Cyprian McFarlane’s Post

Our work with the NCAA and Clint Hangebrauck's department supports the Association in studying and responding to online abuse and threats directed at NCAA championship participants, including student-athletes, coaches, officials and committee members for the 2023-24 championship season. While the championship season is still underway, some of the trends in the data and from the recent March Madness include: - Higher-profile events with sports betting markets attract increased volumes of abuse or threats. - During March Madness, Signify covered nearly 1,000 Division I men's and women's basketball student-athletes, 64 teams, over 280 coaches and 120 NCAA match officials. - Across the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball March Madness, 900,000 posts/comments monitored by Signify's AI and analysts for potential abuse or threats. - 4,000 confirmed as abusive or threatening and reported to social media platforms, with some elevated to law enforcement. - More than 540 abusive betting-related messages were directed at men's and women's basketball student-athletes, including violence and death threats. - Women's basketball student-athletes received approximately three times more threats than men's basketball student-athletes. - Student-athletes are not the only group experiencing these threats and abuse. Game officials, administrators and other athletics employees have been harassed related to their respective involvement in various competitions. The article below provides more details of the current academic year’s findings as well as how the project is integrated with the NCAA’s wider initiatives on mental health and sports betting. #OnlineAbuse #OnlineThreat #Betting #MentalHealth #NCAA https://lnkd.in/ehbtft5Z

The NCAA has launched Draw the Line, a campaign prioritizing student-athlete education on the effects of sports betting while also addressing problem gambling for all who consume and participate in college sports. Last fall, the NCAA began advocating for states to update their sports betting laws. In the wake of the effort, multiple states have moved to restrict prop bets, wagers not tied to the overall outcome of a game. In Ohio, student-athletes, campus leaders and the national office worked with gaming regulators to prohibit player-specific prop bets. Since Ohio's move, West Virginia, New Mexico and Maryland have taken steps to protect student-athletes from sports betting harassment. #OhioGambling #SportsBetting #OhioModel

The NCAA has launched Draw the Line, a campaign prioritizing student-athlete education on the effects of sports betting while also addressing problem gambling for all who consume and participate in college sports. Last fall, the NCAA began advocating for states to update their sports betting laws. In the wake of the effort, multiple states have moved to restrict prop bets, wagers not tied to the overall outcome of a game. In Ohio, student-athletes, campus leaders and the national office worked with gaming regulators to prohibit player-specific prop bets. Since Ohio's move, West Virginia, New Mexico and Maryland have taken steps to protect student-athletes from sports betting harassment. #OhioGambling #SportsBetting #OhioModel

Fabrice Polche and I were chatting about sports the other day, and as I tried to keep up (I don’t follow sports at all, with the exception of the Olympics -- go USA!), he mentioned he’s been waiting ten years for the return of EA Sport's NCAA video game. Ten years! Naturally, my marketing/business brain had to dig deeper to understand the hype. The original game was a hit but was shelved due to legal issues over player likenesses without proper compensation. Now, with NIL deals allowing for player compensation, the new version generated $220 million in sales before its official release. Players who opted in received $600 and a copy of the game (which seems low given the game’s impact, but that’s another post for another day). NIL deals have not only enabled EA to reconnect with its audience but also created new opportunities for athletes. To maximize this, it would be great to see these athletes: develop branded merch, produce behind-the-scenes content showcasing their athletic lives and monetize it on platforms like YouTube, and explore brand partnerships and product collaborations. I'm interested to see how these athletes leverage this excitement to bring about more opportunities within the NIL space. #brandloyalty #easports #ncaafootball #marketing #NIL

The need for comprehensive guidelines surrounding NIL deals has never been more pressing. At MK Hustle Sports & Entertainment, we are dedicated to fostering a fair and transparent environment for our athletes. The recent comments by NCAA President Charlie Baker highlight the cracks in the current system, shedding light on the critical need for national oversight. The saga of University of Nevada-Las Vegas quarterback Matthew Sluka has taken center stage in the conversation about NIL dysfunction. Sluka, who made headlines by abruptly ending his season, did so due to an unfulfilled $100,000 NIL deal promised by an assistant coach upon his transfer. While Baker did not explicitly reference this incident, his remarks about "promises made but not kept" resonate deeply within our industry. Baker's call for national NIL guidelines is not just a bureaucratic plea; it's a necessity to protect the integrity of college sports and the well-being of student-athletes. The template contract provided by the NCAA is a step in the right direction, offering what Baker describes as "recommended, fair terms." However, without the authority to enforce these standards, we continue to see instances where athletes are left in precarious positions, as evidenced by Sluka's situation. The legal landscape is also evolving. Recently, a reworded settlement proposal was filed in a lawsuit that could channel $2.78 billion to current and former players. This settlement aims to establish a revenue-sharing deal between schools and athletes, potentially reshaping the financial dynamics of college sports for the next decade. Yet, it also restricts the NCAA's oversight on many NIL deals, adding another layer of complexity to an already convoluted system. It’s crucial to consider the broader implications. College sports is influenced by potential unionization efforts by players as well as state and federal legislation. Each of these factors could redefine how NIL deals are structured and enforced. We echo Baker's sentiment in advocating for national NIL guidelines. Such guidelines would not only protect student-athletes from exploitation but also ensure a level playing field for all parties involved. The use of standard contracts, transparently enforced, would go a long way in eliminating the inconsistencies and broken promises that currently plague the system. We will always advocate for and seek to implement changes that will benefit student-athletes. The current NIL environment, rife with dysfunction and broken promises, necessitates swift and decisive action. Only through unified, clear, and enforceable national guidelines can we hope to create a fair and equitable landscape for all involved. Let's seize this moment to champion the rights and well-being of the athletes who inspire us all. Matthew Kahn Steve Denker #NIL #NCAA #Regulations #SportsAgency https://lnkd.in/eA-btf3W

