University of Pittsburgh Mens Track and Field Scholarship Standards
When Pennsylvania enacted rules allowing student-athletes more freedom to sign marketing deals, the University of Pittsburgh was ready to help support its nearly 500 student-athletes with an ambitious program dubbed, Forged Here.
"Forged Here is Pitt Athletics' effort to address and prepare our student-athletes for the new era of name, image, likeness (NIL), and do it with a Pitt flavor that we can take pride in," said Chris Hoppe, executive associate athletic director.
Emily Harrigan (CGS '22) of Pitt's Women's Soccer entered an NIL deal with Fifth Season, a Pittsburgh-based automated vertical farming operation that sells greens and salad kits.
PA Senate Bill 381 changed an 80-year-old law and allows student-athletes to earn money through activities such as endorsements, autograph sessions, and sponsorships without losing eligibility or their amateur status, as they would have in the past. The student-athletes may also engage with agents and branding and licensing companies to leverage their new opportunities.
The new bill does provide some guardrails. The student-athletes cannot ink deals with entities associated with adult entertainment, alcohol, gambling, tobacco and electronic smoking devices, prescription drugs, or controlled substances. Pitt can expand that prohibited list to entities that conflict with "institutional values."
"We had been preparing for this for quite a while but had to wait for the Pennsylvania legislation to finalize where we really would be able to invest our resources and focus," Hoppe said. "What we did know was that we would have an amazing opportunity to tap into our nationally-renown Life Skills program, which already leads the country in preparing student-athletes for their future."
The Cathy and John Pelusi Life Skills Program is one of the largest of its kind in the country, offering student-athletes tips and training ranging from social etiquette to financial literacy along with a personalized education model that meets Pitt student-athletes where they are on their own development path.
Pitt Men's Basketball forward Aidan Fisch is among those taking advantage of NIL opportunities by signing a deal with a local dental practice.
"Our mission is to prepare our student-athletes for success both here at Pitt and for their lives after college," said Lisa Auld, assistant athletic director for student life. "A lot of what we already do is help individuals build their personal brands, so it made sense that we would assume the NIL charge as well."
The University of Pittsburgh is not unique in building an NIL support system for students.
"Since July 1 of this year, if you don't have an approach to NIL, prospective student-athletes and their parents ask why. The de-regulation of rules has created opportunities for student-athletes and it is critical to support them in this as we do in so many other areas of their holistic development," said Hoppe. "The NCAA rules and PA law do not permit universities to be involved in brokering deals for student-athletes, but we can certainly support them with outstanding education on how to enhance and manage their brand and financial opportunities. It's no different than the way we already support them in their academics or personal development."
The University's NIL program is enhanced by on-campus resources outside of the Athletics department—especially the Center for Branding in the College of Business Administration and The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, which is part of Pitt's Innovation Institute. The student-athletes are encouraged to think through their new opportunities as they would a small business, whether it be marketing, University trademark and licensing, forming an LLC or S-Corp for tax reasons, or protecting their own intellectual property.
Pitt Football long snapper Cal Adomitis has teamed with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation to help kids battling cancer through an NIL.
"It is exciting to contribute our expertise in providing these student-athletes with the education, information, and tools necessary to build and grow their personal brand," said Evan Facher, vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship and director of the Innovation Institute. "The ultimate goal is to inspire, educate, and enable these budding entrepreneurs to have personal and professional success today and into the future."
Auld is excited by the early results.
"We have seen this be inclusive to all sports and both men's and women's teams. It's not just exclusive to revenue sports," Auld said. "NIL opportunities will only continue to grow, and our program will as well."
University of Pittsburgh Mens Track and Field Scholarship Standards
Source: https://www.giveto.pitt.edu/?sid=1729&gid=2&pgid=5122&cid=13940&ecid=13940&crid=0&calpgid=2135&calcid=3585