Odd story: Blake Corum's vehicle stolen

[Online Persona]

2017, snow camo-designed Camaro pictured below. Tweet went out that his "prized, NIL-funded" Camaro was stolen and he tweeted back that his parents bought it for him as a gift. His dad owns a small landscaping business, mowing grass, etc. Mom apparently used to work at a restaurant. They have 4 kids. Doesn't seem like they would have the kind of money to buy this type of vehicle for one of their kids. Just odd. If it were NIL, it would make sense. Is it possible that he owned this vehicle pre-NIL so he had to say his parents bought it?

MSN

 

[The Spin Meister]

2017, snow camo-designed Camaro pictured below. Tweet went out that his "prized, NIL-funded" Camaro was stolen and he tweeted back that his parents bought it for him as a gift. His dad owns a small landscaping business, mowing grass, etc. Mom apparently used to work at a restaurant. They have 4 kids. Doesn't seem like they would have the kind of money to buy this type of vehicle for one of their kids. Just odd. If it were NIL, it would make sense. Is it possible that he owned this vehicle pre-NIL so he had to say his parents bought it?

MSN

Makes one go hmmmm

 

[marshall23]

No Penn State player would ever have a nice car.

 

[Obliviax]

2017, snow camo-designed Camaro pictured below. Tweet went out that his "prized, NIL-funded" Camaro was stolen and he tweeted back that his parents bought it for him as a gift. His dad owns a small landscaping business, mowing grass, etc. Mom apparently used to work at a restaurant. They have 4 kids. Doesn't seem like they would have the kind of money to buy this type of vehicle for one of their kids. Just odd. If it were NIL, it would make sense. Is it possible that he owned this vehicle pre-NIL so he had to say his parents bought it?

MSN

There are lots of tricks.

Corum, and I am just using him as an example, now owns game-worn jerseys, shoes, helmets, jock straps, socks, etc. His autograph is worth a lot of money. He can do public appearances and sign stuff for money. All of that isn't going away even if he doesn't recover from his injury. So he simply borrows money against its value of it. He may well have $1,000,000 worth of stuff so he can easily use it for collateral against a $80k car.

Do people think athletes exchange jerseys after games because they really like the other player? They now have portfolios of valuable collectibles. Remember tOSU's "gold pants"? The mistake was that he exchanged the gold pants charm for value before he graduated. He could have swapped the pants or borrowed against the value of them.

 

[Online Persona]

There are lots of tricks.

Corum, and I am just using him as an example, now owns game-worn jerseys, shoes, helmets, jock straps, socks, etc. His autograph is worth a lot of money. He can do public appearances and sign stuff for money. All of that isn't going away even if he doesn't recover from his injury. So he simply borrows money against its value of it. He may well have $1,000,000 worth of stuff so he can easily use it for collateral against a $80k car.

Do people think athletes exchange jerseys after games because they really like the other player? They now have portfolios of valuable collectibles. Remember tOSU's "gold pants"? The mistake was that he exchanged the gold pants charm for value before he graduated. He could have swapped the pants or borrowed against the value of them.

Perhaps but he says his parents bought him this car as a gift when he graduated from high school. He had none of what you listed at that time and NIL wasn't legal at that time.

 

[Obliviax]

Perhaps but he says his parents bought him this car as a gift when he graduated from high school. He had none of what you listed at that time and NIL wasn't legal at that time.

maybe. But I find it reasonable.


Corum was a highly regarded recruit, four or five stars IIRC. Obviously, his parents saved $250,000 on college when he got a full ride. So an $80k car is not unreasonable. Who knows what kind of money people have. There are lots of quiet millionaires. People get insurance money. People win the lottery. People inherit money. PSU players were driving some nice rides too.

 

[Online Persona]

maybe. But I find it reasonable.


Corum was a highly regarded recruit, four or five stars IIRC. Obviously, his parents saved $250,000 on college when he got a full ride. So an $80k car is not unreasonable. Who knows what kind of money people have. There are lots of quiet millionaires. People get insurance money. People win the lottery. People inherit money. PSU players were driving some nice rides too.