It’s been 11 years, but this summer EA is finally bringing back EA Sports College Football! So many of us grew up loving this game, humming the school fight songs, checking out the unique stadiums and calling turnover-inducing RPO routes whenever possible. But one thing was always missing: who ARE these people?!? College Football was always a game played by amateurs so athlete's names, images and likenesses were never used. Instead, a generic team of bulky Washington Huskies would square off against a generic team of bulky Kansas Jayhawks. But not anymore! Due to 2021’s NIL rule change, athletes are now allowed to make money based off their on-field talents. This is where EA Sports College Football 2025 comes in. On February 22nd, EA began allowing college athletes to sign-up to be featured by name as part of the upcoming release in exchange for $600 (and a free copy of the game!). While that might not sound like much, you can almost buy 3 college textbooks with that amount of money! Plus, the opportunity to live in immortality as part of a video game! Sign me up! I still have 4 years of eligibility left! If only my knees did... *** For more gaming and creator industry news, subscribe to YPM's bi-weekly newsletter here: https://loom.ly/MC93bsU #influencermarketing #nil #Newsletter #gaming

Here’s Why Amateur Sports Leagues are Missing Out on $5B Annually—and How Staidium is Solving it. Did you know that amateur sports leagues are hemorrhaging money every year? A recent article by Sports Business Journal estimates that the losses total a staggering $5 billion annually. 🤯 There are a few key factors contributing to this financial strain: ❌ Lack of automation: Many leagues rely on manual processes for things like scheduling, game recording, and data collection. This is time-consuming and inefficient, leading to wasted resources. ❌Limited sponsorship opportunities: Without a professional broadcast setup, it's difficult for leagues to attract high-paying sponsors. This means they miss out on a valuable revenue stream. ❌Poor fan engagement: Traditional methods of spectating amateur sports often fall short. Fans can't always be there in person, and grainy live streams don't offer a great viewing experience. Staidium is here to change the game. Our fully-automated sports streaming platform uses AI to follow the action and deliver high-quality broadcasts, all from remote locations. This means leagues can: ✔ Save time and money: By automating tasks, leagues can free up their staff to focus on what matters most – growing the game. ✔ Attract new sponsors: With professional-grade broadcasts, leagues become more attractive to potential sponsors, opening up a new revenue stream. ✔ Boost fan engagement: Staidium's platform makes it easy for fans to watch games from anywhere, anytime. This leads to increased engagement and loyalty. Is your league looking to streamline and revolutionize? Staidium can help. Contact us at [email protected] today to learn more. #Staidium #Sportsstreaming #AmateurSports #SportsTech #SavethatMoney #GrowTheGame

🏀 As we dive into the exhilarating season of college basketball, let's also take a moment to address an important issue: problem gambling. The National Collegiate Athletics Association has just launched the "Draw the Line" campaign, aimed at raising awareness and educating participants about the risks of sports betting. ❗ With $2.72bn expected in bets during March Madness alone, it's crucial to understand the potential pitfalls. Studies show that 67% of college students are involved in sports betting, posing serious risks to their well-being and finances. 📈 To find out more, follow the link here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dcgReF-4 #basketball #marchmadness #sportsbetting #gambling #awareness #campaign #college

"Angry bettors" is a real problem. When I worked in college athletics, I can't tell you how many times I would log in to our official social media accounts to respond to fans with legitimate questions only to messages like this after games. (Yes, what you are about to see below are real messages). "I hope (player redacted) f****** d*es, can't hit the over!?" "How did all of you (racial slur) miss so many FT?" "You (insert slur) lost me $100." Our fans want access to the student athletes. Some of the best ad content we make features student-athletes BTS or after big moments. But with that access comes vulnerability and exposure. Sports gambling can be great for leagues and teams. It’s another way to connect with fans and can get them engaged in games they might not otherwise have watched. But it can come at a cost. Athletes like Angel Reese have talked about athlete abuse on social media. It’s definitely a real thing and as gambling continues to play a a role in league's bottom lines, it's only a matter of time until it is a force in the college space. The NCAA and Signify completed a study this year that shows the real impacts of it, you can find it here: https://lnkd.in/ex2YZW2R. How can you help? By reporting abusive comments/content, blocking those responsible, and supporting your team with positive interactions and by sharing their content. I'm glad the NCAA is recognizing this as an issue and putting in protocols to help keep our student-athletes safe!