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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friends of the Heights Partners with Blueprint Sports to Expand National NIL Opportunities for Student-Athletes at Boston College

Recently formed collective joins the national BPS portfolio maintaining a community focused approach.

BOSTON, Mass (December 8, 2022) – Blueprint Sports, the industry leader in full-service Name, Image and, Likeness (NIL) collectives, announced today a new partnership with Friends of the Heights – the first NIL collective supporting student-athletes at Boston College (BC).

Recently launched and created by a group of alumni and university lettermen, Friends of the Heights will help maximize opportunities for Eagles student-athletes to succeed, grow their brand, and engage with local community partners.

“NIL is here to stay,” said Scott Mutryn (’98) a former BC quarterback and Friends of the Heights’ board member. “The time is now to ensure our student-athletes are supported and have access to resources that will help them stay competitive in our division.”

Through Friends of the Heights individuals can make tax-deductible contributions through the BPS Foundation – a 501(c)(3) partner organization formed to educate, encourage, and assist Eagles student-athletes in their efforts to engage with the local community through charitable causes.

“The young men and women in our athletic programs strive for excellence in everything they do,” said Blake James, Boston College Director of Athletics. “Friends of the Heights will help take our student-athletes to the next level, with new leadership opportunities, earning potential and community engagement.”

Additionally, local and national businesses, can align their brands with Boston College student-athletes by creating custom marketing campaigns, planning speaking engagements, autograph sessions, participating in charity events, and more.

“This new partnership with Blueprint Sports will help us power the collective and deliver on additional engagements in the community,” said Joe Popolo (’89), Friends of the Heights’ board member. “We are thrilled to give back and work hand-in-hand with supporters, fans, alumni, and community members to continue building a meaningful and sustainable program for our student-athletes for years to come.”

For more information visit friendsoftheheights.com and follow @Friendsoftheheights on Facebook and Instagram, and @HeightsFriends on Twitter. About Blueprint Sports Founded in Las Vegas in 2020 and backed by Andre Agassi, eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Blueprint Sports (BPS) powers the industry's leading name, image, and likeness (NIL) collectives for alumni, supporters, and businesses, connecting them with student-athletes at their favorite university. BPS' national portfolio of collectives supports student-athletes in communities across the country, including Pack of Wolves NIL, around N.C. State University, Friends of Nova, around Villanova University, Friends of Spike, around Gonzaga University, Friends of Wilbur & Wilma, around the University of Arizona, Lions Legacy Club, around Penn State Football, Friends of BaseVols, around the University of Tennessee, Friends of UNILV, around the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Friends of the Pack, around the University of Nevada, and more. The Blueprint Sports management team possesses over 50 years of college and professional sports experience, spanning the Pac-12 Conference, IMG, Learfield, and Nevada Athletics Commission, among others. For more information, visit blueprintsports.com and follow @PoweredByBPS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) On June 30, 2021, the Division I Board of Directors approved an interim name, image, and likeness policy. This new policy allows all NCAA DI, DII, and DIII student-athletes to be compensated for their NIL as of July 1, 2021. Student-athletes can now engage in paid community appearances, autograph sessions, youth coaching engagements, and sports marketing campaigns.

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Media Contacts:
Kellie McCrory (214) 478-5469 | kellie@mcaprgroup.com
Halley Metcalfe (702) 969-9004 | halley@theferrarogroup.com

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Nate Brown

General Manager

Nate Brown is the General Manager of Zags Collective, leading the charge to help amplify the opportunities for the Gonzaga student-athletes through NIL partnerships with local charities, fans and businesses. With over a decade of experience in the professional sports industry and as a former business owner in Spokane, Nate is a seasoned professional who knows what it takes to succeed. Most recently, he served as the National Sales Director for a prominent west-coast real estate company, where he was responsible for driving growth and retention. With a deep understanding of sales and marketing, Nate brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and is always seeking innovative ways to drive revenue and create partnerships.With a passion for ensuring the success of student-athletes both on and off the field, Nate is dedicated to providing the necessary resources to keep Gonzaga competitive on the national stage. He understands the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with the community and local businesses, and works to maximize opportunities for Gonzaga’s student-athletes. As the son of two Gonzaga alumni, including a father who was a baseball pitcher and also a coach for the school, Nate has a great connection to the university and a passion for ensuring its continued success. Outside of work, Nate enjoys spending time with family, including his wife Jessica and their 16-year-old daughter Brooklynn and 12-year-old son Marcus. When not working or spending time with family, you can find Nate at any one of the amazing golf courses in Spokane, honing his swing!

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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