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🏅 Interview with Jeff Weber
Teaming up with
Hey there,
Remember yesterday when we told you about Oklahoma’s new NIL initiative? Well, for today’s interview, we’ve got Jeff Weber, the CEO of that initiative: 1Oklahoma. Jeff’s quite familiar with the sports world, working in sports marketing at AT&T for nine years. He previously served on the Board of Advisors for the Dubs Group – an NIL marketing firm. Oh, did we mention he taught a class at TCU on the intersection of sports, media, and technology?
Our interview with Jeff was as wide-ranging as his expertise – you won’t want to miss this one. Let’s get right into it!
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— Cole, Justin and Collin
Before we jump into the nitty gritty, can you give our audience a brief overview on your background and how you entered into this new role?
My background is in the intersection of sports, media, and technology. I have experience in building, launching, and growing product lines, which is what we plan to do here for the Sooners. I grew up in Norman, went to school in Norman, and the Sooner passion in our household is real. The pairing of my business experience and love for the Sooners is what I hope to bring to this role as we get started.
Let's start with what the NIL community should know about the new launch and how 1Oklahoma will be different?
Unlike traditional donor-based models, 1Oklahoma focuses on an approach that creates tangible value for both the OU fanbase and Student-Athletes. With 1Oklahoma, the fan receives value in return for their engagement, like dynamic content and exciting experiences.
You’ve talked about redefining the NIL Landscape, what is the overall strategy for 1Oklahoma?
We are not just altering the approach to NIL; we are establishing a new benchmark to empower Student-Athletes to focus on their game and provide real ROI to businesses and value to consumers. 1Oklahoma embodies collaboration, innovation, and the creation of enduring value through exclusive access and content for all stakeholders.
Teaming up with
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In what ways will 1Oklahoma empower Student-Athletes?
1Oklahoma provides financial opportunities through a market-based model. This includes subscription content, events, merchandise, and partnerships that allow athletes to monetize their NIL potential while providing the fanbase with valuable and exclusive content.
Ultimately, we are dedicated to empowering all Student-Athletes. While we recognize that the industry differs by sport, we firmly believe that every OU Student-Athlete deserves to benefit from NIL, including women and underrepresented groups. We implement strategies to ensure these athletes receive equal opportunities in the NIL space.
Can you go a little deeper into the model around business partnerships and how ROI is created for them? Who is the ideal partner?
We believe Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships should be mutually beneficial for both fans and businesses. Our goal is to ensure that any partnership or sponsorship involving OU Student-Athletes delivers value back to the business. One of our key strengths is recognizing the distinct passions and interests of each Student-Athlete. Our goal is to showcase these qualities in partnerships to ensure they are authentic. The perfect partner would be a business that either aligns with the values or is integral to the passions of OU Student-Athletes.
Obviously, the website is now live. What is the rollout plan for content and subscription services to fans?
Our first round of content went live on June 24th, the day we launched. We are committed to providing unique and exclusive content and experiences to our subscribers, which is evident in our first drop of Season 1! We’ll continue to release content consistently, and we have some really exciting experiences lined up for our Insiders that you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for.
