Meet Jason Butikofer, UConn’s lead on all things name, image and likeness

[HooperScooper]

For those interested in how NIL is working at UConn, this is an interesting article.

Note to the author: Arizona State is the Sun Devils, not the Wildcats. Just saying that before someone else points it out.

“Obviously with UConn being the only FBS school in the state and you’re in this huge footprint with all these population bases and the only professional team in the state of Connecticut is the WNBA, so I think it’s unique in that regard,” he said. “It’s like being ‘the show’ and I think that that can be very advantageous. … I see the upside potential here. Our athletes are front and center in the state and that’s a big deal.”

Meet Jason Butikofer, UConn’s lead on all things name, image and likeness: ‘It’s a whole new world’

UConn athletic administrator Jason Butikofer comes to Storrs after 20-plus years working...

www.nhregister.com

Alternate free link:

Meet Jason Butikofer, UConn’s lead on all things name, image and likeness​

 

[Ricker]

Notably absent is the objective to develop NIL opportunities at UConn sufficient to compete with other universities who will direct major dollars to athletes like Miami did this spring. This seems like more a compliance position to protect conflicts with UConn's own sponsors, and just a resource position for kids to get direction. If facilities were part of the 'arms' race to get top players, I would think UConn's leader on NIL would be all about making connections with businesses and groups to keep our recruits here once we have them. Seeing players with lucrative deals would infer to potential recruits that they could expect the same. I kept reading the article expecting the next paragraph to tout some targeted result from this position. Leave it to a university to hire a person from academia to lead NIL without apparent money or business connections, nor specific experience, nor local connections. Doesn't sound like there is somebody else answering that description.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Notably absent is the objective to develop NIL opportunities at UConn sufficient to compete with other universities who will direct major dollars to athletes like Miami did this spring. This seems like more a compliance position to protect conflicts with UConn's own sponsors, and just a resource position for kids to get direction. If facilities were part of the 'arms' race to get top players, I would think UConn's leader on NIL would be all about making connections with businesses and groups to keep our recruits here once we have them. Seeing players with lucrative deals would infer to potential recruits that they could expect the same. I kept reading the article expecting the next paragraph to tout some targeted result from this position. Leave it to a university to hire a person from academia to lead NIL without apparent money or business connections, nor specific experience, nor local connections. Doesn't sound like there is somebody else answering that description.

As someone who works in the sponsorship and sports marketing world, I read this with my commercially-positioned hat on…. and very similar thoughts ran through my mind.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

As someone who works in the sponsorship and sports marketing world, I read this with my commercially-positioned hat on…. and very similar thoughts ran through my mind.

I'm in the space as well and although I sense there is a bunch of stuff happening behind the scenes, I feel like it is similar to "dark money" in politics... it's impossible to really know.

 

[HooperScooper]

Notably absent is the objective to develop NIL opportunities at UConn sufficient to compete with other universities who will direct major dollars to athletes like Miami did this spring.

What Miami did was clearly against the NIL rules but got overlooked because NIL was so new and people were trying to figure out what is allowed and what is not. We'll see if they ever get reprimanded for it but I'm guessing the stuff they did will not be done going forward. Well at least until the P5 break away from the NCAA.

 

[HuskyHawk]

What Miami did was clearly against the NIL rules but got overlooked because NIL was so new and people were trying to figure out what is allowed and what is not. We'll see if they ever get reprimanded for it but I'm guessing the stuff they did will not be done going forward. Well at least until the P5 break away from the NCAA.

Right. Boosters are still boosters. NIL doesn't change the fact that boosters can't provide financial incentives for kids to enroll. Can the NCAA police that in a world where they can provide financial benefits via NIL contracts after they enroll? That remains to be seen. Directly recruiting kids with NIL $ isn't ok. But the line is certainly fuzzy between that and saying "come to ____ University, we have many sponsors who will help you land NIL deals", which presumably is ok.

 

[Chief00]

Right. Boosters are still boosters. NIL doesn't change the fact that boosters can't provide financial incentives for kids to enroll. Can the NCAA police that in a world where they can provide financial benefits via NIL contracts after they enroll? That remains to be seen. Directly recruiting kids with NIL $ isn't ok. But the line is certainly fuzzy between that and saying "come to ____ University, we have many sponsors who will help you land NIL deals", which presumably is ok.

The Rubicon has been crossed.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Saw the D’Amelios started their own brand. I wonder if any Huskies will sign NIL deals with them.

 

[huskymedic]

UConn Announces Launch of NIL Marketplace, Powered by Opendorse - University of Connecticut Athletics

UConn's NIL Marketplace

uconnhuskies.com

UConn Insider Article:
-> The marketplace will act as a one-stop-shop for brands, fans and donors looking to partner with student-athletes through NIL. From UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers to homegrown Husky Donovan Clingan, athletes will now have the chance to easily promote and profit off their personal brands through one all-encompassing portal.

"There’s two pieces to this," said Jason Butikofer, UConn's pinpoint leader on its NIL activity. "I think there’s the corporation-brand piece of, ‘OK, I’m looking for a student-athlete to do an Instagram campaign with my company. I want to use a UConn student-athlete that’s on the basketball team. I can click here and search through all that and based on their profiles, get a concept of who’s a good fit.’ …

"I also think that this is a strong fan-facing deal because you have student-athletes that are willing to do shoutouts, appearances … I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to definitely serve as the epicenter of the ability to connect. It centralizes it instead of maybe DM-ing somebody on Instagram." <-

Direct link to Marketplace <<<

 

[Get a Job]

UConn Announces Launch of NIL Marketplace, Powered by Opendorse - University of Connecticut Athletics

UConn's NIL Marketplace

uconnhuskies.com

UConn Insider Article:
-> The marketplace will act as a one-stop-shop for brands, fans and donors looking to partner with student-athletes through NIL. From UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers to homegrown Husky Donovan Clingan, athletes will now have the chance to easily promote and profit off their personal brands through one all-encompassing portal.

"There’s two pieces to this," said Jason Butikofer, UConn's pinpoint leader on its NIL activity. "I think there’s the corporation-brand piece of, ‘OK, I’m looking for a student-athlete to do an Instagram campaign with my company. I want to use a UConn student-athlete that’s on the basketball team. I can click here and search through all that and based on their profiles, get a concept of who’s a good fit.’ …

"I also think that this is a strong fan-facing deal because you have student-athletes that are willing to do shoutouts, appearances … I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to definitely serve as the epicenter of the ability to connect. It centralizes it instead of maybe DM-ing somebody on Instagram." <-

Direct link to Marketplace <<<

TL;DR summary: It's a Cameo ripoff.

 

[huskymedic]

TL;DR summary: It's a Cameo ripoff.

Does Cameo cover autographs and personal appearances @ camps/events? Couldn’t tell ya - never ventured there.

 

[Get a Job]

Does Cameo cover autographs and personal appearances @ camps/events? Couldn’t tell ya - never ventured there.

I'm not sure myself, but visually the user interfaces are very similar.

Interestingly, Dorka and Sanogo (and other international students) are on there, despite reports that foreign students can't earn NIL money.

 

[huskymedic]

I'm not sure myself, but visually the user interfaces are very similar.

Interestingly, Dorka and Sanogo (and other international students) are on there, despite reports that foreign students can't earn NIL money.

Its a quagmire - just read this today: Cincinnati's Mason Fletcher to donate NIL earnings. Does he have to?

 

[Storrs South]