4 kids, parents not in high profile jobs, suddenly have about 6 figures to blow on one of the kids? I doubt that the parents cars added together cost as much as their gift car.

 

[Westcoast24]

4 kids, parents not in high profile jobs, suddenly have about 6 figures to blow on one of the kids? I doubt that the parents cars added together cost as much as their gift car.

That car isn’t anywhere near 6 figures. You are reaching with this attempt IMO

 

[Online Persona]

That car isn’t anywhere near 6 figures. You are reaching with this attempt IMO

The 2022 572 option STARTS at $105,500 and the 350 STARTS at $130,000. A customized Camero when this was purchased was very likely near 6 figures. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a37182804/2022-chevy-copo-camaro-revealed/

 

[PSUSignore]

Maybe he just lost it? It is camouflaged after all.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Maybe he just lost it? It it camouflaged after all.

He will find it in the spring after the snow melts……

 

[fastlax16]

The 2022 572 option STARTS at $105,500 and the 350 STARTS at $130,000. A customized Camero when this was purchased was very likely near 6 figures. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a37182804/2022-chevy-copo-camaro-revealed/

The link you posted is a dedicated drag car... it's not even street legal

Edit: Corum's is a v6 RS model. Started in the mid twenties. It's slow and cheap.

LOL at "customized". It has a wrap, tinted windows and black wheels. The wrap cost 3-6k and the window tint cost 500-1k. the wheels are the stock ones just spray painted black.

No way they spent over 40 on it. Probably under 35.

 

[Online Persona]

The link you posted is a dedicated drag car... it's not even street legal

Edit: Corum's is a v6 RS model. Started in the mid twenties. It's slow and cheap.

LOL at "customized". It has a wrap, tinted windows and black wheels. The wrap cost 3-6k and the window tint cost 500-1k. the wheels are the stock ones just spray painted black.

No way they spent over 40 on it. Probably under 35.

Maybe, I'm not a car guy. They are poor assets. But what parents of 4 without high profile jobs have even $40k just laying around to buy 1 of their kids a car like that?

 

[fastlax16]

Maybe, I'm not a car guy. They are poor assets. But what parents of 4 without high profile jobs have $40k just laying around to buy 1 of their kids a car like that?

You're not a car guy so you assumed it was the most expensive version of the car and not the cheapest. People are strange.

In all likelihood it was closer to 30. MSRP was 26.6 and most of the "good options" brought the price to right around 30 before taxes. Maybe they had money saved up for college and bought the car with it when they knew he'd be on scholarship? Chevy will also happily finance a car for 84 months and rates were cheap back then.

Put it another way, would you be batting an eye if his 2017 Camry got stolen? Because the Camry probably would have cost more.

 

[knickslions]

That’s not an expensive car.

 

[Online Persona]

You're not a car guy so you assumed it was the most expensive version of the car and not the cheapest. People are strange.

In all likelihood it was closer to 30. MSRP was 26.6 and most of the "good options" brought the price to right around 30 before taxes. Maybe they had money saved up for college and bought the car with it when they knew he'd be on scholarship? Chevy will also happily finance a car for 84 months and rates were cheap back then.

Even if assuming the low side as you are, it's more money than most parents of 4 put out for 1 kid as a graduation gift. And the dad is cutting grass and laying mulch while the mom is working at a restaurant. I'm sure they are hard workers but those aren't typically jobs that have tens of thousands laying around while feeding 6 mouths a day.

 

[fastlax16]

Even if assuming the low side as you are, it's more money than most parents of 4 put out for 1 kid as a graduation gift. And the dad is cutting grass and laying mulch while the mom is working at a restaurant. I'm sure they are hard workers but those aren't typically jobs that have tens of thousands laying around while feeding 6 mouths a day.

