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New Letter From Neil

Dear Season Ticket Holders,

I have been writing you frequently about the uncertain legal and regulatory matters around student-athlete compensation and benefits. In early April, I shared that one possible outcome of the legal challenges could be institutions compensating students directly for their athletic services and for use of their name, image and likeness, as opposed to only third parties.

While serious questions of labor law remain, the NCAA and the major conferences have reached a proposed settlement (pending court approval) in three major legal cases involving back damages and future compensation for Division I student-athletes. The media has covered the proposed settlement extensively, so you can read more about the settlement from various sources. In my view, the settlement will lead to the most fundamental and transformational change in college sports history.

As early as Fall 2025, the major parts of the agreement propose the following:
Total back damages for these cases paid for former student-athletes of approximately $2.78 billion, to be paid over 10 years.
Going forward, NCAA and conference rules will permit direct payments to student-athletes up to amounts set by injunctive settlement. The settlement allows institutions to make payments to student-athletes up to a capped amount (currently about $20 million per school) and will be re-evaluated every few years.
Total team scholarship limits would be eliminated. For example, currently men’s basketball is limited to 13 players on scholarship, women’s basketball 15. These limits will be removed.
As you can imagine, the nuance and complexity of these issues prevent me from describing them fully in any letter or one communication, but I wanted to provide you with the basic information.

If the court approves, our ability to adapt to this new environment, especially direct payment to student-athletes, will shape our ability to retain and recruit future players. At the “Power Conference” level (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12) a substantial portion of the money that will be used to compensate players is generated through lucrative media contracts with broadcasters that is dramatically different from our media revenue.

Over the coming months, it is imperative we find creative revenue solutions to adapt to the new realities of college sports in 2025 with aggressiveness, or we will fall behind in a hypercompetitive environment. Our fan base and community support give us a great opportunity to find long-term sustainable solutions.

Dayton 6th Meet and Greet and other third parties

As we prepare for this dramatically new environment (likely 2025-26), please know that as of this writing, the University of Dayton may not pay students directly or indirectly. As a result, the NIL compensation students receive is entirely reliant on third parties like you, Dayton 6th, corporations, organizations, and individual contributors.

As this environment evolves, our only option right now is to visit Dayton 6th website or support other third parties to learn all the various ways you can support player
retention and recruitment. Dayton 6th is hosting the first opportunity for the Flyer Faithful to welcome members of the 2024-2025 Dayton Basketball Team on June 17. Please visit Dayton 6th for details.

As always, we thank you for your loyal support of Dayton athletics and know that you expect first-class, competitive programs that represent our University, our city and our community in the best possible way. Together, that is what we expect to continue delivering.

Go Flyers!

Neil Sullivan
Vice President and Director of Athletics

Sandlot Camps (by Players Box)

Admittedly, I don't know much about this but heard headlines today.
Relevant because of involvement with Brooks Hall (and I think Sam Smith is fellow Flyer but not 100% sure).
Based on what I know and have heard of Players Box, would encourage any local Flyers consider for their kids (K-8).
Located in Centerville, fairly close to Dayton Mall / Yankee Trace area.

(They said that this is first one in Dayton area, with Brook's help. But camp has been around in Columbus area for 'years'.

Love hearing former Flyers making impact in local communities.
Thought I would share.

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RIP Bill Walton

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40229031/nba-champion-hall-famer-bill-walton-dies-71

Big Bill was not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved him, especially when he was on the loaded 1986 Celtics team with Bird, Parish and McHale.

He was also teammates with Johnny Davis on the 1977 NBA Champion Portland Trail Blazers squad and wrote this about JD:

https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=walton_bill&id=1678129

RIP Bill--hope those knees feel great now!

The War Room (4/25/2024)

Welcome to the 3rd installment of The War Room for the 2024 offseason! As always, I'll begin this session with the ground rules for those that may be new. Everything that is reported in The War Room must stay in The War Room. Sometimes the info is sensitive enough that it simply doesn't need to be passed on beyond the doors of this message board thread. This is a special feature for our subscribers only. The reason why it is posted on the premium board is because that's the only way to ensure that the info stays exclusive to Dayton Flyer fans. Thanks for your cooperation. Without further ado, here it is.... The 3rd edition of the War Room for 2024!

A GREAT FRI-DAY?!

In the words of Darren Hertz, tomorrow could be a GREAT DAY TO BE A FLYER! Maybe even the GREATEST DAY, in terms of Dayton recruiting is concerned. The Flyers could have a huge day if what I am hearing plays out on Friday.

The Flyers just concluded an official visit with Tulane transfer Kolby King. He came and went without a commitment and had a visit scheduled for South Carolina. My sources were telling me they thought it would be a two-horse race in the end with Butler and Dayton as South Carolina seemed to view him as a Plan B option.

I’ll admit I was a bit surprised when he didn’t pledge before he headed back to New Orleans, but I knew he did the same with Butler so I had to take a step back. He’s just being thorough and wanted to go home and think about things.

