NIL
Meeting the challenge
Aaron Cornia, BYU Photo New BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago addresses coaches, family, friends and the media at a news conference announcing his hiring at the BYU Broadcasting Building on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The topic was alluded to frequently during Brian Santiago’s introductory press conference on Wednesday, and for good reason. College athletics […]

Aaron Cornia, BYU Photo
New BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago addresses coaches, family, friends and the media at a news conference announcing his hiring at the BYU Broadcasting Building on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The topic was alluded to frequently during Brian Santiago’s introductory press conference on Wednesday, and for good reason.
College athletics has undergone some substantial shifts over the past few years, with more likely still on the docket. Those shifts involve collegiate athletes now able to market their name, image and likeness, commonly referred to as ‘NIL,’ along with the loosening of transfer restrictions.
Sure, there’s been other minor changes, but NIL and the opening up of a very active transfer portal has brought about drastic changes to how collegiate sports operate. What’s apparent is that for Cougar Athletics to succeed in its stated mission of achieving national relevance, being on the forefront of managing both NIL and the transfer portal market is imperative.
“There is so much about today’s college athletics that doesn’t resemble our father’s college athletics,” said BYU President Shane Reese during Wednesday’s press conference. “So we’re going to have a lot of lessons to learn, and (Santiago’s) willingness and humility to learn those lessons also came out through that process.”
Indeed Santiago is viewed as someone who has already helped navigate the changing landscape of collegiate athletics effectively. Perhaps the most dramatic example of Santiago’s adroitness in this regard was the hiring of BYU Men’s Basketball Coach Kevin Young.
In untypical fashion, the BYU administration moved relatively quickly in attracting Young to Provo from his job as the top assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns just weeks after the departure of Mark Pope to Kentucky. BYU came forward with a somewhat surprisingly competitive offer, but perhaps more importantly, an apparent ability, in Young’s view at least, to attract top talent around the country to enhance the overall product on the court.
Sure, Young by himself played a big role in acquiring top talent such as Egor Demin, who is currently viewed as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft, and No. 1-rated recruit AJ Dybantsa, but other factors certainly came into play.
Santiago was at the forefront of all of it, as stated by Young himself, working behind the scenes he’s been learning to navigate for more than 20 years.
“We found in Brian someone who…is willing to adapt and adjust to a changing landscape,” Reese said.
Santiago is going to have to adapt to quickly is what will come about if the U.S. House of Representative’s so-called ‘Protecting Student Athletes’ Economic Freedom’ Act. The bill’s major change involves preventing student-athletes from being deemed employees of their schools, conferences or even the NCAA and then opening a pathway for Universities to pay athletes directly.
“Candidly, I think all of us, and I mean all of us as in the entire NCAA landscape, are going to be learning lots of new lessons as the House settlement comes out,” Reese said.
Again, Santiago is viewed as someone who has learned the lessons on how successfully navigate the changing collegiate sports landscape and subsequently considered the most capable of taking on future challenges, along with all the other key figures of BYU Athletics.
“I think that the one thing that I’ll do is make sure we protect the great things that we’ve established together,” Santiago said. “When I say we, I don’t just mean Tom (Holmoe) and me. All these coaches in the room, every member of our athletic department, we’re united in this, and we’ve established some great positive momentum, maybe the best momentum that we’ve ever had in sports at BYU. It’s important for us to protect that, especially. We have a department filled with excellence. We have administrators, we have coaches, we have support staff. Everybody’s all in.”
Santiago is certain to make changes, as he seems fit, but stated directly throughout the press conference that his intent is to generally hold things together and stay on what’s generally viewed as a positive course.
“We’re fortunate to have an incredible amount of positive momentum in the athletic department,” Santiago concluded. ” I’m passionate — and people know that I’m passionate — about continuing the excellence and protecting the integrity of this great university. The athletic department has over 100 years of history. We’ve watched some of the greatest players and coaches in the history of sport win at the highest level, doing it the right way. We were born to win.”