You don't know what they'd saved for college. You don't know what they financed. Tons of people make terrible financial decisions when it comes to financing cars, as evidenced by the current state of the car market.

You initially implied this car cost over 3x what it actually cost but you just want to maintain your indignation.

It's like the people who got worked up in a tizzy when Terelle Pryor took a clapped out 10 year old Corvette to prom.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Even if assuming the low side as you are, it's more money than most parents of 4 put out for 1 kid as a graduation gift. And the dad is cutting grass and laying mulch while the mom is working at a restaurant. I'm sure they are hard workers but those aren't typically jobs that have tens of thousands laying around while feeding 6 mouths a day.

Yep, and if he got a full scholly they would save the money for the next kid. And if he is the youngest and the others are done with college, they would offer to pay off their college loans. And if the kids had no loans they would pay off their house. And if somehow, against all odds and classic American profile, they have no debt at all they would likely give a little to each kid and save some for future retirement.

Somebody paid for this car. The school? A school booster? Maybe a local business owner as an investment in future endorsements/advertising…..assuming he would be a star?

 

[Texas Lion]

I read through this quickly so I might have missed it.

The parents might not have 40-50K laying around, but maybe they can afford 500 per month.

 

[Online Persona]

You don't know what they'd saved for college. You don't know what they financed. You initially implied this car cost over 3x what it actually cost but you just want to maintain your indignation.

It's like the people who got worked up in a tizzy when Terelle Pryor took a clapped out 10 year old Corvette to prom.

No I don't and neither do you. Can we at least agree that most parents of 4 kids working working minor landscaping jobs and at a restaurant do not have $40k just laying around to gift the oldest of their 4 kids? Why argue over the exact numbers that neither of us have. It is the main idea that is low probability even if we use your lowest numbers.

 

[fastlax16]

No I don't and neither do you. Can we at least agree that most parents of 4 kids working working minor landscaping jobs and at a restaurant do not have $40k just laying around to gift the oldest of their 4 kids? Why argue over the exact numbers that neither of us have. It is the main idea that is low probability even if we use your lowest numbers.

I'm assuming they financed. Also looking at it again. They bought it for him used. He was class of 2020 (and it was a grad gift, no?). Its a 2017 Camaro, so it was 3 or 4 years old. It probably cost under 20 because they depreciated like rocks pre-covid.

 

[Westcoast24]

Maybe, I'm not a car guy. They are poor assets. But what parents of 4 without high profile jobs have even $40k just laying around to buy 1 of their kids a car like that?

You said the guy owns a landscape company. The owner of the landscape company we use at work is easily worth a couple millions dollars. You are reaching with half your assumptions.

 

[Online Persona]

You said the guy owns a landscape company. The owner of the landscape company we use at work is easily worth a couple millions dollars. You are reaching with half your assumptions.

Most landscape companies are a guy with a couple of mowers and some kids he hires. I assume if his company was worth a couple million dollars than his wife wouldn't be working at a restaurant.

 

[IANit]

2017, snow camo-designed Camaro pictured below. Tweet went out that his "prized, NIL-funded" Camaro was stolen and he tweeted back that his parents bought it for him as a gift. His dad owns a small landscaping business, mowing grass, etc. Mom apparently used to work at a restaurant. They have 4 kids. Doesn't seem like they would have the kind of money to buy this type of vehicle for one of their kids. Just odd. If it were NIL, it would make sense. Is it possible that he owned this vehicle pre-NIL so he had to say his parents bought it?

MSN

I've heard of landscaping businesses pulling in quite a bit of money if run right, so not impossible. But since he plays for Michigan he's guilty until proven innocent.

 

[Westcoast24]

Most landscape companies are a guy with a couple of mowers and some kids he hires. I assume if his company was worth a couple million dollars then his wife wouldn't be working at a restaurant.

