Local NIL scout Noah Clair, part 1: How agencies seek clients & land deals with schools

FULL CHAT: Behind the NIL curtain with local agency scout Noah Clair

Few letters are more of a lightning rod in sports right now than "NIL." It is difficult to have a discussion about the state of college sports without bringing up "Name, Image, and Likeness" which has seemingly transformed from, "let's give athletes a chance to pocket money that is rightfully theirs from, say, endorsements and jersey sales" to, seemingly, this is their salary—this is what it costs for them to play at your school and there are no limitations to it. The nature of both NIL money — and the transfer portal that allows college athletes to change schools without redshirting and without a limit on how many schools they can play for during their eligibility — has frustrated fans and driven away legendary coaches from Nick Saban and Chris Klieman in college football, to Jay Wright and Dusty May in hoops. Last week, May left one of the best and most lucrative gigs in the college ranks at Michigan to take an NBA job with the Dallas Mavericks, reportedly so he didn't have to deal with the headache of NIL and constantly rotating rosters. NIL has certainly affected college teams in South Dakota. Div. I and Div. Division I and Division II teams more frequently lose their best players, who leave for schools that can offer them more NIL money. Of course, NIL has led to a new industry: NIL agents and agencies. Like the pro athletes, these college athletes seek representation to potentially land the best NIL deal. Dollars aren't the only thing at stake for the athletes. Their agents also get a cut of the NIL money, similar to how a real estate agent receives a percentage from selling a home or business property. At this point, NIL agents appear to generally have a negative reputation in the public eye. NDSU coach Dave Richman lashed out about one agent last season while on local television, telling a story about that agent trying to get in the ear of one of his players during the season. Some NIL agents have been called nothing short of slimeballs, scumbags, or snakes by some coaches. Other coaches, like SDSU football's Dan Jackson and USD basketball's Eric Peterson have told us here at Happy Hour there are good eggs in the NIL agency basket— people who mean well and genuinely want to help athletes, coaches, and schools do it "the right way," whatever that means. Coaches work with NIL agents, as well. While athletes look for pay raises or other places to play, coaches look for athletes to transfer into their program to improve their squads. So, it's about time the South Dakota sporting public meets someone from an NIL agency to learn more about the business and how the process of gaining, keeping, and benefiting from clients works. "CSG" is a South Dakota-based agency that represents not only college athletes seeking NIL opportunities but also currently represents NFL players, most notably Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. A new thoroughbred has joined the CSG stable. Perhaps you've heard of him—South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason. Back in early March, a scout from CSG reached out to the Happy Hour host about joining the show to help illuminate how NIL scouting and agency works for the public. That day has arrived. Noah Clair is CSG's director of scouting, athlete relationships, and NIL. Over 85 minutes, he gave us a glimpse into the world most fans know little about. We hope you find it informative.

Local NIL scout Noah Clair, part 2: The "nasty" side of NIL industry & how college athletes use agencies to transfer for more money