An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow. My sources are saying that Dayton is in a good spot with this one and they very well may be improving their standing as we speak.

SECOND TIME AROUND

Another ode to my favorite store when I was at UD—where I got all my used CD’s and DVD’s. From what I’ve gathered, Posh Alexander is the reason that Kolby King went to St. John’s in the first place. The two of them are very close and very well may be the reason why King was considering Butler. Fast forward, Kolby King concludes his visit to Dayton on Wednesday. Thursday, former Butler guard Posh Alexander enters the transfer portal.

Alexander, of course, was a target for Dayton coming out of high school. You know how Anthony Grant and Ricardo Greer like to get guys the second time around. I’ve been told that Dayton is meeting with Posh today and that there’s a strong indication that there’s a strong mutual interest between the two.

Posh visited Dayton in February of 2019 and had picked St. John’s over Dayton, Illinois, Pitt, and Seton Hall. This past season as Butler, he started all 32 games this season and averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. In 39 minutes against Texas Tech, he recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The senior will have one year of eligibility remaining after averaging double-figures in each of his four seasons in the Big East. He is regarded as one of the nation’s top backcourt defenders.

CALLING ON COLIN

Let’s not forget that Vanderbilt forward Colin Smith is currently on Dayton’s campus for an official visit. Sources have told FlyerHoops that the visit is going “very well” and that he would be a “big” pickup if he chooses Dayton.

Of course, he’s coming off an Achilles injury, but the Dayton coaches are said to love his game. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 7.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while starting six of the seven games. At 6-8, 220-pounds, Smith would provide Dayton when some bulk on the interior to go with Zed Key.

He originally is from Dallas and played at Compass Prep in Arizona. He will have three more years of eligibility remaining at his next school.

From what I’ve been told, it’s a competition with a couple other power five schools at the moment. People I have spoke to feel very strongly that if he returns to form after the injury, that he would be a coup for Dayton.

As I previously reported, Marshall transfer Jacob Conner was on an unofficial visit to Dayton’s campus on Wednesday afternoon. This past season, he started 32 of 33 games and averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Marshall sources told me they thought he would benefit from better coaching.

Conner did message FlyerHoops following his trip to UD that it was a great visit and he had a good time seeing the campus and everything, really for the first time. He, of course, played his high school basketball at Archbishop Alter.

He played his first two seasons at Marshall and would have two years of eligibility remaining. Those I’ve spoke to have hinted at the fact that he would like to be closer to home leading to a solid possibility that he ends up at Dayton.

If he does choose the Flyers, it would provide Dayton with some quality depth on the wing with some major height. At 6-10, Conner is considered a long three man with the ability to shoot it from anywhere on the floor. An announcement could come as soon as Friday on his future destination.

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

When I started the week off with an article about it being a big week on Dayton’s campus, I didn’t realize how big it would get. Dayton is expected to have another unofficial visitor on Friday night when Duke transfer Jaden Schutt is scheduled to stop in and get a peak.

The dialogue I’ve had about him is that Dayton is in his Top Five currently, but is probably at the bottom of that list as he’s looking to “go bigger.” He, like Colin Smith, sat out this season as a medical redshirt, after having some work done on his knee.

Schutt was recruited by Dayton out of high school as a sharpshooter out of Yorkville Christian in Illinois. While Dayton lost the nation’s top three-point shooter in Koby Brea, Schutt would be a significant replacement if they can somehow climb his list after a visit.

He will have three years of eligibility remaining as well. Reportedly has heard from Butler, Creighton, Davidson, Dayton, DePaul, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Saint Louis, Saint Mary’s, UCF, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin. If all those dominoes above fall, who knows what could happen by the time Schutt gets on campus. A lot of momentum, strike while the iron is hot!

ONE MORE THING

Just want to clear one thing up on Koby Brea. There was a lot of talk that Koby’s family was shopping him and that’s what led him to going into the portal. My sources told me that his decision to go in the portal was more driven by his new relationship with LeBron James’ Klutch Sports. Just another reason why I no longer am the fan of LBJ that I once was.

CLOSING

That does it for this edition of the War Room! Thank you to all of you… You are what makes this board so special and the best place to talk Dayton basketball all year round! A special welcome to all of those that have signed up for FlyerHoops recently, hope you’re enjoying all the nuggets, tidbits, etc that the site and forum provides. By the way, tomorrow is my wife and I’s 16th wedding anniversary so I am giving you all the heads up on potential activity in this War Room just in case I am not around to post when things actually do go down. Seems like yesterday I was breaking Rob Lowery's commitment on the runway to our honeymoon. We have a nice day planned together tomorrow that we plan to enjoy! Until next time, WE ARE!

Kobe Elvis enters the transfer portal

Thought maybe this deserved its own thread. Best of luck to him. Gutted through very tough injury last year and another this year. He was inconsistent but fun to watch when he got hot and stayed aggressive. He and DaRon were really starting to get some pick and roll chemistry when he got hurt this year.

Hope he succeeds wherever he lands.

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