Is St. John's Becoming an IMG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC is a nice Catholic HS for kids of all academic and athletic levels ( like Catholic Schools used to be). For average and below average kids as described by its website - here is the link to Benilde program:

https://www.stjohnschs.org/academics/benilde-program

You mean average and above average.

No I don't. The website said "average and below average".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of rumor and conjecture here.

It is not surprising that SJC could get a lot of former GC players, since Steffanelli is now at SJC after GC abruptly let him go. That in and of itself is not ramping up to a national model.

Has anyone confirmed that they are actually fielding two varsity teams?? A regular varsity and a supposed national one?? That would indeed be a change.

Yes, they are. They shared details at an event last week.

Makes me wonder if this was the plan all along when SJC hired its new president in the middle of 2024. He didn't really have a strong academic background but was from UA and that this is Kevin Plank's idea. Not completely surprised that this is also being pushed after the president's kid graduates.

The new president is a devout Catholic who is from DC, went to Catholic schools here, has older children who graduated from SJC and has been a consistent supporter of Lasallian values. He was not hired to gut the school’s academics, arts and services programs and replace it with a sports-only agenda. The school was already a big sports school. This is nothing new.

Again...not sure why people are thinking "this is nothing new". It's very much something new, and the question is does it completely change the school or not.

The difference nowadays is the $$$s for sports powerhouse schools for both the schools and NIL deals with the players. Again, this was announced last year with Mater Dei:

Welcome to the new world of high school sports.

In what the company calls the first-ever deal of its kind, multimedia company Playfly and Mater Dei High School have agreed to a ten-year, multimillion-dollar deal for the school’s multimedia rights.

The deal is valued in the “high seven-figure” range, according to reporting from sports business outlet Sportico.

Playfly said in its announcement that it hopes to expand the Mater Dei brand “by amplifying the success of its teams and student-athletes,” and by introducing sponsorship opportunities.

This entire thread has been weird to read because clearly people don't understand what SJC is planning or what IMG, St James, etc really are.

There's this weird defensiveness that SJC has good arts, music and sciences - and yes, definitely, it does. Heck, if this gamble SJC is taking works well, there may actually be more money for non-sports at SJC. The fundamentals of the sports program at SJC is what is changing (into what may be a two-tier system), and it will likely result in some impact to the composition of the student body (again, that building SJC just bought seems ideal to house boarding students). Students will be more agressively recruited for sports talent (yes, this happen now - but it'll be magnified). Money will likely flow a little differently. Ideally, financially this is neutral for a couple of years but then becomes self-sustaining and then generates more money for the school. Mostly likely, most families will not see much of a difference. But the PP is right - the change is here, and the question is how is it going to change the school. Big big money is at stake. I know it seems ridiculous but the entire sports model for football is changing at a national scale with NIL and multimedia deals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC is a nice Catholic HS for kids of all academic and athletic levels ( like Catholic Schools used to be). For average and below average kids as described by its website - here is the link to Benilde program:

https://www.stjohnschs.org/academics/benilde-program

You mean average and above average.

No I don't. The website said "average and below average".

no it says... Demonstrates average to above-average cognitive abilities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of rumor and conjecture here.

It is not surprising that SJC could get a lot of former GC players, since Steffanelli is now at SJC after GC abruptly let him go. That in and of itself is not ramping up to a national model.

Has anyone confirmed that they are actually fielding two varsity teams?? A regular varsity and a supposed national one?? That would indeed be a change.

Yes, they are. They shared details at an event last week.

Makes me wonder if this was the plan all along when SJC hired its new president in the middle of 2024. He didn't really have a strong academic background but was from UA and that this is Kevin Plank's idea. Not completely surprised that this is also being pushed after the president's kid graduates.

The new president is a devout Catholic who is from DC, went to Catholic schools here, has older children who graduated from SJC and has been a consistent supporter of Lasallian values. He was not hired to gut the school’s academics, arts and services programs and replace it with a sports-only agenda. The school was already a big sports school. This is nothing new.

