The Univ. of Alabama has created a program called The Advantage, which "will assist and educate Crimson Tide student-athletes with the tools necessary to build and elevate their personal brands," according to Barrett Sallee of CBSSPORTS.com. The program "will combine on-campus resources with external organizations, will focus on the management of each individual brand, maximizing personal social media platforms and education on financial literacy." Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey last month signed a bill that "allows college student-athletes to receive compensation under the NCAA's new name, image and likeness legislation." That law is "expected to go into effect on July 1." Alabama's announcement comes less than a month after Florida State announced its program, Apex, which is billed as a "multi-tiered program designed to empower student-athletes to capitalize on upcoming name, image and likeness legislation." Texas announced its program, LEVERAGE, last August. Like the other two programs, it "will focus heavily on financial literacy, risk management, wealth management and tax strategies" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/4).
