The University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) turned down a $100,000 offer from Circa Resort & Casino aimed at retaining quarterback Matthew Sluka.
On Wednesday, Sluka announced he would sit out the remainder of the 2024 season, redshirt, and enter the transfer portal after UNLV failed to deliver on a promised $100,000 Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payment. Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie, informed the Associated Press that the offer was made by an unnamed assistant coach to entice Sluka to transfer from Holy Cross to UNLV after the 2023 season.
Circa CEO Derek Stevens, along with Vice President of Operations Mike Palm, considered the value of keeping Sluka at UNLV and offered $100,000 to help retain him, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Palm contacted the university, but discussions were brief as Sluka had already decided to move on.
Aside from Circa, Stevens also oversees D Las Vegas, Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, and Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
Circa’s PR Effort
Although Circa’s offer didn’t result in keeping Sluka at UNLV, the effort was still seen as a smart public relations move.
UNLV has started the 2024 season strong, going 3-0 with two wins over Big 12 teams. Before Sluka’s departure, there was hope that the Rebels, riding on their hot start, could be the Group of 5 team to make the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP).
Under the new 12-team CFP format, five spots are reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions, guaranteeing at least one spot for a team outside the Power 4 conferences. Many experts believe that team could come from the Mountain West — UNLV’s conference — as it’s one of the stronger Group of 5 leagues.
With UNLV football on the rise under coach Barry Odom and local excitement growing, Circa’s attempt to retain Sluka was a well-calculated effort, even if it didn’t pan out.
NIL Challenges
Sluka’s departure is seen by some as a troubling consequence of the NIL era. Since the NCAA’s approval of athlete compensation in 2021, NIL deals have reshaped college sports, especially in revenue-generating sports like football and men’s basketball.
NIL offers are increasingly used to lure players from rival programs, fueling the chaos of the transfer portal. As Sluka’s case demonstrates, schools and donors must follow through on financial commitments, or risk losing talent.
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