Again...not sure why people are thinking "this is nothing new". It's very much something new, and the question is does it completely change the school or not.

The difference nowadays is the $$$s for sports powerhouse schools for both the schools and NIL deals with the players. Again, this was announced last year with Mater Dei:

Welcome to the new world of high school sports.

In what the company calls the first-ever deal of its kind, multimedia company Playfly and Mater Dei High School have agreed to a ten-year, multimillion-dollar deal for the school’s multimedia rights.

The deal is valued in the “high seven-figure” range, according to reporting from sports business outlet Sportico.

Playfly said in its announcement that it hopes to expand the Mater Dei brand “by amplifying the success of its teams and student-athletes,” and by introducing sponsorship opportunities.

This entire thread has been weird to read because clearly people don't understand what SJC is planning or what IMG, St James, etc really are.

There's this weird defensiveness that SJC has good arts, music and sciences - and yes, definitely, it does. Heck, if this gamble SJC is taking works well, there may actually be more money for non-sports at SJC. The fundamentals of the sports program at SJC is what is changing (into what may be a two-tier system), and it will likely result in some impact to the composition of the student body (again, that building SJC just bought seems ideal to house boarding students). Students will be more agressively recruited for sports talent (yes, this happen now - but it'll be magnified). Money will likely flow a little differently. Ideally, financially this is neutral for a couple of years but then becomes self-sustaining and then generates more money for the school. Mostly likely, most families will not see much of a difference. But the PP is right - the change is here, and the question is how is it going to change the school. Big big money is at stake. I know it seems ridiculous but the entire sports model for football is changing at a national scale with NIL and multimedia deals.

If I am reading this correctly, you are suggesting that the new SJC national team for football will "generate" money for the school ? Are you kidding ? Do you understand how the IMG model works ? Lower level players and families pay full tilt to support the national teams, with many players on those teams not paying a dime for anything.

When SJC is traveling to the west coast to play MD, do you think the money from that trip, and others, will come from whatever cash they are generating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of rumor and conjecture here.

It is not surprising that SJC could get a lot of former GC players, since Steffanelli is now at SJC after GC abruptly let him go. That in and of itself is not ramping up to a national model.

Has anyone confirmed that they are actually fielding two varsity teams?? A regular varsity and a supposed national one?? That would indeed be a change.

Yes, they are. They shared details at an event last week.

Makes me wonder if this was the plan all along when SJC hired its new president in the middle of 2024. He didn't really have a strong academic background but was from UA and that this is Kevin Plank's idea. Not completely surprised that this is also being pushed after the president's kid graduates.

The new president is a devout Catholic who is from DC, went to Catholic schools here, has older children who graduated from SJC and has been a consistent supporter of Lasallian values. He was not hired to gut the school’s academics, arts and services programs and replace it with a sports-only agenda. The school was already a big sports school. This is nothing new.

Again...not sure why people are thinking "this is nothing new". It's very much something new, and the question is does it completely change the school or not.

The difference nowadays is the $$$s for sports powerhouse schools for both the schools and NIL deals with the players. Again, this was announced last year with Mater Dei:

Welcome to the new world of high school sports.

In what the company calls the first-ever deal of its kind, multimedia company Playfly and Mater Dei High School have agreed to a ten-year, multimillion-dollar deal for the school’s multimedia rights.

The deal is valued in the “high seven-figure” range, according to reporting from sports business outlet Sportico.

Playfly said in its announcement that it hopes to expand the Mater Dei brand “by amplifying the success of its teams and student-athletes,” and by introducing sponsorship opportunities.

This entire thread has been weird to read because clearly people don't understand what SJC is planning or what IMG, St James, etc really are.

