Thomas Greaney gets car in NIL deal

[UAalum72]

TU story

University at Albany senior tight end Thomas Greaney was handed the keys to a new SUV on Monday afternoon.It’s a deal that would have been illegal under the NCAA’s old amateurism rules. But this is the new world of name, image and likeness in college athletics. Mohawk Honda in Scotia is loaning for free to Greaney a silver 2022 Honda Pilot though at least the rest of the season. In exchange, Greaney will promote Mohawk Honda on his social media accounts and will do a one-hour autograph meet-and-greet at the dealership at a date to be determined.

“You see the NIL stuff, guys getting deals for all sort of things,” Greaney said. “So to be able to get a car is nice. I had one before, but this is definitely going to be an upgrade and something that me and my daughter (2-year-old Charlotte) can drive around in and be safe in and be stylish. So I’m excited to get in the car and drive around and advertise Mohawk Honda to everybody.” The SUV has a Mohawk Honda logo. “It’s like Ricky Bobby,” said Greaney, referring to the cinematic race car driver played by Will Ferrell. “They can put anything on that car, I will sponsor.”

NFL agent Kevin Gold, a UAlbany alumnus who brokered the arrangement, said Greaney is receiving one of the few vehicle deals so far for a Football Championship Subdivision player since college athletes became able to profit off their likeness last year. They usually go to athletes from bigger Football Bowl Subdivision programs. Gold is not Greaney’s agent because Greaney is still in college, but athletes are allowed to have a representative pursue NIL opportunities.

Greaney, a potential NFL prospect, leads UAlbany with 20 catches for 305 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair in UAlbany’s 45-26 victory on Saturday over Central Connecticut.

Mohawk Honda general manager Greg Johnson said it’s his dealership’s first NIL deal with a college athlete, though Mohawk Honda has partnered with UAlbany before. “We are always looking for different ways to attract clients and potential customers to the store,” Johnson said. “This is just one of those ways of hitting a different market with an influencer, somebody like Thomas, that has huge potential. He had a huge weekend, two touchdowns, scouts are all over this guy. You have somebody who is probably going to go to the NFL … and to partner with somebody like that, we love partnering in the community, if we can have a mutual agreement that's beneficial to both of us, why not? It can help them and they help us.”

Johnson said Greaney will get the car through the end of football season with the potential to extend the deal after that. Until now, Greaney was driving his father's Toyota Camry because his own car was in the shop in his hometown of Bedford, Mass. “As long as we’re playing football games, they’ll lease the car out,” Greaney said. “Hopefully we can win some games and make some noise in the playoffs and I get that car all the way through the end of January and the (national) championship game.” 

[jimbo]

Good for him. 

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

I assume he's def. getting NFL looks.  He looks the part.

[Eli]

Awesome! 

[cwdickens]

Leaves me wondering .... does everyone on the team feel "awesome" about his deal for the vehicle

Edited October 1, 2022 by cwdickens
grammar update

[Eli]

3 hours ago, cwdickens said:

Leaves me wondering .... does everyone on the team including feel "awesome" about his deal for the vehicle

IMO, everyone else on the team should work harder at being a better player so they get the same type of recognition.

Any normal/sane person would be happy for him. Jealous people who want handouts or want unwarranted 'equality' are the only ones who could see it any other way.

Want something? Don't suck.

[jimbo]

13 hours ago, Eli said:

IMO, everyone else on the team should work harder at being a better player so they get the same type of recognition.

Any normal/sane person would be happy for him. Jealous people who want handouts or want unwarranted 'equality' are the only ones who could see it any other way.

Want something? Don't suck.

Eventually there’s going to be lawsuits or a movement to require sharing or equal distribution of NIL benefits. Hard to do with a car. I don’t begrudge the player’s benefiting from their work and NIL, but like most changes to the status quo there will be unintended consequences that have yet to arise or be sorted out. 

[godanesgo99]

3 hours ago, jimbo said:

Eventually there’s going to be lawsuits or a movement to require sharing or equal distribution of NIL benefits. Hard to do with a car. I don’t begrudge the player’s benefiting from their work and NIL, but like most changes to the status quo there will be unintended consequences that have yet to arise or be sorted out. 

You are probably right in today's "woke" culture, but at the end of the day this deal is for Greaney's image, not anyone else's. The whole point of NIL is for athlete's to be able to profit from their own image and likeness. To think that the spoils should be split is just crazy.

Now if EA sports were to make a NCAA Football game that included UAlbany and the team got NIL dollars for each players name and likeness, that should be split among all players who allow their name to be used in the game, but that's a completely different situation.

[jimbo]

I’m thinking along the lines of the Team USA WSOC vs MSOC issue. The men’s World Cup has vastly more money to divvy up. The women chose salaries vs pay-to play. The men chose pay to play over salaries. Now the women went on that pay to play system and the pool of money was combined I think. It comes down to them playing the same sport and having greater success than their male counterparts and demanding equal pay. The “kicker”of course is that there is probably not a single woman who could make the men’s team. So they play the same sport, but not really the same sport in terms of on field ability. Imagine if the WNBA wanted the NBA to revenue share to increase WNBA income. 

[Eli]

1 hour ago, jimbo said:

I’m thinking along the lines of the Team USA WSOC vs MSOC issue. The men’s World Cup has vastly more money to divvy up. The women chose salaries vs pay-to play. The men chose pay to play over salaries. Now the women went on that pay to play system and the pool of money was combined I think. It comes down to them playing the same sport and having greater success than their male counterparts and demanding equal pay. The “kicker”of course is that there is probably not a single woman who could make the men’s team. So they play the same sport, but not really the same sport in terms of on field ability. Imagine if the WNBA wanted the NBA to revenue share to increase WNBA income. 

