Penn State announces first NIL-supporting 'White Out: White Party'
Announced on Tuesday afternoon, Happy Valley United is set to host its first annual Penn State White Out: White Party next month. And with it, the Nittany Lions’ football lettermen are getting behind their program’s NIL effort.
Ahead of the White Out game against Washington on Nov. 9, Happy Valley United will host a gathering of former Penn State players, fans, and businesses at the Nittany Lion Inn. The event will run from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. and will feature appearances by a number of notable Penn State lettermen including Brandon Short, Blair Thomas, Christian Hackenberg, Jason Cabinda, Michael Mauti, Kyle Brady, and Adam Taliaferro, among others.
“Our team looks forward to welcoming Penn State football fans to the newley renovated Nittany Lion Inn for the first annual Penn State White Out: White Party in support of NIL,” said HVU’s Jen Ferrang via press release. “The expansion of this year’s White Out, event reflects the commitment to excellence in NIL by the supporters and our goal is to deliver them an unforgettable night with their favorite coaches, student-athletes, and lettermen.”
Feature entertainment will be provided by 80s cover band Velveeta, with tickets for the evening of food, drink, and dancing ranging from $250 per person, $425 for couples, and $100 for young professionals 35 and under. That entertainment will include a one-hour set by “D.J. Rictor” leading into Velveeta’s performance.
James Franklin urges Penn State fans to embrace NIL
Speaking to fans directly during his weekly Penn State Coaches Show appearance last week, James Franklin acknowledged two realities the program is confronting on the NIL front. Asked specifically about Tennessee’s announced plans to implement a 10 percent surcharge on tickets that will help fund the Volunteers’ NIL efforts, Franklin said the idea, and those like it, are something the Nittany Lions likely need to discuss and consider.
But, more immediately, the broad changes that have impacted the college football landscape with name, image, and likeness aren’t going away, he said.
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“I would tell everybody that I think if we’re waiting for changes to come in NIL, then we’re going to fall further behind,” said Franklin. “When the rules change in any industry, you need to embrace the rules and you need to be bold and aggressive. I don’t think NIL is ever going away, because these rule changes started because we live in a litigious society, and anything that the NCAA could be sued about, they’ve taken away those rules.
“And all we’re really saying is that the players have the ability to make money off their name, image and likeness. So, they have the ability to make money outside of just football. So that won’t ever go away.”
In an August ranking compiled by On3 NIL expert Pete Nakos, Penn State’s NIL operation was not ranked among the top 15 in the sport.
Stressing that revenue sharing will likely come to college football and help “stabilize the market” in the next couple of years, Franklin still urged fans to understand what NIL will mean for the program moving forward.
“We’re going to need to totally embrace and NIL like a lot of the other programs are in the country, because it’s having a major factor and impact on rosters and programs,” said Franklin. “I don’t think it’s going away. And I think if we’re waiting for it to go away or changes to come in, I don’t think that’s happening.”
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