There's this weird defensiveness that SJC has good arts, music and sciences - and yes, definitely, it does. Heck, if this gamble SJC is taking works well, there may actually be more money for non-sports at SJC. The fundamentals of the sports program at SJC is what is changing (into what may be a two-tier system), and it will likely result in some impact to the composition of the student body (again, that building SJC just bought seems ideal to house boarding students). Students will be more agressively recruited for sports talent (yes, this happen now - but it'll be magnified). Money will likely flow a little differently. Ideally, financially this is neutral for a couple of years but then becomes self-sustaining and then generates more money for the school. Mostly likely, most families will not see much of a difference. But the PP is right - the change is here, and the question is how is it going to change the school. Big big money is at stake. I know it seems ridiculous but the entire sports model for football is changing at a national scale with NIL and multimedia deals.

If I am reading this correctly, you are suggesting that the new SJC national team for football will "generate" money for the school ? Are you kidding ? Do you understand how the IMG model works ? Lower level players and families pay full tilt to support the national teams, with many players on those teams not paying a dime for anything.

When SJC is traveling to the west coast to play MD, do you think the money from that trip, and others, will come from whatever cash they are generating?

You do realize that alumni are the way schools make money which is why SJC has money... Plank and Kimsey.

It's how all the WCAC schools make money... it's how they build theaters and fields and art centers and science centers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of rumor and conjecture here.

It is not surprising that SJC could get a lot of former GC players, since Steffanelli is now at SJC after GC abruptly let him go. That in and of itself is not ramping up to a national model.

Has anyone confirmed that they are actually fielding two varsity teams?? A regular varsity and a supposed national one?? That would indeed be a change.

Yes, they are. They shared details at an event last week.

Makes me wonder if this was the plan all along when SJC hired its new president in the middle of 2024. He didn't really have a strong academic background but was from UA and that this is Kevin Plank's idea. Not completely surprised that this is also being pushed after the president's kid graduates.

The new president is a devout Catholic who is from DC, went to Catholic schools here, has older children who graduated from SJC and has been a consistent supporter of Lasallian values. He was not hired to gut the school’s academics, arts and services programs and replace it with a sports-only agenda. The school was already a big sports school. This is nothing new.

Okay. Thanks for the info SJC admin person that was directed to respond to this thread. Nothing you posted disputes what I wrote. I'd not you didn't even contradict his lack of academic background..see here

https://www.cathstan.org/local/st-johns-new-president-brings-business-background-and-experience-as-a-school-parent-to-the-role

If what is posted is true then it is a change to the current dynamics as SJC. You can argue it is the devout Catholic view or not (it's not) but at the end of the day the move to a more national team model is going to require a great deal of changes in the school. From changes in how scholarships are divvied up to placement to costs to facilities to capital improvements. And as noted above, moving to an IMG model can almost guarantee that prices for the non-athletes are going to go up at a rate exceeding what it has over the last decade to create the seed funding for this idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of rumor and conjecture here.

It is not surprising that SJC could get a lot of former GC players, since Steffanelli is now at SJC after GC abruptly let him go. That in and of itself is not ramping up to a national model.

Has anyone confirmed that they are actually fielding two varsity teams?? A regular varsity and a supposed national one?? That would indeed be a change.

Yes, they are. They shared details at an event last week.

Makes me wonder if this was the plan all along when SJC hired its new president in the middle of 2024. He didn't really have a strong academic background but was from UA and that this is Kevin Plank's idea. Not completely surprised that this is also being pushed after the president's kid graduates.

The new president is a devout Catholic who is from DC, went to Catholic schools here, has older children who graduated from SJC and has been a consistent supporter of Lasallian values. He was not hired to gut the school’s academics, arts and services programs and replace it with a sports-only agenda. The school was already a big sports school. This is nothing new.

Again...not sure why people are thinking "this is nothing new". It's very much something new, and the question is does it completely change the school or not.

The difference nowadays is the $$$s for sports powerhouse schools for both the schools and NIL deals with the players. Again, this was announced last year with Mater Dei:

Welcome to the new world of high school sports.

