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Andre Agassi Foundation helps fund third-party NIL program for UNLV athletes

The Andre Agassi Foundation for Education is "helping fund a third-party name, image and likeness program" called "Friends of UNILV" to "financially benefit UNLV athletes," according to Mark Anderson of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Blueprint Sports, founded in '20 in Las Vegas with Agassi’s "financial backing, oversees the NIL program." Friends of UNILV Chair Bill Paulos said that "more than $150,000 has been raised" since the program began in October, with "more than $80,000 having been distributed to athletes through deals with businesses and nonprofit organizations." A new website will "go online next week" that will "help connect athletes with business opportunities." Nevada law "doesn’t allow programs" such as Friends of UNILV to "coordinate with UNLV to establish NIL deals, though a state committee has been established to study the issue." Blueprint’s role is to "make sure all the procedures are followed." If an athlete agrees to a deal, such as an appearance at a charity event, that money is "placed into escrow until the person fulfills the obligation." Blueprint is "moving quickly into the NIL game on a national scale." The company has "deals with Arizona, Gonzaga, UNR and Montana State as well as Tennessee’s baseball program"

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Mike Smith

General Manager

Mike Smith joined Micconope 1851 in March 2023 and is excited to be the General Manager and looks forward to working with Blueprint Sports increase NIL revenue generation for Florida State University student-athletes. Smith comes to Micconope 1851 from Catawba College where he held the title as the Senior Director of Athletics, Development. Prior to working in Athletics at Catawba College, Mike served as the Associate Athletics Director for External Relations at Charleston Southern University. Smith has an impressive background in the collegiate athletics industry, having held senior level development and corporate sponsorship sales roles at The University of Southern Mississippi, Limestone University, the Sun Belt Conference, Florida Atlantic University, and with multimedia rights-holders Tele South Communications at the University of Mississippi, Learfield Sports at UNC Chapel Hill, and with International Sports Properties at Georgia Tech. Smith is a graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and holds a master’s degree in Business Management from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In his new role here at Micconppe 1851, Smith will be responsible for raising major gifts for NIL deals as well as securing NIL corporate sponsorships for Florida State University student-athletes. Mike looks forward to helping ensure the FSU student-athletes have the resources and leadership opportunities to remain competitive nationally and positioned for success well beyond graduation. Mike is married to Katy Smith; the couple looks forward to relocating to Tallahassee, Florida, and becoming a part of the Micconope 1851 and Seminole family!

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