Few letters are more of a lightning rod in sports right now than "NIL." It is difficult to have a discussion about the state of college sports without bringing up "Name, Image, and Likeness" which has seemingly transformed from, "let's give athletes a chance to pocket money that is rightfully theirs from, say, endorsements and jersey sales" to, seemingly, this is their salary—this is what it costs for them to play at your school and there are no limitations to it. The nature of both NIL money — and the transfer portal that allows college athletes to change schools without redshirting and without a limit on how many schools they can play for during their eligibility — has frustrated fans and driven away legendary coaches from Nick Saban and Chris Klieman in college football, to Jay Wright and Dusty May in hoops. Last week, May left one of the best and most lucrative gigs in the college ranks at Michigan to take an NBA job with the Dallas Mavericks, reportedly so he didn't have to deal with the headache of NIL and constantly rotating rosters. NIL has certainly affected college teams in South Dakota. Div. I and Div. Division I and Division II teams more frequently lose their best players, who leave for schools that can offer them more NIL money. Of course, NIL has led to a new industry: NIL agents and agencies. Like the pro athletes, these college athletes seek representation to potentially land the best NIL deal. Dollars aren't the only thing at stake for the athletes. Their agents also get a cut of the NIL money, similar to how a real estate agent receives a percentage from selling a home or business property. At this point, NIL agents appear to generally have a negative reputation in the public eye. NDSU coach Dave Richman lashed out about one agent last season while on local television, telling a story about that agent trying to get in the ear of one of his players during the season. Some NIL agents have been called nothing short of slimeballs, scumbags, or snakes by some coaches. Other coaches, like SDSU football's Dan Jackson and USD basketball's Eric Peterson have told us here at Happy Hour there are good eggs in the NIL agency basket— people who mean well and genuinely want to help athletes, coaches, and schools do it "the right way," whatever that means. Coaches work with NIL agents, as well. While athletes look for pay raises or other places to play, coaches look for athletes to transfer into their program to improve their squads. So, it's about time the South Dakota sporting public meets someone from an NIL agency to learn more about the business and how the process of gaining, keeping, and benefiting from clients works. "CSG" is a South Dakota-based agency that represents not only college athletes seeking NIL opportunities but also currently represents NFL players, most notably Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. A new thoroughbred has joined the CSG stable. Perhaps you've heard of him—South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason. Back in early March, a scout from CSG reached out to the Happy Hour host about joining the show to help illuminate how NIL scouting and agency works for the public. That day has arrived. Noah Clair is CSG's director of scouting, athlete relationships, and NIL. Over 85 minutes, he gave us a glimpse into the world most fans know little about. We hope you find it informative.

Local NIL scout Noah Clair, part 1: How agencies seek clients & land deals with schools

Few letters are more of a lightning rod in sports right now than "NIL." It is difficult to have a discussion about the state of college sports without bringing up "Name, Image, and Likeness" which has seemingly transformed from, "let's give athletes a chance to pocket money that is rightfully theirs from, say, endorsements and jersey sales" to, seemingly, this is their salary—this is what it costs for them to play at your school and there are no limitations to it. The nature of both NIL money — and the transfer portal that allows college athletes to change schools without redshirting and without a limit on how many schools they can play for during their eligibility — has frustrated fans and driven away legendary coaches from Nick Saban and Chris Klieman in college football, to Jay Wright and Dusty May in hoops. Last week, May left one of the best and most lucrative gigs in the college ranks at Michigan to take an NBA job with the Dallas Mavericks, reportedly so he didn't have to deal with the headache of NIL and constantly rotating rosters. NIL has certainly affected college teams in South Dakota. Div. I and Div. Division I and Division II teams more frequently lose their best players, who leave for schools that can offer them more NIL money. Of course, NIL has led to a new industry: NIL agents and agencies. Like the pro athletes, these college athletes seek representation to potentially land the best NIL deal. Dollars aren't the only thing at stake for the athletes. Their agents also get a cut of the NIL money, similar to how a real estate agent receives a percentage from selling a home or business property. At this point, NIL agents appear to generally have a negative reputation in the public eye. NDSU coach Dave Richman lashed out about one agent last season while on local television, telling a story about that agent trying to get in the ear of one of his players during the season. Some NIL agents have been called nothing short of slimeballs, scumbags, or snakes by some coaches. Other coaches, like SDSU football's Dan Jackson and USD basketball's Eric Peterson have told us here at Happy Hour there are good eggs in the NIL agency basket— people who mean well and genuinely want to help athletes, coaches, and schools do it "the right way," whatever that means. Coaches work with NIL agents, as well. While athletes look for pay raises or other places to play, coaches look for athletes to transfer into their program to improve their squads. So, it's about time the South Dakota sporting public meets someone from an NIL agency to learn more about the business and how the process of gaining, keeping, and benefiting from clients works. "CSG" is a South Dakota-based agency that represents not only college athletes seeking NIL opportunities but also currently represents NFL players, most notably Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. A new thoroughbred has joined the CSG stable. Perhaps you've heard of him—South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason. Back in early March, a scout from CSG reached out to the Happy Hour host about joining the show to help illuminate how NIL scouting and agency works for the public. That day has arrived. Noah Clair is CSG's director of scouting, athlete relationships, and NIL. Over 85 minutes, he gave us a glimpse into the world most fans know little about. We hope you find it informative.

