CLEMSON — When it comes to the new revenue sharing piece, plus giving more student-athletes fully funded scholarships, Clemson is all-in.

Clemson athletic director Graham Neff told Mickey Plyler recently on the Mickey Plyler Show on The Roar 105.5 FM, that Clemson will fund 150 new scholarships for the 2025-’26 academic year.

“That is $4-6 million that are all supported through IPTAY, (in addition to) the maximum revenue distribution,” Neff said. “So, schools that are able to pull all of those levels, like we are, that is where the support, the resources and the competitive expectations we have for that are significant.”

Clemson Athletics is at the top of the pyramid when it comes to the amount of dollars a school can lean in, especially when it comes to the scholarship piece.

“We are increasing scholarships for all 21 of our sports and, essentially, fully fund new scholarships for most all of our sports,” Neff said. “Really rowing and track and field are the two programs that will not be fully funded (in scholarships), but those are huge roster sports. Rowing has 50 and track and field has 90 between men and women, but both of those programs will essentially have increased scholarships.

“All of our other sports will be fully funded for scholarships, that means baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer, all of them.”

Neff pointed out, being able to fully fund scholarships in all but two programs is a big deal and gives Clemson a competitive advantage in a lot of ways to its peers.

“That is a huge deal, and we are leaning into that significantly,” he said. “There are not a whole lot of schools that are able to do that, so that is a testament and leverage from IPTAY and our IPTAY donors.

“We will continue to ask for support in a very traditional manner with IPTAY, scholarships and academic support.”

Though Clemson will distribute the maximum $20.5 million to its student athletes this year, in accordance with the House Settlement, Neff explained that the sports that brought in the revenue are the ones that will mostly benefit from it.

“We are all-in to the full amount and now its about how we are going to (distribute) that, and that gets into a local decision of how you allocate that $20 million,” he said. “You can allocate it all to one sport. You can chop it up.

“Our method is to align it where our revenues are generated from. Obviously, here at Clemson, it is heavily football, basketball and baseball. These (sports) are where our revenue is generated from, so the allocation of that $20 million is going to be proportional to where we generate our revenue.”

Taking it one layer deeper, the individual programs will then decide how much the student athletes get from their particular sport.

“Now we get into our coaches and our support staff to ultimately allocate those dollars per team,” Neff said. “So, we have central administrative support mechanisms, analytics and positional values (to help).

“We really equipped our coaches in football and all of them with resources and strategy around them. That is where you get into the professionalism of college athletics more and more, but that layered approach is where we are seeing those results in recruiting and retention.”

Australia’s track stars made their presence known at the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic, as Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, led the charge with a podium finish in the fastest 1500m ever run, while four fellow Australians stepped up against world-class fields in Eugene’s iconic Diamond League meet.

In a race destined for the history books, Hull rose to the moment, clocking 3:52.67 to finish third in the Women’s 1500m for the third fastest time of her career.

Competing in what became the fastest women’s 1500m race in history with the deepest field assembled this year, Hull held her composure as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon stormed to a new world record of 3:48.68. Hull refused to be rattled by the searing pace, staying attached to the lead group deep into the bell, before yielding only to Kipyegon and Ethiopia’s Diribie Welteji in the final 200m.

The result not only marked Hull’s quickest performance of the season, but it reinforced her place on the podium of global middle-distance running.

“I was actually quite surprised how easily I got my position. To get the position right off the line was super nice, and then I just tried to stay relaxed. Then I felt Faith, she put her foot down and made it really hard for that last 500m,” Hull said.

“This was the fastest 1500m I’ve been in all year, so it was definitely tough in that last 400m, but I’m okay with that being tough at this point of the season. It was really important to get a really fast one under my belt and build from here. I

“t’s pretty impressive what Faith can do, she’s set the benchmark now of where we need to be come Tokyo, so yeah, I’ll go back to work and try and get there.”

Nineteen-year-old sensation Cameron Myers (ACT) continued to defy expectations at the Bowerman Mile, clocking 3:47.50 to finish sixth in a stacked field, and falling just 0.02-seconds shy of breaking his own World Under 20 and Australian record.

