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IU Unveils NIL Plan

jimmygoiu

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Sep 5, 2001
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an eye on the future and the idea of maximizing new opportunities for its athletes, the Indiana University athletic department today unveiled a plan to help its players create and build brands.


The IU athletic department has partnered with a company to create endorsement opportunities for its athletes, which soon will be allowed under new NCAA guidelines.


This the first of many expected announcements by IU in its goal to be a leader in name, image and likeness.


IU has joined Opendorse Ready, a name, image and likeness readiness program. Opendorse Ready has worked with professional athletes since 2012 “maximizing endorsement value for thousands of professional athletes,” per IU.


The initial agreement is a three-year deal.


Opendorse has established the Ready program to apply its proven social media solutions to prepare student-athletes for coming changes to Name, Image, and Likeness rights, IU said.


On April 28, 2020, the NCAA Board of Governors approved allowing compensation for third-party endorsements, including social media, new businesses and personal appearances.


The goal is for those proposals to be approved by Jan. 31, 2021, with an effective start date no later than the start of the 2021-22 academic year.


“The NIL rights movement opens the door for Indiana Athletics to provide the students in our program with life skills that will prove valuable well beyond their time on campus,” IU athletic director Scott Dolson said. “When these changes come, we have to be prepared to educate and assist our student-athletes with the best possible resources.


“The Opendorse team has done this at the professional level for years. As a longtime partner, we have seen first-hand how student-athlete brand building can turn into professional success beyond the field for Hoosiers alumni.”


IU explained the program, its goals and steps involved as follows: Opendorse Ready provides student-athletes the opportunity to understand their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights and receive hands-on assistance from experts to maximize their value while on campus. The program offers three core pillars to student-athlete success: Assessment, Education and Performance – tailored to assist each individual athlete. By joining now with a 3-year partnership commitment, the Hoosiers are able to offer the program's NIL readiness solutions to every student-athlete at the University.


Opendorse is founded by former Nebraska football players Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic. More than 15,000 athletes currently use the program, per IU, to maximize their endorsement value and collaborate with partners on social media. Opendorse also has partnered with the NFL Players Association, NBA Players Association, the NHL, PGA Tour and brands such as EA Sports, Pepsi and Procter & Gamble.


Philosophically, this is a significant step forward for IU. At an institutional level, IU has at various times in its past stiff-armed opportunities to modernize its athletic department and utilize available tools. This is a sign that IU is embracing what’s coming in the future and implementing a plan to utilize future tools to benefit its players.


While no pay-for-play is allowed, having a plan in place can only be a benefit in recruiting in that high school prospects know IU will be actively trying to help them in the area of name, image and likeness.


It also follows IU’s implementation of a Student Athlete Bill of Rights. IU was the first major-conference school with a SABOR.


“Hoosiers Basketball is backed by some of the most passionate fans in college sports,” IU basketball coach Archie Miller said. “It's my belief that our tradition and fanbase will set Indiana apart as an NIL leader, helping our student-athletes to establish some of the most valuable personal brands in college sports. I'm proud of this university for leading on NIL rights and providing the athletes in our program with the tools needed to find success beyond the court.”


Said IU football coach Tom Allen: “We're preparing every Indiana student-athlete for long-term success beyond the field. It’s clear that NIL rights will play a significant role in the future of college football. This Opendorse partnership and our relationship with the Media School will equip IU athletes with the best brand building tools in the country.”


Indiana is among the first major-conference athletic departments with a department-wide program in place to allow its players to maximize name, image and likeness opportunities.


“Lynnea Phillips and Indiana Athletics have been a leader in the athlete-driven movement for years,” Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said, referring to IU’s assistant director of digital and social media.


“We've worked hand-in-hand to build student-athlete brands, and now I'm proud to help Indiana lead the NIL era. They understand that Opendorse Ready isn't a 'check-the-box' solution to simply make a headline and impress recruits. It's a compliant, proven commitment to provide their student-athletes with the technology and resources used everyday by the most marketable athletes and biggest leagues in professional sports.”


Today’s announcement portends further progressive efforts to come by the IU athletic department.

I called this one months ago...
 
an eye on the future and the idea of maximizing new opportunities for its athletes, the Indiana University athletic department today unveiled a plan to help its players create and build brands.


The IU athletic department has partnered with a company to create endorsement opportunities for its athletes, which soon will be allowed under new NCAA guidelines.