NIL
Gym Heels Abroad: Gwen Fink & Claire Stippich
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina Gymnastics’ seniors Gwen Fink and Claire Stippich took their studies abroad this summer. Fink dove into eco-tourism and sustainability in Thailand while Stippich studied sustainability in business in Portugal. Fink is currently pursuing degrees in Political Science and Management and Society. The Fort Mill, S.C. native headed to Thailand for her […]

Fink is currently pursuing degrees in Political Science and Management and Society. The Fort Mill, S.C. native headed to Thailand for her first time to explore the importance of eco-tourism and maintaining sustainability. This experience combined her passion for environmental protection and academic studies in policy and law.
UNC was recently ranked no. 5 for public schools in the country in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings. Carolina’s academic rigor helps students prepare for opportunities such as studying abroad where they combine what they’ve learned in the classroom with real-world experiences while being immersed in various cultures. Fink explained, “UNC prepared me well for this experience, particularly through my coursework in political science. I was able to connect what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world policy outcomes. This deepened my interest in how environmentalism and public opinion intersect in shaping effective global solutions.”
Stippich currently studies Business Administration and Marketing at Carolina and expanded on her coursework abroad this summer. The all-around gymnast traveled throughout Portugal to study sustainability in business.
From engaging with locals and fellow students to trying new foods, Portugal provided Stippich an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and grow as a person. Ultimately, Stippich left Portugal with a greater understanding of sustainability and how she can further her career goals.
The new experiences that accompany studying abroad can be challenging to navigate, but Stippich’s time as a student-athlete at Carolina helped prepare her. The senior explained, “Being a UNC athlete taught me time management skills and the ability to adapt quickly in new situations. All these skills were essential when studying abroad to handle busy schedules and last-minute changes in plans.”
Different courses. Different parts of the world. Different cultures. Both Fink and Stippich left with greater worldviews and understanding for their respective career paths. “It made me think more about the impact I want to make in my future career,” said Stippich.
“This experience has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at UNC. I gained a clearer understanding of how to approach global challenges with both cultural awareness and policy insight.” Fink continued, “environmental problems require global collaboration, and that lasting solutions must be built with respect for cultural differences.”
Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NIL
Some agencies troubled by NIL collectives
University mascots posse for photos before the start of day two of Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools this week saying it had rejected deals […]


University mascots posse for photos before the start of day two of Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools this week saying it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools.
Those arrangements hold no “valid business purpose,” the memo said, and don’t adhere to rules that call for outside NIL deals to be between players and companies that provide goods or services to the general public for profit.
The letter to Division I athletic directors could be the next step in shuttering this version of the collective, groups that are closely affiliated with schools and that, in the early days of NIL after July 2021, proved the most efficient way for schools to indirectly cut deals with players.
Since then, the landscape has changed yet again with the $2.8 billion House settlement that allows schools to pay the players directly as of July 1.
Already, collectives affiliated with Colorado, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia and others have announced they’re shutting down. Georgia, Ohio State and Illinois are among those that have announced plans with Learfield, a media and technology company, to help arrange some of their NIL deals.
Outside deals between athlete and sponsor are still permitted, but any worth $600 or more have to be vetted by a clearinghouse called NIL Go that was established with the help of auditing giant Deloitte and run by the new College Sports Commission.
In its letter to the ADs, the CSC said more than 1,500 deals have been cleared since NIL Go launched on June 11,. More than 12,000 athletes and 1,100 institutional users have registered to use the system.
But the bulk of the letter explained that many deals could not be cleared because they did not conform to an NCAA rule that sets a “valid business purpose” standard for deals to be approved.
The letter explained that if a collective reaches a deal with an athlete to appear on behalf of the collective, which charges an admission fee, the standard is not met because the purpose of the event is to raise money to pay athletes, not to provide goods or services available to the general public for profit.
The same would apply to a deal an athlete makes to sell merchandise to raise money to pay that player because the purpose of “selling merchandise is to raise money to pay that student-athlete and potentially other student-athletes at a particular school or schools, which is not a valid business purpose” according to the NCAA rule.
Sports attorney Darren Heitner, who deals in NIL, said the guidance “could disproportionately burden collectives that are already committed to spending money on players for multiple years to come.”
