Good Morning Gators: Gator Collective holds Fan Fest event with 40 athletes
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Name, image and likeness has not only created opportunities for student-athletes, but the fans who support them.
Fan donations toward the Gator Collective allow athletes to earn compensation in exchange for exclusive content and experiences with UF athletes for those fans, such as last Saturday’s event.
Gator Collective held its inaugural Fan Fest at Touchdown Terrace in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. More than 200 fans attended and spent three hours with 40 athletes from various sports.
A Gators Online member shared his experience at the event on our Swamp Talk forum.
“It was a good time and my 3 year old had a blast,” he wrote. “Was really cool and fun to interact with the players like that. I had multiple 10 minute convos with players and they were really transparent, which was cool. Players were really engaged and [Lorenzo] Lingard played with my daughter off to the side for a good bit and made her day.”
Check out a video recap from Fan Fest below.
In addition to organizing fan engagement events, such as autograph sessions and Zoom calls, the Gator Collective negotiates deals for athletes and also connects them with various industries to help them with PR, marketing, finance, tax and community service.
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During his speech in Pensacola, Florida coach Billy Napier addressed the misconception that collectives just “give money” to players for NIL.
“Let me say this, this is real-life experience for the player,” Napier said. “Everybody thinks you’re just throwing money at the player, right? Like you’re just buying the guy. ‘Hey, I’m going to give you this amount of money, you come play at Florida.’ It’s not that. That’s not what it is. These guys, they gotta work.”
In other Florida football news
- The kickoff time has been set for the annual Florida-Georgia game, which will start at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, CBS announced on Wednesday.
UF recruiting roundup
- Running back Justice Haynes, a top-50 recruit in the On3 Consensus, has scheduled a return trip to Gainesville, this time for his official visit.
- Another top-50 overall prospect, safety Joenel Aguero, has scheduled his second meeting Billy Napier’s UF staff for next month.
- Throughout the 2023 class, the first-year coaching staffs at Florida and Miami will match up multiple times on the recruiting trail.
- In-state lineman Tommy Kinsler has a return visit to the Swamp for next month and also plans to check out one of Florida’s rivals.
Gators sports roundup
- The Gators’ second game of the SEC Tournament against Texas A&M was postponed due to weather. The two teams will now play Thursday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
- With Hunter Barco undergoing Tommy John surgery, Brandon Sproat was tasked with replacing the ace. Consider that call answered.
Let’s keep talking
Want to keep the conversation going? Head over to our Florida message board, Swamp Talk. Sign up here and join the discussion.
Gators Twitter updates
- 100 days until kickoff for first-year coach Billy Napier and the Gators.
- Check out this video showcasing the University of Florida and campus.
