Question 1

IS THIS LEGAL?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100%.

We have worked with lawyers from Ice Miller LLP (one of the most experienced law firms with NCAA compliance matters) to ensure that the deals we make with IU Student-Athletes are within the guidelines and rules that both the NCAA and IU have provided regarding NIL.

We are also in regular contact with Indiana University compliance to ensure that our activities remain within the rules and guidelines of NIL.

Question 2

IS THERE A SPORT THAT THE HOOSIER HYSTERICS NIL COLLECTIVE IS FOCUSED ON?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our first and primary focus is IU Men’s Basketball. We firmly believe that when IUBB is at its best, it is the rising tide that lifts all ships in IU Athletics.

That said, we have started a Football-ONLY fund as well.

Question 3

WHAT IF I ONLY WANT MY CONTRIBUTION TO GO TO FOOTBALL?

Accepted Answer

You are in luck! HHNIL has started a separate fund that will exclusively make NIL deals with IUFB players.  There are two buttons on the main page to contribute directly to the Football fund.  One at the top of the page and one in the main section of the main page.

Question 4

WILL YOU MAKE DEALS WITH STUDENT-ATHLETES FROM OTHER SPORTS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. But Men’s Basketball remains the priority. That said, we have made deals with Football players and Women’s Basketball players. And we work with all of our contributors to make sure that if they have a specific desire on what sport their money goes to, we make that happen.

We will also take advantage of opportunities that are presented to us. If there is an opportunity to procure funds that are being set aside for a specific non-men’s basketball sport, we will go after that opportunity as well.

Question 5

HOW CAN THIS HELP MAKE INDIANA’S ON-COURT PERFORMANCE BETTER?

Accepted Answer

The bottom line is that Indiana needs to attract and keep the most elite student-athletes possible. And the funds from this collective go directly to players. The word has already spread that if a student-athlete chooses to come to Indiana, there are NIL opportunities. The more funds we raise, the more and bigger deals we will make, and that news spreads from current athletes to prospective athletes. Your contributions are aggregated with everyone else who contributes to make significant deals with the right student-athletes. Coaches can promote deals we have made with current players to recruits. That will lead to IU getting better recruits. That will lead to better performance.

Question 6

CAN YOU OFFER DEALS TO RECRUITS?

Accepted Answer

No. NIL cannot be used as an inducement to recruits to come to Indiana or any other school. But, there is nothing wrong with recruits being told what kinds of deals have been made at various schools. Information and news sharing is well within the rules.

Question 7

WHO DECIDES WHICH ATHLETES GET THE DEALS?

Accepted Answer

Eric Pankowski and Ward Roberts. Eric and Ward are lifelong IU fans. They started this
“Collective” as a concrete way to actually make an impact for IU. They are the co-hosts of the popular podcast “Hoosier Hysterics” which is part of Learfield’s Varsity Network. Through Hoosier Hysterics, Eric and Ward have become very connected to IU Basketball, Football, Women’s Basketball and many other sports. They pay very close attention to the needs of each program and have a very good idea of where the money from the Collective needs to be directed to have maximum impact.

Question 8

HOW MUCH MONEY DO ERIC AND WARD MAKE FROM THE COLLECTIVE?

Accepted Answer

0. Zero. Nada. Nothing. Not one nickel. Not even the costs to run the Collective. All legal, accounting, website hosting, travel, material costs are paid for by Eric and Ward’s personal contributions. Every single penny of every single dollar contributed to the Hoosier Hysterics NIL Collective goes to the players. There is no other fund or Collective ANYWHERE that can say this.

Question 9

ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Accepted Answer

No they are not, unless you are a business that is making a deal in which you are getting a direct benefit--in that case, it is a marketing expense. But, we want to be very clear about our goals. WE WANT INDIANA TO WIN MORE, WIN OFTEN AND WIN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. We are not looking for or offering a tax haven.

We are appealing to all of those fans out there who have bought t-shirts, posters, clothing, tickets, concessions, or just any fan who wants to make a direct impact on getting IU back to the top.

Question 10

WHAT DEALS HAVE YOU ALREADY MADE?

Accepted Answer

We put on a Fan Fest in October of 2021 where every scholarship player for IU was paid. We have made additional deals with Tamar Bates, Xavier Johnson, Jordan Geronimo and a few football players. We also put on a Youth Camp with the IU Women’s Basketball team in conjunction with the Fan Fest that allowed us to pay all eligible Women’s basketball players.

Question 11

WILL WE KNOW HOW MUCH IS RAISED?

Accepted Answer

We will update at least once a year on how we are doing. But we will also not divulge details of individual deals as those are private and up to each individual student-athlete to share or not.

Question 12

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS WE CAN CONTRIBUTE OTHER THAN PAYPAL?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  We currently are on the Zelle platform at 818-653-3851.

We also accept old-school checks. 
Those can be made out and sent to:
Hoosier Hysterics!, Inc. 
11809 Otsego St. 
Valley Village, CA 91607

IU FOOTBALL ONLY

FAQ

Frequently asked questions