🏅 Indiana's coach bans his players from certain NIL events

Hey there,

Today we’ve got one of the weirdest stories I’ve seen in a bit. Down at Indiana University, the school’s head basketball coach is embroiled in an off-court controversy that has resulted in him banning his players from participating with one of the school’s NIL collectives. I know. Keep reading to see what’s going on with that, and more!

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If you want to talk to us about anything in particular, you can always reach us by either replying to this email or shooting us a message at [email protected]. Now let’s take you to the news!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

IU Coach Bans His Team from NIL Collective Events

Indiana basketball coach Mike Woodson just banned his own team from participating in events sponsored by one of the school’s own collectives, according to a new report. Let’s break it down.

“Hoosier Hysterics” is an NIL collective that exists to support the University of Indiana. But they’re more than just that – there’s also a massively popular podcast attached to the collective. On the podcast, the hosts (who also run the NIL collective) were extremely critical of the Indiana basketball team last year… especially Mike Woodson.

That didn’t sit kindly with the head coach. He has reportedly “forbidden” his players from participating in NIL events sponsored by Hoosier Hysterics, which has forced the collective to cancel multiple NIL fundraising events for the school. (More)

Rick Pitino Cuts NIL Checks for Kentucky

St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino recently admitted that he donates his own money to NIL initiatives at his former school, the University of Kentucky. Apparently, the relationships he forged in Lexington are still strong. 

“Well, I actually cut a check to the football program because I’m a casual friend of Mark (Stoops) and Eddie Gran,” Pitino explained, adding “I would definitely cut a check if Mark (Pope) needs me for anything no matter what it is.”

Pitino coached Mark Pope at Kentucky during the ‘90s, so it makes sense he’d want to help his former player out. But honestly, he may not need to. Kentucky’s NIL fundraising has taken a huge leap since the Pope hiring. (More)

Basketball Portal Spending, Visualized

It’s a bit hard to visualize how much money is changing hands during the transfer portal season, and where that money is coming from. That’s why Athlete NIL created a data visualization to show the average NIL compensation relative to a player’s portal ranking:

Later in this thread, Jason Belzer explains that Tier 1 schools – that’d be the Power conferences plus the Big East – spend twice as much on the portal as Tier 2 schools. With the ability to outbid anyone, it’s no wonder these schools captured all but three of the top 50 portal prospects last cycle.

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Throwback: Mark Emmert Talks NIL in 2019

Step into the time machine with us as we take you back to December 2019. The NCAA’s then-president, Mark Emmert, sat down to discuss the future of college sports, including issues like student-athlete unionization, employment status, and Name, Image, and Likeness.

Take a look at the 2-minute video to see just how far we’ve come in less than five years. The conversation has shifted so much… and many of Emmert’s predictions have been completely wrong.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Shoe Companies Are Playing the NIL Long Game

NCAA track sensation Parker Valby just ran in the Olympic trials in her Florida Gators track uniform, even though she’s not running track for Florida anymore. Why? Well, because of NIL.

Valby signed an NIL agreement with Nike last summer, but the contract doesn’t necessarily end with her college career. The contract gives Nike the right to match offers from other brands, and so she hasn’t signed any professional deal…yet.

Valby’s is just one example of an increasingly common marketing strategy within the track world. Companies are signing runners to NIL deals early in their college careers – not necessarily because of their brand value at the time of signing, but because it gives them a leg-up on becoming their professional sponsor if their talent is truly legit. (More)

• Speaking of track deals, the “Brooks Beasts” just added three studs to their NIL roster. Looks like Nike isn’t the only one trying to play the long game with NIL deals.

• Right before it went to a vote, a California lawmaker withdrew his bill that would have granted additional regulatory oversight and medical benefits to college athletes. The NCAA opposed the bill publicly.

COLLECTIVE 101

UConn’s Media Website is an NIL Money Machine

We took you behind the curtain of the UConn Huskies’ NIL operation last week. Now, they’re diversifying their NIL offerings to bump that number up even higher. Their wildly popular digital media initiative, Storrs Central, is thriving after dropping a mobile app version of the service.

What’s Storrs Central? Great question. It’s a for-profit, collective-driven website that provides fans a behind-the-scenes look at the school’s athletics program. For about ten dollars a month, fans can purchase a subscription that gives them access to a plethora of digital content.

“As the world has morphed, we quickly realized that a 501(c)(3) charitable donation organization is not the right way to approach corporations as well as individual fans,” said Ben Renshaw, an investor in Storrs Central, “We created Storrs Central to handle those two pieces of the three-legged stool.” (More)

• Does the lack of corporate revenue cap out Arkansas’ NIL capacities? In light of their competitors' NIL pocketbooks, it looks like the Hogs need more help from big business.

• Fresno State’s collective partnered with the largest black-owned craft brewing company for NIL fundraising, including a taproom beer party for Bulldog fans.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Leanne Wong

• School: University of Florida 

• Position: Bars

• Sport: Gymnastics 

• Class: Senior

• Accolades: 

  • 2024 NCAA uneven bars champion and all-around & vault silver medalist (Florida)

  • 2023 World team champion. Also advanced to the vault final

  • 2023 U.S. all-around bronze medalist

  • 2023 NCAA team & floor exercise silver medalist (Florida)

• NIL: She’s the founder and CEO of Leanne Wong Boutique, and has landed NIL deals with Ulta, Casey’s, Icy Hot, Core Hydration, Sanzo Sparkling Water, and many more! 

NIL BLITZ

♦️ The $3M NIL-valued Flau’jae Johnson is about to release her debut rap album 

♦️ Wisconsin fans can pick between giving to NIL or funding a new stadium

♦️ Arkansas baseball coach says you have to “overrecruit” older guys in baseball’s transfer portal

♦️ The Big East just struck a new media rights deal that will run through the 2031 season

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Which school do you anticipate being the highest sports spender next season?

• Ohio State - 19%

• Michigan - 12%

• Texas - 30%

• Alabama - 8%

• USC - 10%

• Georgia - 8%

• Other - 13%