Mixing it with global medallists and Diamond League champions, the Canberran ran with poise beyond his years, as USA’s Yared Nuguse took charge of the race before being pipped at the finish line by The Netherland’s Niels Laros who stole victory from the Olympic bronze medallist with a national record of 3:45.94.

For the equal Australian record holder Oliver Hoare (NSWIS), it was a tougher outing in Eugene, with the Commonwealth champion finishing 15th in 3:51.60. Also racing the mile, albeit in a different race and a different field in the pre-event program, Adam Spencer (VIC) placed fourth in a field of 16, running a lifetime best of 3:50.19, missing the Tokyo qualifying standard by 0.19-seconds.

Returning to the track from injury, Australia’s fastest man Lachlan Kennedy (QLD) seized his moment in the Men’s 100m, racing to 10.07 (+0.4) to finish seventh in one of the fastest fields assembled this season.

Lining up against the world’s premier sprinters including first and second-place getters Kishane Thompson (JAM, 9.85) and Zharnel Hughes (GBR, 9.91), the Australian held his own, crossing the line just behind world champion Christian Coleman (USA, 10.06).

The performance adds to a breakthrough year for Kennedy, who continues to rise among sprinting’s elite ahead of the Tokyo World Championships.

The Diamond League Series continues next week in Monaco, France on July 11, with an all-star Australian cast set to line up for the prestigious meet.

Hull will return for the 1000m alongside Sarah Billings, while teenager Gout Gout will make his Diamond League debut in the Under 23 200m, and Peter Bol and Kurtis Marschall will wave the Australian flag in the 800m and Pole Vault respectively.

BlockDAG’s rapid ascent in 2025 is now extending beyond crypto circles into mainstream sports, as demonstrated by its latest move. The Seattle Seawolves, one of Major League Rugby’s top franchises, have partnered with BlockDAG as their Official Blockchain Partner for the 2025 season. This collaboration blends Web3 utility with sports loyalty, forming a strategic alliance aimed at enhancing fan engagement through blockchain.

Founded in 2017, the Seattle Seawolves are two-time MLR champions and founding members of the league. Known for their competitive consistency and a strong local following, the team embodies values like discipline and resilience, which closely align with BlockDAG’s emphasis on infrastructure and user-focused growth in the crypto space.

But this isn’t just a branding play. The partnership introduces a new model where blockchain becomes a direct part of how fans interact with their favorite team, bringing functionality and digital ownership into the foreground.

How Web3 Tools Will Power Fan Participation

A central element of the partnership is the introduction of blockchain-enabled fan assets, including NFTs and fan tokens. These tools offer more than novelty; they’re built to serve as access points to exclusive features.

Fans will be able to collect, trade, and interact with digital memorabilia, vote in polls, and unlock unique team experiences. Imagine owning a pivotal match-winning try in digital form, or gaining access to exclusive sessions with players through token-based participation. These mechanisms place fans at the center of the team’s digital strategy in a practical and rewarding way.

Nicolaas van den Bergh, Chief Marketing Officer at BlockDAG, shared:

“This partnership will enable us to redefine fan experiences, fostering deeper connections built on trust, creativity, and interactive digital engagement.”

Content Campaign to Deepen Digital Engagement

Beyond asset ownership, the partnership will include a monthly co-branded content series across the Seawolves’ digital platforms. This ongoing series will include highlights, fan-driven segments, interviews, and community polls, all crafted to drive active fan participation.

In addition, content created by players will offer behind-the-scenes access that adds context and personal depth. From pre-game preparation to off-field moments, fans will gain a closer, more authentic view of team life.

This approach reflects BlockDAG’s broader principles; decentralization isn’t limited to tech architecture. It extends to how audiences are included, heard, and engaged through interactive digital channels.

Shared Purpose: Community Trust & Interactive Value

Shane Skinner, CEO of the Seattle Seawolves, emphasized the importance of the partnership:
“We are thrilled to partner with a leading blockchain innovator like BlockDAG to deliver immersive, digital-first experiences to our passionate fanbase.”