“If a pattern of rejections results from collective deals submitted to Deloitte, it may invite legal scrutiny under antitrust principles,” he said.
On a separate track, some college sports leaders, including the NCAA, are seeking a limited form of antitrust protection from Congress.
The letter said a NIL deal could be approved if, for instance, the businesses paying the players had a broader purpose than simply acting as a collective. The letter uses a golf course or apparel company as examples.
NIL
Katie Taylor upsets Amanda Serrano by majority decision in third matchup
On Friday night, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano met for the third time in their respective careers. Taylor completed a clean sweep of the trilogy, defeating Serrano via majority decision to retain the undisputed super-lightweight title. The bout wasn’t nearly as hectic as the first two meetings between Serrano and Taylor. The pair started slow, […]

On Friday night, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano met for the third time in their respective careers. Taylor completed a clean sweep of the trilogy, defeating Serrano via majority decision to retain the undisputed super-lightweight title.
The bout wasn’t nearly as hectic as the first two meetings between Serrano and Taylor. The pair started slow, feeling each other out and finding a rhythm in the fight.
As the match’s pace picked up, Serrano began to throw more volume, but Taylor often got the better of the exchanges, landing heavier blows when she connected. Nonetheless, Serrano was the aggressor for all 20 minutes of the fight, constantly pushing forward.
Despite Serrano’s pace, Taylor never seemed shaken. In the end, the judges appreciated Taylor’s calm demeanor and heavy hands, rewarding her with a victory. Though, it’s worth noting that one judge scored the fight a draw. The other two judges scored the fight 97-93 in favor of Taylor.
The fight was live-streamed on Netflix, the streaming company’s latest venture into the livestream space. The event only included women boxers, a landmark moment in boxing history.
“The goal for this all-women’s card is to put the world on notice that women’s boxing is just as entertaining as men’s and can be just as exciting, if not more,” Jake Paul, whose company Most Valuable Promotions is presenting Friday’s event, told ESPN. “This is the moment where multiple women on the card can garner a bigger audience and become superstars. They have the opportunity to be recognized by audiences outside of the normal boxing crowd and expand the fan base, just like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese did for the WNBA.”
History of the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano rivalry
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano first fought on April 30, 2022, in Madison Square Garden. The lightweight championship bout was dubbed “For History” because it was the first women’s boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden.
The fight delivered, with the pair giving fans a show they’d never forget. Both fighters went the distance, and Taylor ultimately won the fight via split decision. The bout was named Fight of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Event of the Year by The Ring.
Taylor and Serrano were set for a rematch in May 2023, but the bout was called off due to a lingering injury that Serrano was battling. Nonetheless, the rematch couldn’t be postponed forever and on Nov. 15, 2024, the two champions met again.
They were the co-feature bout to Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, and the fight was live-streamed on Netflix. Once again, the duo delivered an all-time war that brought fans to their feet. Despite many fans believing Serrano was the better fighter in the rematch, Taylor won again, this time by unanimous decision.
With the trilogy officially complete, Katie Taylor can have the last laugh in the rivalry. Nonetheless, if the past have proven anything, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are always capable of making more history.
NIL
More Hawai'i history set to be made in 2025 MLB Draft
In 1985, University of Hawai‘i pitcher Mike Campbell was selected with the seventh overall pick of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Later in that same draft, ‘Iolani alumnus and 6-foot-9 University of California righty Dave Masters was taken 24th overall by the Chicago Cubs. It was the first and only time two players […]


In 1985, University of Hawai‘i pitcher Mike Campbell was selected with the seventh overall pick of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Later in that same draft, ‘Iolani alumnus and 6-foot-9 University of California righty Dave Masters was taken 24th overall by the Chicago Cubs. It was the first and only time two players with Hawai‘i ties were selected in the first round in the same MLB Draft.
Forty years later, a new type of history is set to be made regarding players from the Islands in the MLB Draft.
Saint Louis alumnus Aiva Arquette and Baldwin alum Wehiwa Aloy are both poised to become first round selections when the 2025 MLB Draft gets underway on Sunday at noon HST. The duo would become the first from Hawai‘i high schools to do so.
