The Massachusetts Collective - NIL initiative

[Steve81]

Thank you for all you do and have done Pat. Love the inside detail information that you're able to share. Thank times a thousand and apologize for a few tweets going to the MAC. At times, I'm unfiltered and know, I love and respect all you do for UMass.

Looking forward to the season and have booked and paid for a non stop flight out of Logan for the MAC tournament.

Very informative time watching you on Minuteman Command.

[Juice Stand]

This is not a Mass Collective post, this is an NIL post. After the football game yesterday, there was a lot of talk on twitter, and apparently some fans/insiders have heard that the $2 million promised to the football NIL fund never materialized. If true, it's terrible and yet another lie that we've been told by Bamford about funding he doesn't have.

The folks on twitter that reported this have said that there's a tie-in with basketball as well. Come on SullymUM and MinutefanJSF, spill the tea.

Mark
@sullymUM
There’s a basketball tie in that I hope someone is able to share on spaces
8:12 PM · Oct 11, 2025

MinutefanJSF
@MinutefanJSF
I hope that comes out as well. It should be the end of Ryan’s tenure in Amherst. When I heard it, I couldn’t believe it.
8:18 PM · Oct 11, 2025

[DanaDingle3]

Check out Steve81's post in the Kent St. football thread. Are we short funds because the new expected MAC media rights deal hasn't materialized yet?

If that's the case, it would be great to know the details of that.

[minutefanjsf]

This is not a Mass Collective post, this is an NIL post. After the football game yesterday, there was a lot of talk on twitter, and apparently some fans/insiders have heard that the $2 million promised to the football NIL fund never materialized. If true, it's terrible and yet another lie that we've been told by Bamford about funding he doesn't have.

The folks on twitter that reported this have said that there's a tie-in with basketball as well. Come on SullymUM and MinutefanJSF, spill the tea.

Mark
@sullymUM
There’s a basketball tie in that I hope someone is able to share on spaces
8:12 PM · Oct 11, 2025

MinutefanJSF
@MinutefanJSF
I hope that comes out as well. It should be the end of Ryan’s tenure in Amherst. When I heard it, I couldn’t believe it.
8:18 PM · Oct 11, 2025

I responded in that football thread. The common theme is incompetence at getting paperwork completed to support and provide for the student athletes.

[Juice Stand]

Thanks MinutefanJSF. I saw that and responded there as well. If it's just a paperwork issue, hopefully that has been resolved for the basketball season. An issue like that is inexcusable however, and if it's ever made public (which it won't because there is no media whatsoever), should be the last straw for Bamford.

[umasscollective]

Just to clarify - The Mass Co has nothing to do with any internal NIL issues.

[Juice Stand]

Just to clarify - The Mass Co has nothing to do with any internal NIL issues.

Yes, thank you. I thought this thread was an appropriate place for all NIL discussions, and I tried to make clear that this was not a Mass Co issue.

[69MG]

Pat, thanks for clarifying the NIL issue. Do you know if Swann took his visit this weekend?

[umasscollective]

As we approach our 3-year anniversary on 10/20/25 and the start of the 2025–26 season, The Mass Co will host a member meeting Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 PM via Zoom to share a State of the Collective update and outline our plans for future operations.

Members will be sent the Zoom link that morning. Non-Members can request access by emailing [email protected]

[Steve81]

So what are the plans, as could not do the zoom.

[Steve81]

So, for all the posters on UMassHoops, none of you are willing to share the plans of the Massachusetts Collective?
I'm sure at least a handful took time to attend the zoom meeting.

[inthescoop]

Not a good time for the collective to stay quiet and pretend like nothing is wrong.

[umasscollective]

Not a good time for the collective to stay quiet and pretend like nothing is wrong.

What specifically would you like us to say?

I think we’re all in agreement that the results this season have fallen far short of expectations. We’ve heard from a number of supporters who are clearly at a breaking point. We received three individual emails just this morning alone, and many people are choosing to step back from financially supporting right now. That part is completely understandable.

It makes this moment doubly disappointing. The on court results have not been there, and we’re also seeing the impact in supporter engagement. We will continue to do what we can to support the program and serve our membership base, but the truth is it is extremely difficult to stay motivated, engaged, and positive given the current reality.

At the end of the day, fans and supporters deserve much more than what we’ve seen this season.

[inthescoop]

Appreciate the response. Will you join the movement with the rest of the fanbase to remove Bamford and Martin?

[Old-School]

Can the collective chip in on a coaches buyout? (Serious question)