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Micconope 1851, Florida State NIL Collective Partners with Blueprint Sports

Collective to support Florida State Seminole student-athletes in various sports programs

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (February 7, 2023) – Blueprint Sports, the industry leader in full-service Name, Image, and, Likeness (NIL) collectives, announced today a new partnership with Micconope [mik-uh-no-pee] 1851 – an NIL Collective supporting football, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s soccer student-athletes at Florida State University (FSU).

Supported by former players, alumni, fans and business owners, Micconope 1851 will help maximize opportunities for Seminole student-athletes to succeed, grow their brand, and engage with local community partners for years to come. The foundation of Micconope 1851 is steeped in reverence for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The word Micconope means young chief or leader in native dialect.

“Our love and passion for Florida State University is unparalleled and this passion leads us to seek ways to enhance the lives of FSU student-athletes far beyond the playing field,” said Florida State alum and Micconope 1851 Board President Mike Underwood. “Additionally, the respect and honor we have for the Seminole Tribe of Florida sets us apart from our peers. We will always remain focused on the Tribe’s dedication to the unconquered spirit.”

Through Micconope 1851 individuals can make tax-deductible contributions through the BPS Foundation – a 501I(3) partner organization formed to educate, encourage, and assist Seminole student-athletes in their efforts to engage with the local community through charitable causes.

“I look forward to working with the team at Florida State once again,” said Chris Asa, Blueprint Sports Vice President of Donor Relations. “There is a great deal of passion and potential for the Seminoles and Micconope 1851 will set the bar high for student-athlete engagements, education and development opportunities.”

As a former development and revenue growth professional at Florida State, Asa’s expertise and experience with Seminole Athletics will be a key asset to the success of the collective.

Additionally, Micconope 1851 was founded to enhance the lives of its student-athletes not only through NIL opportunities, but also with real life skill education and resources beyond their collegiate years. Through its Mentor Series, the collective presents educational workshops, internship, and networking opportunities and potential job prospects for post-graduation. The Micconope 1851 Seminole Scholarship Fund, also a 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to assist a Seminole Native American student attend Florida State University. Micconope 1851 also facilitates the LASER (Life After Sports Employment Resource) Center – a career resource initiative focused on the long-term professional and life skill development of FSU student-athletes. All of these programs set the stage for Micconope 1851 to create a unique and well-rounded experience, unlike any other NIL collective that exists in the Florida State collegiate space thus far.

“Our new Blueprint Sports partnership will fuel our already strong collective to better deliver on community engagements and student-athlete support,” said Allen Beyer, Florida State alum and Micconope 1851 board member. “Taking action now is critical to ensure our FSU student-athletes have the resources and leadership opportunities to remain competitive nationally and positioned for success beyond graduation.”

Local and national businesses, can align their brands with Florida State student-athletes by creating custom marketing campaigns, planning speaking engagements, autograph sessions, participating in charity events, and more. For more information visit Micconope1851.com Follow @Micconope_1851 on Instagram and @Micconope1851 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 across the country, including around Penn State, Boston College, N.C. State University, Villanova University, Gonzaga University, University of Arizona, University of Tennessee, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Nevada, Ohio University, University of Toledo, Montana State University 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 www.blueprintsports.com or its pages 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:
Heather Austin (602) 738-9252 | heather@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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