<off topic>

There was a 16yr old mens team that beat the USA WSOC team. And yes, NBA'ers would absolutely crush WNBA'ers. Put the Warriors up against the Las Vegas Aces and the aces MIGHT score 10 points if the men play at their maximum ability. MIGHT. It would be like the Dream Team or Olympic teams of the 90's...beating everyone by 80.

Frankly, this is part of the reason why I can't watch WBB at any level. I'm glad when UA WBB does well as it's good for the university, but it's just not a watchable for me personally. They look like they are heaving around a 30lb medicine ball when they are shooting from anything outside of 10ft. They need to lower the rim to entice more dunking and alley oops and such. Perfect shooting forms like that of Allan Houston, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, etc. are non-existent.

So, in short, it makes sense that women's leagues or sports don't have the same draw or money to divvy up for NIL deals, etc.

</off topic>

Edited October 1, 2022 by Eli

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

On 9/30/2022 at 10:52 AM, godanesgo99 said:

You are probably right in today's "woke" culture, but at the end of the day this deal is for Greaney's image, not anyone else's. The whole point of NIL is for athlete's to be able to profit from their own image and likeness. To think that the spoils should be split is just crazy.

Now if EA sports were to make a NCAA Football game that included UAlbany and the team got NIL dollars for each players name and likeness, that should be split among all players who allow their name to be used in the game, but that's a completely different situation.

Stop with the use of the term “woke”. It’s offensive and racist to use it as a pejorative term.  Do your research.  I don’t come here for ignorant political commentary.  I come here to read above Danes sports.  That’s it. 

[Eli]

3 hours ago, BestDaneSinceHamlet said:

Stop with the use of the term “woke”. It’s offensive and racist to use it as a pejorative term.  Do your research.  I don’t come here for ignorant political commentary.  I come here to read above Danes sports.  That’s it. 

Doesn't come here for ignorant political commentary yet throws insane words like racist into the mix which has literally nothing to do with the conversation. lol. Someone has experienced a micro-aggression.

Edited October 3, 2022 by Eli

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

9 hours ago, Eli said:

Doesn't come here for ignorant political commentary yet throws insane words like racist into the mix which has literally nothing to do with the conversation. lol. Someone has experienced a micro-aggression.

Eli, The fact is using the term woke as a negative is racist and people should be aware of that.  It has nothing to do with politics or micro-aggression.  I do not come here for either politics or racism.  It happened last week too.  Stop it.  Youre all educated people. Act like it.

Edited October 3, 2022 by BestDaneSinceHamlet
spelling

[godanesgo99]

2 hours ago, BestDaneSinceHamlet said:

Eli, The fact is using the term woke as a negative is racist and people should be aware of that.  It has nothing to do with politics or micro-aggression.  I do not come here for either politics or racism.  It happened last week too.  Stop it.  Youre all educated people. Act like it.

Using the term Woke Culture is not racist or sexist or anything else - the official definition of Woke is being "alert to Injustice in Society, which can include racism or any societal injustice".  When "Woke Culture" is used as a pejorative it is a phrase used to describe the culture of being offended by everything (including science), misusing the terms of equality, equity, and justice, thinking socialism is the greatest, or thinking that everything anyone says or does comes down to racism or sexism no matter if it does or it doesn't. Your response proves that point. It is ok to be offended by something I say. That's your prerogative. Not caring if you are or not, and me still having the freedom to still say it is mine. 

I like Bill Maher's  take on Woke Culture pretty much more than anything else I have heard. I could post the links to multiple videos of his takes on it, but I think you can find them on your own. Or don't ... wouldn't want to offend you! Bill is typically thought of as a liberal / left wing political commentator so its not like I am sending you to Fox. 

Now back to your regularly scheduled conversation about Great Dane Sports ... who is the football team going to lose to this week? How many years will Gattuso's next contract extension be for? Life? It's a Great Day to be a Great Dane and to expect Greatness - as long as greatness is defined as mediocrity. 

Edited October 3, 2022 by godanesgo99

[Dane96]

On 9/30/2022 at 10:14 PM, Eli said:

<off topic>

There was a 16yr old mens team that beat the USA WSOC team. And yes, NBA'ers would absolutely crush WNBA'ers. Put the Warriors up against the Las Vegas Aces and the aces MIGHT score 10 points if the men play at their maximum ability. MIGHT. It would be like the Dream Team or Olympic teams of the 90's...beating everyone by 80.

Frankly, this is part of the reason why I can't watch WBB at any level. I'm glad when UA WBB does well as it's good for the university, but it's just not a watchable for me personally. They look like they are heaving around a 30lb medicine ball when they are shooting from anything outside of 10ft. They need to lower the rim to entice more dunking and alley oops and such. Perfect shooting forms like that of Allan Houston, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, etc. are non-existent.

So, in short, it makes sense that women's leagues or sports don't have the same draw or money to divvy up for NIL deals, etc.

</off topic>

This is WHOLLY inaccurate, and I am speaking 1 person away (the source's brother) from a direct source...who happens to be a UA graduate and former star soccer player (in our DIII days) and my fraternity brother.  The 5-2 match in question was a literally an UNORGANIZED, UNTIMED scrimmage with FC Dallas' U-15.  The USWNT did not play any strategic style and it was a mere runout to prep their legs, a glorified practice.  They barely played any of their first choice 15 players, playing mostly younger fresh faces on the squad.  

It also happened in 2017, for the record.

And that source I speak of...just happens to be a GM for a top MLS Franchise.  I am also pretty close to people in the FC Dallas management gorup.  

That being said, the rest of your comments make sense...but believe me, the USWNT going full tilt would absolutely SMOKE a U-15 teams as the size/speed isn't very different....but their technical ability for the USWNT is light years ahead of a U-15 academy.