In what the company calls the first-ever deal of its kind, multimedia company Playfly and Mater Dei High School have agreed to a ten-year, multimillion-dollar deal for the school’s multimedia rights.

The deal is valued in the “high seven-figure” range, according to reporting from sports business outlet Sportico.

Playfly said in its announcement that it hopes to expand the Mater Dei brand “by amplifying the success of its teams and student-athletes,” and by introducing sponsorship opportunities.

This entire thread has been weird to read because clearly people don't understand what SJC is planning or what IMG, St James, etc really are.

There's this weird defensiveness that SJC has good arts, music and sciences - and yes, definitely, it does. Heck, if this gamble SJC is taking works well, there may actually be more money for non-sports at SJC. The fundamentals of the sports program at SJC is what is changing (into what may be a two-tier system), and it will likely result in some impact to the composition of the student body (again, that building SJC just bought seems ideal to house boarding students). Students will be more agressively recruited for sports talent (yes, this happen now - but it'll be magnified). Money will likely flow a little differently. Ideally, financially this is neutral for a couple of years but then becomes self-sustaining and then generates more money for the school. Mostly likely, most families will not see much of a difference. But the PP is right - the change is here, and the question is how is it going to change the school. Big big money is at stake. I know it seems ridiculous but the entire sports model for football is changing at a national scale with NIL and multimedia deals.

If I am reading this correctly, you are suggesting that the new SJC national team for football will "generate" money for the school ? Are you kidding ? Do you understand how the IMG model works ? Lower level players and families pay full tilt to support the national teams, with many players on those teams not paying a dime for anything.

When SJC is traveling to the west coast to play MD, do you think the money from that trip, and others, will come from whatever cash they are generating?

We are going sideways…IMG gives almost nobody a full scholarship and overall very few get any scholarship…James Wood was paying to go to IMG as one example.

I think what people are suggesting is that in fact SJC like other sports powerhouse schools, absolutely is looking to monetize their national teams through direct sponsorships of the teams and then NIL deals for the school and players on top of that. Why else would they adopt this new model?

[Anonymous]

So many rumors and fear mongering in this thread. Interestingly, right at admissions time.

We get it. Tons of “what ifs.” Academics suck. Benilde students are dumb. The school is on the verge of collapse thanks to Kevin Plank. You’ve made your point.

If you don’t like the school, don’t send your kid there, but the horse is dead. Stop beating it!

[Anonymous]

LOL SJC is 175 years old. It has seen lots of changes. It will be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many rumors and fear mongering in this thread. Interestingly, right at admissions time.

We get it. Tons of “what ifs.” Academics suck. Benilde students are dumb. The school is on the verge of collapse thanks to Kevin Plank. You’ve made your point.

If you don’t like the school, don’t send your kid there, but the horse is dead. Stop beating it!

Agree! Enough already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL SJC is 175 years old. It has seen lots of changes. It will be ok.

+1

[Anonymous]

The one change that may affect kids considering SJC is that you may be a really good athlete, but still not on the top team at your school. Some kids may be fine with this bc they wouldn’t have ever played Varsity anyway and it will be fun to be a fan, or they actually want that chance to try out for a national team, but some kids may want a better chance to play and will look elsewhere for that. That was already happening and will happen more now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't this end up dumbing down the curriculum?

Why do you assume student athletes are dumb?

Because they don't have nearly as much time to study, and haven't since early elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Then how come no one recruits theatric or musical talent the way they recruit football talent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one change that may affect kids considering SJC is that you may be a really good athlete, but still not on the top team at your school. Some kids may be fine with this bc they wouldn’t have ever played Varsity anyway and it will be fun to be a fan, or they actually want that chance to try out for a national team, but some kids may want a better chance to play and will look elsewhere for that. That was already happening and will happen more now.

I want clarification because my DC is considering SJC for next year and this plan would certainly affect our calculus. We like that SJC has a lot of solid sports, but we consider it to be sports-focused enough as is.