Oklahoma State Sees Second NIL Collective Launch, Pokes with a Purpose
STILLWATER – It’s official now, Oklahoma State University and OSU student-athletes have two NIL collectives they can become involved with in order to make money off their name-image-and-likeness. Pokes with a Purpose now joins Unbridled in assisting Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes in finding ways and introducing relationships and partnerships that will offer NIL opportunities to the student-athletes.
Unbridled, which launched early in May and was originally funded by Joe Eastin among others and is run by former Oklahoma State baseball All-American Garrett McCain is a for profit NIL collective.
Unbridled and its’ strategic partnerships, can engage OSU student-athletes in a variety of NIL opportunities such as digital content, autograph sessions, social media endorsements and influencing, in-kind deals, public appearances, meet and greet events, and more.
Just announced today (June 8) Pokes with a Purpose is a 501 ©(3) non profit organization with a mission of providing NIL opportunities for all Oklahoma State student-athletes as well as fundraising opportunities for charitable organizations. It is being administrated by Tracy Reibert.
Pokes with a Purpose pairs student-athletes with community charities that will enable student-athletes to use their name, image and likeness (NIL) to raise awareness and funds for worthy charitable causes. The charities, chosen by the athletes or teams, will benefit from the media exposure and in turn help Oklahomans in need. The athletes will receive character building experiences and partnerships within their community as well as receive compensation for use of their NIL. Pokes with a Purpose will also be serving as a matchmaker for businesses and players.
Both Unbridled and Pokes with a Purpose have worked closely with Oklahoma State University athletics, not in the formation of their collectives or raising funding or administering payouts to athletes, but with the department an the athletic compliance so that they are formed and operate in the spirit of NIL and not as a renegade pay-for-play or recruiting inducement outfit as has popped up on other NCAA Division I campuses.
Don’t confuse this with activities that have been described, if not confirmed, at schools like Texas, Miami (Fla.), USC, BYU, and Texas A&M. These two collectives are just what they describe their organizations to be. For example, among those involved in Pokes with a Purpose are former Oklahoma State wrestler, ESPN commentator, and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier as well as former Cowboys and NFL quarterback Brandon Weeden, and former Oklahoma State and NFL linebacker Kenyatta Wright. Joe Eastin is the chairman of the board for Pokes with a Purpose.
“We’re different than most NIL collectives because we offer opportunities for ALL OSU recruited and walk-on athletes,” Weeden said. “The fact that this NIL helps all varsity sports, men and women, whether it be a full scholarship, partial scholarship, or a walk-on athlete, sets us apart from any collective out there…and reinforces the culture of family at OSU.”
There is no doubt on this as Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy spoke often in the spring after the full, and sometimes sketchy operations of some NILs at NCAA schools, about NIL creating bad situations in team locker rooms. Gundy promised that everybody at Oklahoma State wa on the same page to prevent that from happening in the Cowboy culture.
“There is simply no place like Oklahoma State University…there is a respect and family mentality that has nurtured and furthered so many athletes through the years to play at a higher level,” Wright said. “This combined with unprecedented NIL opportunities should make OSU very attractive to any collegiate player.”
New NCAA rules and Oklahoma legislation state that NIL opportunities will not affect a student’s scholarship eligibility and also state that the university may not directly compensate for the athletes NIL usage. Therefore, alumni groups around the nation are taking on the challenge of working with college athletes for the first time.
“While many programs intend to solely monetize a player's NIL opportunities, Pokes with a Purpose will create intrinsic opportunities along with a hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and money management,” said OSU alumnus and board president Ed Raschen. “We want the athletes to be able to win in their sport but also win in life and an important part of winning in life is learning how to give.”
The hope is that with these two NIL collectives is that Oklahoma State will be able to be competitive with situations at other schools and the opportunities for student-athletes without being in violation of state laws or NCAA rules.
It truly is critical to have this available in order for a school like Oklahoma State to compete. Let’s hope it doesn’t come the estimations of Ohio State head football coach Ryan day, who last week told a group of businessmen in Columbus, Ohio that it was take NIL funding close to $15 million to keep the Buckeyes roster intact.
Note: Pokes with a Purpose has 501(c)(3) status and donations are 100% tax deductible. To learn more about Pokes with a Purpose, visit pokeswithapurpose.com. Social media links include Instagram - pokeswithapurpose and Twitter - @pokespurpose. For more information, please contact the Pokes with a Purpose administrator at 918-407-9382 or email at info@pokeswithapurpose.com.