Feel like this deserves its own thread.
https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2... /
It’s discouraging to read this and not feel like Ohio’s basketball program is behind Akron when it comes to so many things off the court…especially with NIL. Akron embraces it and clearly has a strategy in place on how to attack it. And yes, it helps that Akron has Bud Wentz financing it.
The mindset coming out of Akron feels so much different from Athens. Akron staff embraces it fully while all we hear the last couple of seasons in Athens is how we lose bigs because we got “outbid”. When is the last time you saw anyone with the program instruct alumni or fans on how they can donate to the 1804 Collective? Anyone see a donation link promoted anywhere? All I keep seeing is the program asking fans to donate to the 1804 alumni summer reunion team. I made a donation to the NIL Ohio Hoops golf tourney last summer, but that truly is the only thing I have ever seen mentioned publicly on how to support Ohio hoops NIL.
Hell, even Mr. Personality Sendy got on Twitter last night pumping out NIL Kent State info.
I've done my fair share of outreach for work to a number of different collectives over the past two years.
This is what I've noticed in terms of responses and engagement -- collectives started and ran by alumni/fans, are far more responsive, have a vision, and strategies implemented on how to navigate the current landscape. Not just with generating donations, but also unique ways for athletes to create income through brand partnerships.
On the flipside, there's a lot of collectives powered by Blueprint Sports. Observation -- Blueprint Sports is equivalent to Shopify but for NIL Collectives. It'll build the shell (website) and funnel for donations for those schools interested, but they're not giving you someone to drive the car (why would they).
The 1804 Collective is Powered by Blueprints Sports. So, it's very barebone and doesn't seem to have a face to it or a POC who is passionately putting a strategy in motion. It just provides a Blueprints Sports employee as a POC to answer questions -- basically a customer service rep that isn't affiliated with the school.
I mean, the social media handles of it are non-existent and that's a great way to get the word out.
Fear the Roo is the exact opposite -- it's independently operated, has all sorts of basketball content on it, its own social handles, and Akron's men's bb IG embedded on its main page. It's just far more engaging and proactive than the 1804.
Last Edited: 3/26/2025 9:14:41 AM by FJC31