Arquette and Aloy both had stellar seasons in the spring, leading their respective college teams to the College World Series in June.
Following his senior season at Saint Louis, Arquette was taken in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft but instead chose to play collegiately at the University of Washington. After two years with the Huskies, Arquette entered the NCAA transfer portal and transferred to Oregon State, where he slugged 19 home runs while committing just six errors as the team’s starting shortstop. All the while, his .354 batting average led the Beavers.
Aloy began his collegiate career at Sacramento State. After earning Freshman All-American honors, he entered the transfer portal and played the final two seasons of his collegiate baseball career at the University of Arkansas.
In 2025, Aloy took home the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the country’s top amateur baseball player. He started all 65 games for the Razorbacks in 2025, hitting 21 home runs with a .350 batting average.
Although Aloy was awarded college baseball’s top individual honor, the 6-foot-5 Arquette is viewed as the slightly better pro prospect. Arquette is viewed as a Top 10 pick, while Aloy is also expected to be off the board by the time the first round ends.
The 2025 MLB Draft begins on Sunday with rounds 1-3 and wraps up on Monday with rounds 4-20 beginning at 5:30 a.m. HST. Although Arquette and Aloy are viewed as Hawai‘i’s headliners in the draft, a handful of other names remain on the radar for teams making selections.
Not far behind Arquette and Aloy as a prospect is Saint Louis shortstop and 2025 Hawai‘i Gatorade Player of the Year Bruin Agbayani. Although he signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Michigan, he is likely to get selected within the first five rounds.
Throughout various showcases and tournaments, Agbayani’s bat has proven to travel well. He turned heads in June’s MLB Combine in Arizona, stacking up hits against some of the top arms in the country.
‘Iolani senior Mana Lau Kong signed with the University of Hawai‘i, but there’s also a chance he doesn’t make it campus after being monitored by various MLB organizations.
With the increasing amount of pro scouts taking in regular season high school baseball games in Hawai‘i, the two that appeared to receive the most interest from pro scouts in 2025 were Kamehameha‘s Elai Iwanaga and Kaiser’s Bryson Toner. Iwanaga is set to play collegiately at UCLA, while Toner will play at Loyola Marymount if he does not go pro this summer.
Mililani senior shortstop Malosi Mata’afa-Alferos also received pro looks over the course of his high school career, though he is considered more likely to move on to the University of Oregon in the fall rather than turn professional.
In the local collegiate baseball scene, Hawai‘i Pacific University‘s Bronson Rivera caught the attention of scouts with his 2025 season in which he hit a program record 19 home runs while maintaining a .377 batting average.
As for the University of Hawai‘i, sophomore Itsuki Takemoto is viewed as the program’s top draft-eligible prospect. Utility player Ben Zeigler-Namoa has received pro interest dating back to his days as a junior college player at Yavapai College in Arizona, and his passion for the game has been lauded by scouts.
Matthew Miura, Jordan Donahue, Jared Quandt and Kamana Nahaku are other draft-eligible names for UH that have previously received pro interest.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
In case you missed it
NIL
Panama's Barmore makes EA Sports College Football 26 debut, will do the same at Arizona
After transferring to the University of Arizona this past winter, Cameron Barmore is “in the game” for the first time, making his debut in the popular video game EA Sports College Football 26. Images courtesy of EA Sports College Football 26 TUCSON, Ariz. — Cameron Barmore doesn’t own a gaming console. He rarely plays video […]


After transferring to the University of Arizona this past winter, Cameron Barmore is “in the game” for the first time, making his debut in the popular video game EA Sports College Football 26.
Images courtesy of EA Sports College Football 26
TUCSON, Ariz. — Cameron Barmore doesn’t own a gaming console.
He rarely plays video games.
But earlier this week, he received a private message from a young boy in western Chautauqua County saying “You just won me the Rose Bowl.”
The boy was referencing Barmore’s character in the popular video game EA Sports College Football 26. After transferring to Arizona University this past winter, Barmore is “in the game” for the first time.
Such is the life of a big-time NCAA Division I athlete from a small town.