Zach Borg on NDSU's FBS future, if SDSU & USD should/will join, and contract extensions for NDSU hoops coaches... and the lack of extension for USD's men's coach

It's the last day of June. The first day of July means a return to football practice to start a new season is on the calendar for almost every team at every level. The calendar flip also means North Dakota State is officially and legally no longer a member of the FCS and Missouri Valley Football Conference. It is another reason to anticipate life for schools like SDSU and USD without the 800 lb. Gorilla of both the league and the entire subdivision. Perhaps more intriguingly, a reason to ponder if the Bison are truly making the right move for their future by saying goodbye to constant dominance. Or are they saying goodbye to dominance? National pundits like veteran college football reporter Brett McMurphy foresee immediate Mountain West Conference title contention. Is it unfathomable that NDSU goes 12-0 and wins a watered down MWC that no longer includes long-time league kingpin Boise State and four other MWC schools who have left for the way-watered-down Pac 12 (Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State)? Should SDSU and USD seek this "next level" action within the next few years, or should they be happy staying in the FCS lane— where the path to MVFC and national titles is much clearer without the Bison standing in the middle of the road? This isn't the first time Happy Hour has explored these topics, nor will it be the last. On a Tuesday at the Gateway Lounge in Sioux Falls, Zach Borg takes the weekly seat of the vacationing Matt Zimmer to give his takes, and Borg has plenty. He's been covering college sports in the Dakotas since 2006, first in Fargo before the Bison became the big dogs of the FCS. Borg has been in Sioux Falls since 2014. The school in Fargo also recently dropped a couple of other headlines ripe for reaction. Both men's basketball coach Dave Richman and women's basketball coach Jory Collins agreed to five-year contract extensions that will keep them at NDSU through 2031. Both Bison squads won regular season Summit League titles this past season. The men also captured the Summit League Tournament title and the league's automatic NCAA Tournament berth, while the women took SDSU to the wire in the SLT championship game and were one of the "last four out" teams in the NCAA field. Should we expect these two coaches to remain in Fargo long-term, and, if so, what does that mean for the Jackrabbits and Coyotes? The news comes just a day after Happy Hour chatted with USD men's coach Eric Peterson, who is entering the final year of his initial five-year contract, which was not extended after this past season. (This doesn't mean Peterson won't eventually get an extension. He just doesn't have one at the moment). On Thursday, Peterson joined Happy Hour to talk about this along with his newly-assembled roster [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/happy-hour-usds-coach-petey-another-wolves-whopper-sioux-falls-chances-of-hosting-ncaa-mens-hoops] that includes nine transfers and three high school commits. How much of a disadvantage does this put Peterson in compared to NDSU, UND, and SDSU coaches, all of whom have agreed to multi-year deals within the last 15 months? Let's talk.

J.J. Hartigan pt. 1 - Jeff Fylling, growing up in Sioux Falls, calling Canaries games

Sioux Falls native and lifelong resident J.J. Hartigan has spent his entire play-by-play career in Sioux Falls and Brookings, calling games and working with legendary coaches, athletes, and broadcasters along the way. Currently, Hartigan is now the sole voice of Augustana football and basketball (radio and streaming) after the recent passing of the 42-year "Voice of the Vikings" Jeff Fylling. Fylling was the radio broadcaster while Hartigan has called Augie games for TV and streaming since 2014. How has Hartigan processed replacing a legend everyone in the Augie community considers irreplaceable? His modest yet energetic attitude about his role comes from an upbringing in a sports savvy city like Sioux Falls, where he played youth sports and his father took him to plenty of local prep, college, and minor league games. How and when did Hartigan decide he wanted to be behind the microphone, and how would he describe his first professional gig: Calling amatuer baseball in Mankato with the Northwoods League. This eventually led to Hartigan's first gig calling a professional team: The Sioux Falls Canaries, his hometown club. It was a dream job, but on a team with some nightmare results. That didn't stop him from soaking in the thrill of the job and everything there is to learn that comes with doing it.