Vince Thompson's take on the use of student-athlete NIL

MELT FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, AND CEO VINCE THOMPSON RELEASES MAJOR WHITE PAPER ON STUDENT-ATHLETES AND USE OF NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS (NIL); THOMPSON SPOKE WITH PAUL FINEBAUM OF THE SEC NETWORK ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT LAST FRIDAY WHILE IN ATHENS, GEORGIA FOR SEC NATION AND THE UGA VS USC FOOTBALL GAME

ATLANTA, GA - October 16, 2019 - MELT (www.meltatl.com), the Atlanta-based, award-winning sports, entertainment, and culinary marketing agency announced today that their Founder, Chairman and CEO Vince Thompson released a major white paper today regarding the hot-button issue of student-athletes and the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The title of the paper is "What are the costs to benefits of Name, Image and Likeness in the World of Collegiate Athletics and Student-Athlete?"

Thompson discussed this with Paul Finebaum on the Paul Finebaum Show this past Friday while the pair were in Athens, GA. for the UGA vs. South Carolina game.

Thompson's point of view, formed from working nearly four decades in and around collegiate athletics, starting with his days as a student-assistant in The Auburn University Sports Information Department during the days of Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley. Thompson is a passionate advocate for career development among student-athletes and thinks that NIL could be a big factor in helping many student-athletes gain internships, career advancement, and job placement. He recently lectured to Auburn University student-athletes and the AuburnYOU program, which is a professional development initiative. 

Thompson uses the Auburn University Women's Equestrian team as a great example of how NIL and social media could be used in a positive manner to help position these student-athletes for careers in the equine industry, governing bodies or other relevant and endemic industries. In particular, non-revenue sports at every university could receive a major pr boost and new revenue for sports who otherwise struggle to generate revenue. This could also take the pressure off of athletic departments who are otherwise strained and struggle to provide funds and resources for non-revenue sports. 

"This is a great, long and overdue debate about this opportunity for all student-athletes and I'm proud to be a part of the debate," said Thompson. "These student-athletes are part of the most sophisticated generation of consumers there are, driven largely by technology, access to information, the ability to reach people like never before, mobile and wireless devices and social media, so why not have a discussion where we put the needs of the student-athletes first and create a rising tide for all involved?"