The argument keeps getting sideways and repeated, but I'm not sure some get it.
It is NOT that Clemson doesn't have the money to compete overall. It is that we cannot let our pay scale get jacked up by paying freshmen.
Look at our retention. It is the best in the country. If you sign ONE kid for above what you've told the team, the gig is up. We can't afford to blow the pay scale up like an OHST or UGA, but we can absolutely pay enough to keep the core players here. But if that means passing on freshmen who may or may not be great in college, we will just have to do that. Put our best foot forward, and if it isn't enough, move on to the next. As we have seen, what Clemson offers in other ways is still desirable by some of the top talent.
So, I don't think it is that "little old Clemson can't compete with money". It is that little old Clemson has to be more careful with their budget and overall approach than most. If you want to be an OHST or UGA, we cannot do it the same way they do. But if we keep retaining our best guys, the other side needs to realize we are playing the NIL game fairly well, all things considered.
It is NOT that Clemson doesn't have the money to compete overall. It is that we cannot let our pay scale get jacked up by paying freshmen.
Look at our retention. It is the best in the country. If you sign ONE kid for above what you've told the team, the gig is up. We can't afford to blow the pay scale up like an OHST or UGA, but we can absolutely pay enough to keep the core players here. But if that means passing on freshmen who may or may not be great in college, we will just have to do that. Put our best foot forward, and if it isn't enough, move on to the next. As we have seen, what Clemson offers in other ways is still desirable by some of the top talent.
So, I don't think it is that "little old Clemson can't compete with money". It is that little old Clemson has to be more careful with their budget and overall approach than most. If you want to be an OHST or UGA, we cannot do it the same way they do. But if we keep retaining our best guys, the other side needs to realize we are playing the NIL game fairly well, all things considered.
![Just][V][e](https://rivals-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/forums/clemson/data/avatars/m/8/8474.jpg?1695163290){kind=avatar}