This collaboration represents more than surface-level innovation. It points to how the Seawolves plan to grow their digital identity while offering fans more meaningful engagement. For BlockDAG, it’s a calculated entry point into a trusted, established sports environment with a dedicated audience.

With over 200,000 BDAG holders and $329 million raised during its crypto presale, BlockDAG is moving beyond core infrastructure and into broader cultural territory, where branding, trust, and public presence matter just as much as code and scalability.

This move comes alongside a second July sports partnership with the Seattle Orcas of Major League Cricket. Together, these collaborations signal BlockDAG’s commitment to tapping into both domestic and global audiences, from rugby enthusiasts to cricket’s massive 2.5 billion fan base.

A Forward Move Into Mainstream Culture

The partnership between BlockDAG and the Seattle Seawolves isn’t just a media announcement; it’s a case study in how Web3 can integrate into everyday culture. Sports connect people emotionally. They create rituals, memories, and identity. Now, thanks to blockchain, those elements can also be digital, verifiable, and participatory.

As BlockDAG’s GLOBAL LAUNCH release approaches on August 11 and BDAG coins continue to be sold at $0.0016 until that date, the project is clearly steering beyond traditional crypto boundaries. Stadiums, fans, and athletes are becoming part of its long-term growth narrative.

For the Seawolves community, this is a chance to be part of a new era of engagement. For the wider blockchain space, it’s a clear message: BlockDAG is not only building infrastructure, it’s shaping how crypto connects with real-world culture.

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It may not carry the “Beautiful Game” label like football, but waterpolo brings its own brand of raw drama – as Saturday’s gripping clashes between Sirens and San Ġiljan, and derby rivals Sliema and Neptunes, clearly showed.

Saturday’s action-packed fixtures at Tal‑Qroqq delivered a double dose of waterpolo excitement.

In one corner, Sirens put everything on the line against powerhouse San Ġiljan in a gripping encounter; in the other, long-time rivals Sliema and Neptunes engaged in another fierce derby that swung back and forth.

Both matches showcased the sport’s signature blend of intensity, tactical flair, and nail-biting drama – proof that waterpolo has a spectacle all its own.

Saturday’s duel between Sirens and San Ġiljan fitted the bill perfectly.

It had been a truly balanced contest, with the team from St Paul’s Bay only a whisker away from pulling off a shock win.

In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Sirens came agonisingly close to pulling off a shock result against San Ġiljan.

The match swung like a pendulum, and though Sirens eventually fell short, their performance after a heavy defeat to Neptunes deserves plaudits.

It was end-to-end excitement with two missed man-ups from Sirens resulting in the fall off of Ranko Perovic’s side.

The Northenders were left chasing the game early on, undone by a disastrous second session that saw them slip to a 7-2 half-time deficit after initially falling 4-0 behind.

Nicolas Bicari has been pivotal when scoring four goals in the late sessions.

San Ġiljan capitalised through Aaron Younger’s hat-trick, two of which came from five-metre throws.

Nikolai Zammit also netted a vital brace, striking just as Sirens looked to rally from 3-0 down, ending the first session at 3-2.

Zammit’s goals steadied the ship for the Saints, but Sirens roared back in the third session. A blistering 5-1 stretch began with two stunning goals from Kydon Agius, the second of which saw him pirouette past his marker before slotting past goalkeeper Jake Tanti.

The comeback brought the score to 8-7 entering the final quarter.

Bicari’s equaliser made it 8-8 early in the fourth session, setting up a grandstand finish.

Tully and Younger then restored San Ġiljan’s lead – though the latter’s goal came from a debatable penalty – only for Gianni Farrugia to bring Sirens back into contention once again.

In the dying moments, Isaiah Riolo’s powerful effort struck the post, dashing Sirens’ hopes of a famous win.

Having just beaten Neptunes, more was expected from San Ġiljan – but they’ll feel relieved to have escaped with the points.

In the second match, Sliema came out firing in the opening session, racing to a 3-0 lead that reflected their early sharpness.

Liam Galea opened the scoring with a beautifully executed backhand, setting the tone for the Blues.

With his team rattled, Neptunes coach Aleksandar Ćirić called an early time-out in a bid to restore composure – and it paid off.

