL but for the ones who can, the moment to give is now.
Time is running out.
For many reasons, the next 3 - 7 years is going to be crucial in determining the future of our athletic program,
If we give Dabo the resources, he will spend it. I truly believe that.