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Blueprint Sports

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMUNITY LEADERS LAUNCH FRIENDS OF WILBUR & WILMA COLLECTIVE PROVIDING UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH UNPARALLELED REVENUE EARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Tucson, Ariz. (February 9, 2022) – Today, key community supporters of University of Arizona student-athletes unveiled the first major Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective supporting football, while also building momentum to support women's basketball, softball, baseball and other sports. Called "Friends of Wilbur & Wilma," the initiative is made possible by numerous community members, businesses, and long-time University of Arizona supporters, including Cole Davis and Humberto S. Lopez.

"We're proud of our University of Arizona student-athletes that compete at the highest athletic levels, strive for success in the classroom, and aim to make a difference in our community," Cole Davis said. "Our focus is helping these young women and men achieve their dreams and become future leaders."

"Helping others is a passion and including student-athletes in building this community is a unique opportunity," shared Humberto S. Lopez. "We recognize these student-athletes have numerous commitments and many pressures, and our goal is to support them as they overcome challenges and empower them to accomplish their goals on and off the playing field."

"Friends of Wilbur & Wilma" will be an industry-leading NIL program designed to welcome alumni, fans, and businesses who wish to engage and work with the student-athletes at the University of Arizona. "Friends of Wilbur & Wilma" now can galvanize the nationwide community who loves and supports the student-athletes who represent the University of Arizona. Interested community members will now be able to learn more about the student-athletes and explore the best ways to work directly with them.

Powering "Friends of Wilbur & Wilma" will be Blueprint Sports (BPS), led by co-founder and partner Francisco Aguilar. Francisco is a former University of Arizona Student Body President who was born and raised in Tucson. "Much like community supporters, Cole Davis and Humberto S. Lopez, I echo the comments about the impact Arizona athletes can have off the field through charitable appearances, autograph sessions, and youth sports coaching sessions," Aguilar shared. "The BPS platform will facilitate monthly community engagements for the members of the University of Arizona football team as the Tucson community rallies behind a myriad of ideas which BPS can implement under the new NIL rules."

"I'm a big believer in empowering our next wave of athletes. I see the incredible potential in what Blueprint Sports delivers here," said Andre Agassi, eight-time Grand Slam champion and namesake of AAFE. "It's incredible to see and support this technology. And I know that University of Arizona student-athletes will benefit greatly from this newly organized support."

Arizona student-athletes have begun the process of joining the Blueprint Sports platform to ensure they can participate in the opportunities presented by the “Friends of Wilbur & Wilma” collective. Supporters are encouraged to visit the “Friends of Wilbur & Wilma” website at www.friendsofwilburwilma.com to join the movement.

About Blueprint Sports

Founded in Las Vegas in 2020, Blueprint Sports (BPS) brings athletes and communities together. A management team possessing more than 50 years of college and professional sports agency and digital brand experience leads the company. For more information on Blueprint Sports, visit www.blueprintsports.com

Media Contacts:

For media inquiries, please email communications@blueprintsports.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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