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Barmore, a 2020 graduate of Panama Central School, spent the first five years of his collegiate career at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
While with the Lakers, the 2019 New York State Sportswriters Association Class D co-Player of the Year who led the Wolfpack to back-to-back state titles in high school, caught 165 passes for 2,319 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Mercyhurst, which was an NCAA Division II program prior to this past season, earned its first Division I win on Nov. 23, 21-20 over St. Francis University. It was a bittersweet final game for Bamore, who caught eight passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns — the last coming with 42 seconds remaining to essentially give the Lakers the win and complete a 4-7 season.
“I was just happy to get the win,” Barmore said. “I had a feeling in the back of my head that would be my last game there.”
Following the season, with the blessing of Mercyhurst head coach Ryan Riemedio, Barmore entered the transfer portal hoping to end his collegiate career on an even bigger stage.
“It was tough leaving my brothers there,” Barmore said. “I was there for five years and I loved it there.”
Once Barmore received his transfer portal number Nov. 25, he officially announced on X that he was entering the transfer portal.
The response was immediate.
“I entered right before a night class … I gained 700 followers in an hour,” Barmore said. “From there on, that first week, I was probably on my phone 11 or 12 hours a day.”
Offers from Austin Peay, Old Dominion, Liberty, Western Michigan and others came. Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State followed.
Along with scholarship offers came NIL offers.
“I wasn’t really making any decision based on money,” Barmore said, “it was more about football.”
Power programs came calling: Stanford, Virginia Tech, Houston and Ole Miss.
“I do have an agent and they helped, but the majority was on Twitter and reaching out that way,” Barmore said. “I was pretty much going in blind. I didn’t really have an idea at all. I was just hoping and grateful for anything.”
But Barmore’s decision ultimately came down to Texas Tech and Arizona. He first visited Texas Tech and nearly committed to the university in Lubbock, but a last-minute commitment from another tight end prospect turned Barmore to the Wildcats.
“I would’ve gone back to Mercyhurst,” Barmore said. “I don’t know if I was expecting bigger schools like Arizona and Texas Tech to actually offer.”
During a visit to Tucson, he talked to second-year head coach Brent Brennan and first-year offensive coordinator Seth Doege before officially committing on Dec. 23.
“I didn’t really know anything about Arizona football. After the visit, I loved the coaching staff — head coach Brennan and (offensive coordinator) Coach Doege,” Barmore said. “It was about more than football at that point. They were looking at players like they’re real people.”
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Barmore will certainly have competition for snaps at Arizona.
He says he is one of at least eight in the tight end room and figures to be one of at least four who travel for the Wildcats’ road games.
“It’s been a lot more tight end than receiver,” Barmore said about a shift he’s been making since leaving Mercyhurst. “The spring was a big change going from outside receiver to kicking out defensive ends and pulling for linebackers. I hope they use me like more of a receiving tight end.”
For what it’s worth, he’s listed as the third tight end on the depth chart in the video game with an overall rating of 74. Barmore’s highest individual rating is his strength (82), followed by agility (78), acceleration (77), speed (76), awareness (76), change of direction (75), ball-carrier vision (74), break tackle (73), stiff arm (72) and trucking (69).
But his jersey number is incorrect — he will wear No. 80, not No. 88 — his hair is too light and his mustache is missing.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Barmore is labeled a physical route runner in the game.
His main competition in the tight end room — virtually and in real life — are Keyan Burnett, who transferred to Kansas in December, but returned this spring, and Sam Olson.
Burnett caught 18 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown while Olson had 13 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns last year.
“It was great. I’ve never learned that much football that fast. It was a lot of learning, figuring out the game speed,” Barmore said of the Wildcats’ 13 spring practices. “There are probably eight or nine tight ends. Everybody has their different strengths.”
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Barmore admits he’d rather be 30 minutes from home than 36 hours, but “had to be selfish and do what I thought would be best for me,” leaving Mercyhurst.
Arizona’s season gets underway in Tucson on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time against Hawaii. The Wildcats will then host Weber State on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. before opening Big 12 play Friday, Sept. 12 against Kansas State.
