Ouro’s Post

LMAO: "History has proven that the universities that adeptly invest in their athletic departments consistently win and outpace peer institutions. Our mission at CAS is to offer athletic departments a unique capital solution to invest when and where they need it to compete at the highest level during this tenuous paradigm shift.” https://lnkd.in/guXWqZqf Yo, Weatherford Capital and the Weatherford Brothers... Ask Texas A&M, Michigan State, Cal, or Rutgers about the return on their investment into big-time sports. For every winner, there is a loser. Gimme a break and show me your data.

Great wealth comes with great responsibility for young athletes! 🏅 From NIL deals to smart financial strategies, learn how elite student-athletes can turn sudden wealth into lifelong security. #FinancialPlanning #NILDeals #YoungAthletes #WealthManagement #FutureFocus

Did you guess Crocker Liu? 🥋 Crocker Liu's retirement marks the end of an era for the Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate, where students and peers will revere him for his dedication, research, and martial arts stories. Please read our article as we celebrate his academic journey and achievements at Cornell University.

I wrote about Malik Mack, a star freshman guard at Harvard, and the collision of higher education with the big, big business of college sports. None of the eight Ivy League schools have an NIL collective. That puts them at a severe disadvantage with the transfer portal, but a Harvard degree and access to the alumni network is a pretty damn good sell, too. All of that explored at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gXE2rrqC

This week, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announced a 10% "talent fee" surcharge on ticket sales "to be a leader in revenue sharing." You can easily find pundits for and against this move, but it's one of the first transparent moves in the NIL era to explain the university's goals and business model. In January, Digital Sport By Hot Paper Lantern released our first study of the NIL market and found clarity and transparency were MAJOR issues impacting NIL capital raising. Our study found: 💵 75% of NIL-focused media believe fans and donors lack understanding of the business model... AND 🏈 92% of collegiate sports reporters said the universities provide inconsistent communications relating to their goals, missions, and wins. While some might find the added cost a burden, UT's athletic leadership took a strong step forward to leverage strategic communications to bring transparency, clarity and awareness to their goal: Championships. #collegesports #communications #nil #sports #publicrelations

More ‘Good Trouble’ Than Ever: Fourth Annual John Lewis Case Competition Is Biggest — And Most Ambitious — Yet the 2023-2024 competition saw a 25% rise in applications; 15 teams from 13 universities competed for a top prize of $20K https://lnkd.in/e9sK-3vF #businessschool #casecompetition #casestudy #mba #racialjustice #racialequity

You know we’re in rough financial times when even #athletic departments in college/higher education are also struggling to find funding. Enter Drew Weatherford, former quarterback turned private capital #investor, who owns a project with co-partner Gerry Cardinale to launch Collegiate Athletic Solutions (#CAS) — a program that seeks to directly pour more money into the need of public and private universities alike nationwide. As the ceiling of college level sports gets higher and higher, there are many colleges that don’t have the same funding and support being left in the dust — that’s why despite the potential loss on initial investments, Weatherford believes “evening the odds.” “I deeply personally believe in college athletics. As an ex-athlete, I owe a lot to it and so does my family. We believe in college athletics. I don’t like the fact that 10 to 15 teams have a chance to win a national title every year. I’d like that to be 40-50. It’s not a level playing field. Not everyone has the resources to compete.” I’m sure there’s still plenty of roadblocks and logistical issues until this becomes the norm, but: 🏀How do you feel about a future in which even college-level athletics are funded by private funds/investors? 🏈Is this good or bad for college academics in general? 🏀Where does this lead from a #fintech #innovation standpoint? Eg, will investors throw capital at promising players in marquee sports (football, basketball) in exchange for a share of future earnings? 🏈How does all of this relate to the growing epidemic of gambling pathologies? #NIL #nameimagelicensing #collegesports Joss Tillard-Gates David Noble Ayden Syal Brandon Wimbush Matthew Carle Dennis Jenders Drew Glover Michael Haddix Jr Brent Chapman

Embarking on a semester-long analysis of the NCAA's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) experiment has been a journey of unraveling both opportunity and uncertainty. This seismic shift in collegiate sports has created a landscape akin to the Wild West, where athletes can now capitalize on their fame, yet the lack of structure raises ethical concerns and sparks bidding wars. We've delved into the heart of the NIL challenges, navigating a free-for-all environment that challenges the very essence of amateurism. As we unravel the layers, questions arise about the core purpose of college sports and whether the NCAA is, indeed, placing education at the forefront. NIL Challenges Explored: 1.    Free-for-All Dilemma: The absence of centralized oversight transforms NIL into a professional free agency, a departure from the cherished values of amateurism. 2.    Bidding Wars and Inequality: Lucrative deals for elite athletes threaten to overshadow academic pursuits, exacerbating competitive imbalances and potentially fostering "pay-to-play" dynamics. 3.    Empowering the Forgotten: The backbone of the NCAA, lower-division athletes, faces the risk of being left behind in this new era of opportunity. How can we ensure their equitable participation? The NCAA's Crossroads: As we stand at the crossroads of change, the NIL landscape offers the NCAA a unique chance to redefine its purpose, emphasizing athlete well-being. Here are pivotal steps toward a more sustainable future: 1.    Taming the Wild West: Develop a comprehensive NIL framework with clear regulations and robust oversight to protect athletes from exploitation and ensure fair competition. 2.    Sharing the Spoils: Introduce revenue-sharing models that distribute NIL profits equitably across all divisions, empowering athletes and universities at every level. 3.    Education First: Reframe the narrative to emphasize the paramount importance of academic pursuits, providing athletes with the resources they need for success on and off the field. I extend my gratitude to my dedicated groupmates Zack Gray, Brenden Burton, and Henry Thompson and our insightful professor Dr. Claire C. Muselman for their invaluable contributions throughout this project.

So proud to have supported Sport Sheffield to develop their 5 year strategy 'Becoming More Active Together'. The video they created brilliantly encapsulates the power of sport for students at University of Sheffield. Its sport yes. But its also about creating a sense of belonging, breaking down barriers, taking care of mental health and building communities. We play. We learn. We improve together. #blackandgold #strategy #powerofsport. https://lnkd.in/e8v3f4-R

Zachary Eastman, M.B.A., a resilient graduate of Plymouth State University, has established the Zachary N. Eastman '21, '22G Hope Scholarship, inspired by his own journey from financial adversity to academic success. Despite facing challenges, Zach remained committed to his dream of higher education, receiving his first scholarship in 2018 and vowing to pay it forward once financially stable. Now, through his scholarship, he aims to provide others with the same opportunity for a brighter future. Zach's dedication to giving back extends to his work with Ryan Chadwick '00, where he gains valuable entrepreneurial experience and mentorship. The scholarship stands as a testament to Zach's resilience, determination, and belief in the transformative power of education. Establishing a named scholarship is a meaningful way to honor a family member, a mentor, or a specific passion of yours. Did you know⁉ There were 8 other Donor Scholarships that were established in FY23 (July 1, 2022-June 31, 2023). Find out more and learn about the process of establishing one in the article below. https://lnkd.in/enYCCpvQ