This the first of many expected announcements by IU in its goal to be a leader in name, image and likeness.


IU has joined Opendorse Ready, a name, image and likeness readiness program. Opendorse Ready has worked with professional athletes since 2012 “maximizing endorsement value for thousands of professional athletes,” per IU.


The initial agreement is a three-year deal.


Opendorse has established the Ready program to apply its proven social media solutions to prepare student-athletes for coming changes to Name, Image, and Likeness rights, IU said.


On April 28, 2020, the NCAA Board of Governors approved allowing compensation for third-party endorsements, including social media, new businesses and personal appearances.


The goal is for those proposals to be approved by Jan. 31, 2021, with an effective start date no later than the start of the 2021-22 academic year.


“The NIL rights movement opens the door for Indiana Athletics to provide the students in our program with life skills that will prove valuable well beyond their time on campus,” IU athletic director Scott Dolson said. “When these changes come, we have to be prepared to educate and assist our student-athletes with the best possible resources.


“The Opendorse team has done this at the professional level for years. As a longtime partner, we have seen first-hand how student-athlete brand building can turn into professional success beyond the field for Hoosiers alumni.”


IU explained the program, its goals and steps involved as follows: Opendorse Ready provides student-athletes the opportunity to understand their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights and receive hands-on assistance from experts to maximize their value while on campus. The program offers three core pillars to student-athlete success: Assessment, Education and Performance – tailored to assist each individual athlete. By joining now with a 3-year partnership commitment, the Hoosiers are able to offer the program's NIL readiness solutions to every student-athlete at the University.


Opendorse is founded by former Nebraska football players Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic. More than 15,000 athletes currently use the program, per IU, to maximize their endorsement value and collaborate with partners on social media. Opendorse also has partnered with the NFL Players Association, NBA Players Association, the NHL, PGA Tour and brands such as EA Sports, Pepsi and Procter & Gamble.


Philosophically, this is a significant step forward for IU. At an institutional level, IU has at various times in its past stiff-armed opportunities to modernize its athletic department and utilize available tools. This is a sign that IU is embracing what’s coming in the future and implementing a plan to utilize future tools to benefit its players.


While no pay-for-play is allowed, having a plan in place can only be a benefit in recruiting in that high school prospects know IU will be actively trying to help them in the area of name, image and likeness.


It also follows IU’s implementation of a Student Athlete Bill of Rights. IU was the first major-conference school with a SABOR.


“Hoosiers Basketball is backed by some of the most passionate fans in college sports,” IU basketball coach Archie Miller said. “It's my belief that our tradition and fanbase will set Indiana apart as an NIL leader, helping our student-athletes to establish some of the most valuable personal brands in college sports. I'm proud of this university for leading on NIL rights and providing the athletes in our program with the tools needed to find success beyond the court.”


Said IU football coach Tom Allen: “We're preparing every Indiana student-athlete for long-term success beyond the field. It’s clear that NIL rights will play a significant role in the future of college football. This Opendorse partnership and our relationship with the Media School will equip IU athletes with the best brand building tools in the country.”


Indiana is among the first major-conference athletic departments with a department-wide program in place to allow its players to maximize name, image and likeness opportunities.


“Lynnea Phillips and Indiana Athletics have been a leader in the athlete-driven movement for years,” Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said, referring to IU’s assistant director of digital and social media.


“We've worked hand-in-hand to build student-athlete brands, and now I'm proud to help Indiana lead the NIL era. They understand that Opendorse Ready isn't a 'check-the-box' solution to simply make a headline and impress recruits. It's a compliant, proven commitment to provide their student-athletes with the technology and resources used everyday by the most marketable athletes and biggest leagues in professional sports.”


Today’s announcement portends further progressive efforts to come by the IU athletic department.

I called this one months ago...


"While no pay-for-play is allowed",
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actually with NIL paying players is now allowed, the pay just has to come from, or be laundered through, third parties.

btw, what exactly is the financial agreement between IU and Opendorse Ready?

will the details of this be made public?

and will players be able to procure their own representation, instead of using the firm representing IU?
 
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That is a good way to look at this. However, they never did it before (to my knowledge). I sure could have used advice.
I couldn't speak to the undergrad aspect of IU, but the law school has dedicated personnel to help find internships, which is how most law students find their first job...
 
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