The partnership between Division Street and UO will include athletes working in a full-service, student-led marketing and branding collectiveGETTY IMAGES
New company Division Street and its partnership helping Univ. of Oregon athletes "to earn money by creating their own personal brands," could be "a trend in the future of name, image and likeness," according to Meerah Powell of OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING. The details of the partnership between Division Street and UO are "still to be determined," but officials said that it will "include students working within UO’s School of Journalism and Communication and its Warsaw Sports Marketing Center in a 'first-of-its-kind, full-service, student-led marketing and branding collective.'" UO assistant professor in the Department of Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies Courtney Cox anticipates student-athletes "seeing smaller deals, like with 'a local car dealership' for instance, but also much larger opportunities, with those cautions in place." Cox said that Division Street could "offer huge opportunities for UO athletes." Aside from Nike co-Founder Phil Knight and WNBA N.Y. Liberty G Sabrina Ionescu, who will "serve as Chief Athlete Officer," others involved include Klutch Sports Group Founder & CEO Rich Paul, through his brand and creative company Adopt (OPB.org, 10/21).
ENTIRE TEAM CASHES IN: In San Diego, Kirk Kenney notes San Diego State football players -- all 112 of them -- are getting an NIL deal, as each player is "being sponsored by College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving." An off-campus launch event is "planned Monday following SDSU’s practice, with Aztecs players wearing the moving company’s gear as brand ambassadors." College HUNKS will pay $20,000 -- roughly $180 per player -- after the Aztecs players "participate in the event and post to social media." They will "have an opportunity to benefit further thereafter" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/22).