“I feel like Game 1, playing in front of the biggest crowd I ever have will be a fun one,” Barmore said. “That’s the one I’m most looking forward to.”
Following a bye week, Arizona will go on the road for the first time when it travels to Iowa State University on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The closest Barmore and the Wildcats will come to Western New York will be Saturday, Nov. 15 when they visit the University of Cincinnati.
Senior Day will take place Saturday, Nov. 22 against Baylor inside Arizona Stadium and the Wildcats will finish the regular season with the 99th edition of the Territorial Cup against Arizona State University at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
NIL
Thanks to ‘EA Sports College Football’, gamers are the new four-star recruits
Every year, the top college football schools in the country compete against one another to recruit highly ranked prospects coming out of high school. The current college football offseason, however, is looking a little different. Athletes are still being wooed by prestigious programs, but so are creators — and EA Sports College Football 26 is the […]

Every year, the top college football schools in the country compete against one another to recruit highly ranked prospects coming out of high school. The current college football offseason, however, is looking a little different. Athletes are still being wooed by prestigious programs, but so are creators — and EA Sports College Football 26 is the main reason why.
College Football 26, which EA released on July 10, is the latest chapter in a video game franchise that dates back to the 90s. Early installments of the series rank among the best sports video games of all time, but the gridiron simulator was forced into dormancy after courts ruled that game publishers could not include amateur athletes who were (at the time) unable to profit from depictions of their likenesses.
The advent of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for college athletes changed the narrative. As the value of NIL deals skyrocketed, EA chose to bring back College Football, and players rejoiced. College Football 25 became one of the most-played games of the year.
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College Football 26 is here, so it’s time for creators to make The Decision.
EA paid out millions to athletes to license their likenesses for use in its fan-favorite franchise. But the players aren’t the only ones to benefit from this gold rush — gamers are cashing in, too.
The Athletic reported that Bordeaux, a popular College Football creator on YouTube, received personalized packages from schools that wanted him to play for their teams on his channel. The bidding environment resembled the feeding frenzy that surrounds coveted high school recruits, and the University of Nebraska ultimately reaped rewards when Bordeaux chose to play as the Cornhuskers in College Football 25.
Now, with the next chapter of the sports simulator out, Bordeaux is once again bringing back his most visible formats. He recently posted an “imperialism” video that pits college football powerhouses against one another in search of territorial expansion.
Bordeaux is one of several creators turning College Football videos into a full-time job. “It shows how deep people’s love for their team is that they were so interested in what a random guy on the internet was going to do, because it could be their team,” he told The Athletic.
Creators are the new blue turf
In 1986, Boise State University covered its football field in bright blue artificial turf. Initially, the colorful field was a mere curiosity, but then something funny happened: Boise State started winning a lot of football games. Since 1999, the Broncos have brought 16 conference championships to the Idaho capital.
The correlation between the installation of blue turf and the reversal of Boise State’s football fortunes could be a coincidence, but the unique field allowed the Broncos to stand out, both literally and figuratively. When you have one of the best attractions for football fans inside your stadium, it helps convince players to come play for a school they may have otherwise ignored.
In the 2020s, creators are doing for schools what blue turf did for Boise State in the 90s and 00s. Features from popular gamers like Bordeaux draw attention to Division I football programs, giving them an edge in the recruiting game.
It’s not just football, either
Among many other creative projects, author and Vlogbrother John Green has become a fan of English soccer club AFC Wimbledon, his go-to choice in sim games like Football Manager. Green’s Wimby affinity started in pixelated fashion, but it has since extended to the real world. After buying a sponsorship on Wimbledon uniforms and helping the club sign new players, the elder Green brother took his fandom to the next level by acquiring a minority stake in the club.
For Green, Wimbledon ownership is a fun diversion that also entertains his fans. But for the club, support from a big-name creator is crucial. As some European clubs fold due to poor financial circumstances, others are seeing celebrity affiliation as a long-term survival strategy.
Thanks to the current nature of the sports business, anyone with a significant following can become involved in real-world operations. John Green and Bordeaux are two of the first examples of that trend — but they won’t be the last.
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