Yes, it is. It came down to us and LSU, and when he approached Pierce about coming to Texas and gave him his asking price, Pierce told him that he divides NIL to all the players, not just the ones who perform well. Skenes said Okie dokie and LSU matched his price so he went there.
Who in their right mind divided up NIL to all players, even ones with one foot out the door, and they make the same as Flores. Flores getting the same as some bench warmer is criminal. How the hell do you turn down a talent like Skenes, even if it means you have to make a decision that's hard for you? We needed pitchers, and he turned him down because his asking price was "too much" and "all plauers deserve the same".
Imagine Casey Cain making the same as Worthy or Mitchell? How much would that piss you off? Because that's what Pierce did. He handicapped us, which is why we were a middling to lower-level team who got beat by Texas State.