Neptunes responded immediately, clawing their way back into the match as Stevie Camilleri struck twice early in the second session to swing the momentum and give the Reds a 4-3 lead.

What followed was a tense, end-to-end battle.

Each time Neptunes edged ahead, Sliema found a reply – until Angelos Vlachopoulos fired home to give Sliema a narrow 7-6 advantage at the halfway mark.

The third session continued in the same vein, with Neptunes again chasing the game.

Alec Fenech brought them level at 7-7, but quickfire goals from Galea and Jayden Cassar saw Sliema open up a two-goal cushion.

The Reds, however, refused to back down. Gergo Zalánki and Julian Valletta kept them in touching distance before Jordan Camilleri brought the sides level again at 10-10.

Ben Cachia capitalised on a man-up situation to restore Sliema’s lead at 11-10, but Stevie Camilleri responded instantly.

Then, just before the buzzer, Jordan Camilleri struck once more to give Neptunes a 12-11 lead going into the final quarter.

With just one goal separating the sides, the stage was set for a dramatic final act.

Neptunes extended their lead through Gergo Zalánki.

However, a lightning counter-attack sprung directly from the goalkeeper’s hand allowed Ben Cachia to cut the deficit to 12–13.

Liam Galea then restored parity with a thunderous nine‑metre strike.

The lead swung again when teenage sensation Sam Engerer rose above the pack to make it 14-13 for Sliema.

Neptunes answered through Gialanze, but Sliema were determined not to be denied.

In a dramatic finale, Dino Zammit showcased his composure and technique, lobbing a delicate ball over Marco Rossi as the buzzer sounded.

It was an unforgettable climax to an extraordinary match.

RESULTS

TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS    10

MARSAXLOKK MFF LTD        21

(0-4, 1-6, 5-7, 4-4)

TA’ XBIEX: T. Schembri, J. Farrugia, A. Camenzuli, L. Grech Carr 1, T.J. Mifsud, M. Manara, F. Scardino, R. Pelicaric 6, N. Bonavia, J. Culic 1, Z. Bartolo, A. Formosa, A. Theuma, S. Van Wyk 2.

MARSAXLOKK: M. Farrugia, M. Lanzon 1, N. Bogdanovic 6, A. Aquilina 1, R. Spiteri 2, L. Brownrigg, S. Mifsud, J. Pawley, R. Galea 3, J. Borg Tabone 4, A. Fava 1, A. Cook 3, J. Micallef, B. Lewis.

SIRENS          10

SAN ĠILJAN 11

(2-3, 0-4, 5-1, 3-3)

SIRENS: J. Parnis, P. Serracino, N. Bicari 4, P. Borg 1, J. Cachia 1, K. Agius 2, M. Ortoleva, I. Riolo , J. Zerafa Gregory, M. Sciberras , N. Rafailovic, G. Farrugia 1, M. Bonello Dupius, G. Pace.

SAN ĠILJAN: J. Tanti, D. Bugeja, D. Tully 1, R. Caruana, A. Younger 3, M. Zammit 2, J. Bonavia 1 , B. Plumpton 1, J. Abela 1 , N. Zammit  2, D. Zammit  , N. Schiavone, Z. Attard, G. Bonavia.

Refs : A. Rondoni, R. Spiteri.

NEPTUNES 14

SLIEMA 15

(2-3, 4-4, 6-4,2-3)

NEPTUNES: M. Castillo, S. Gialanze 3, G. Zalanki 3, L. Mallia , J. Camilleri 3, J. Valletta 1, S. Camilleri 3, M.Castillo , B. Schranz, J. Bajada , A. Fenech 1, M. Azzopardi, M. Rossi, E. Mallia.

SLIEMA: N.Grixti, E. Schembri , L. Galea 3, J. Gambin 1, J. Cassar 2, B. Cachia 3, J. Cutajar, D. Rizzo 1, J. Chircop, A. Galea, A. Vlachopulos 2, D. Zammit 2, B. Busuttil, S. Engerer 1

Refs: Marco Piano, Massimo Angilleri.