What if he makes 500k. What’s the dollar cut off for the wife not to work at a restaurant? I get it’s a rivals running back so there is a need to make all negative assumptions but we are talking about a 20-30k car here. I would bet money there are multiple football players that showed up day one to PSU or any football program for that matter with a lot more expensive cars. Again, so many assumptions

 

[Online Persona]

I've heard of landscaping businesses pulling in quite a bit of money if run right, so not impossible. But since he plays for Michigan he's guilty until proven innocent.

Never said he was guilty, I said it was an odd story. Given that the NCAA is already snooping around Michigan football and Harbaugh has been caught lying to them, they may take more interest in this.

 

[knickslions]

this could be dumbest threads I’ve seen in a while. Of course one of conspiracy loons started it.

 

[The Spin Meister]

What if he makes 500k. What’s the dollar cut off for the wife not to work at a restaurant? I get it’s a rivals running back so there is a need to make all negative assumptions but we are talking about a 20-30k car here. I would bet money there are multiple football players that showed up day one to PSU or any football program for that matter with a lot more expensive cars. Again, so many assumptions

Well, he originally posted it was NIL paid for and then ….oops…..’mom and dad bought it for me’…….after he realized it was given to him before NIL was legal.

 

[Westcoast24]

Well, he originally posted it was NIL paid for and then ….oops…..’mom and dad bought it for me’…….after he realized it was given to him before NIL was legal.

He didn’t post NIL payed for it. I believe someone else did and he corrected the person that posted.

 

[The Spin Meister]

He didn’t post NIL payed for it. I believe someone else did and he corrected the person that posted.

OoooooOh, that’s different.

 

[Online Persona]

OoooooOh, that’s different.

View embedded media

It's why I originally thought it was odd. It was posted by someone apparently connected to the program that with information about helping to find it. But then Corum had to correct that it was not bought with NIL money. Just seems odd with the story changing.

 

[Westcoast24]

OoooooOh, that’s different.

View embedded media

This was good. Lol. I wouldn’t walk into a parking lot where athletes park their cars at a major D1 program if I were you. It will disappoint you how many 20-30k cars are scattered around.

 

[fastlax16]

For those who still want to be outraged. NIL did get him a 70,000 dollar truck.

 

[Westcoast24]

It's why I originally thought it was odd. It was posted by someone apparently connected to the program that with information about helping to find it. But then Corum had to correct that it was not bought with NIL money. Just seems odd with the story changing.

Who’s the Jones guy that does all the PSU stories everyone hates? That’s what Chris Balas is to Michigan.

 

[The Spin Meister]

This was good. Lol. I wouldn’t walk into a parking lot where athletes park their cars at a major D1 program if I were you. It will discuss you how many 20-30k cars are scattered around.

Yes,I saw the pics a decade before NIL was ok’d. Which is why I find this so suspicious.

 

[Online Persona]

The $70k truck with NIL is legal now. No issue with that. And in reality it is a one year lease that costs significantly less than the car that his parents gifted him. He isn't taking this truck with him to the NFL.

 

[fastlax16]

The $70k truck with NIL is legal now. And in reality it is one year lease that costs less than the car that his parents gifted him. He isn't taking this truck with him to the NFL.

Also won't need to. Allar and a couple other guys all got new Teslas recently, no?

 

[Online Persona]

Also won't need to. Allar and a couple other guys all got new Teslas recently, no?

Let me be as clear as possible. NIL is now legal. I do not have any issue with any player receiving NIL money. It doesn't matter which team.

 

[sss]

You guys are missing the point and arguing about the wrong thing.
I am going with Mr. Smith of the interior DL with a gun to use to drop off his license to carry.
Your guess?

 

[Online Persona]

You guys are missing the point and arguing about the wrong thing.
I am going with Mr. Smith of the interior DL with a gun to use to drop off his license to carry.
Your guess?

Valid point. I just happened across the Corum tweet correcting how he came to possess this camero and thought it odd. But you are absolutely correct, the Mazi Smith driving around with weapon for which he didn't have a permit and a few loaded magazines is a bigger concern.