When it comes to departures in the world of sports, few can stir the pot quite like Kevin Willard's exit from Maryland's basketball program. It's like he flipped the script in his NCAA Tournament pressers, leaving the Maryland faithful in quite a tizzy.
After spilling some unflattering details about the athletic department, Willard made his way to Villanova, leaving behind a legacy that's a mixed bag for Terps fans. Now, with Buzz Williams taking the reins, Maryland is ushering in a new era less than two weeks into his tenure.
Harry Geller, the brainchild behind Turtle NIL, took to "Inside Access" on 105.7 The Fan and wasn't shy about giving his two cents on this saga. He touched upon the Willard saga, the NIL program's standing in the Big Ten, and more. So, what's the scoop on Maryland's NIL status compared to their conference peers?
Up until this past year, under Willard's guidance, Maryland's NIL game was pretty competitive for fan-funded endeavors. However, Willard's gripe was that, unlike other schools, Maryland didn't give Turtle NIL the boost it needed.
According to Geller, Maryland ranked somewhere in the middle of the pack among Big Ten schools when it came to donor contributions. Meanwhile, schools like Indiana were splurging more, yet they ended up in the same boat as Maryland.
As for whether Willard's NCAA Tournament conference was the moment that spelled the end for his time in College Park, Geller had some thoughts. "If there's a tutorial on how not to exit a program, this might be it," he shared.
Despite being buddies with Kevin, he's candid about not endorsing his former friend's methods. Airing grievances publicly?
A bit of a head-scratcher. Yet, it seems Willard's frustration had reached the boiling point.
Despite the tumultuous exit, the conversations between Geller and Willard continued unabated up until his departure, with discussions revolving around recruitment budgets and draft prospects. Whether Willard was genuinely considering staying, or just biding his time before the Villanova move, remains a bit of a mystery.
As for Buzz Williams, Maryland's new captain steering the ship, he's set to sail with a fresh breeze at his back. Geller believes Williams enters a program in a much-improved state when it comes to NIL support and overall program structure—something Willard yearned for but felt was delivered too little, too late.
With NCAA changing the NIL dynamics and collective arrangements being phased out soon, it's a pivotal time. Geller praises the administration for acting swiftly in securing Williams. This urgency, he believes, positions the Terps well, especially in navigating the pre-spending terrain vis-à-vis player salaries before things even out next season with a more regulated NIL landscape.
As Maryland looks to tap into fresh talent on the court, there's also a search going on for a new athletic director. With business-savvy folks at the helm of this search, Geller's hopeful for a reform-minded leader—someone who can align the ship, bringing football and basketball back to their glory days.
Scott Van Pelt's call for unity within the athletic department echoes throughout Maryland's fanbase. In this age where sports are as much about dollars and sense as they are about student-athletes, the new AD will be tasked with seamlessly blending the two worlds—mapping out Maryland's future success one strategic move at a time.
Speaking of departures, Damon Evans recently headed for Southern Methodist University, a move that left many scratching their heads. Being more of a football guy, perhaps SMU's deep pockets proved too tempting. Regardless of the rumblings from Evans' exit, the Terps are focused on what's next.
And for fans looking to support Maryland's NIL prospects, the call to action lies with TurtleNIL.com. A fun plug here for some local flair—those "I'm from Baltimore" T-shirts, crafted in a day's hustle, speak volumes about Maryland's vibrant spirit and echo the legacy players like Derik Queen leave behind as they blaze trails to the NBA.
