Community-Owned Student-Run Copperheads Secure NIL Deal with Local Student-Athletes
Community-Owned Student-Run Copperheads Secure NIL Deal with Local Student-Athletes
New in 2023, the community-owned, student-operated Southern Ohio Copperheads signed NIL (name image and likeness) deals with seven different student athletes at Ohio University. This forges a unique collaboration between a student-ran collegiate summer baseball team and university athletes.
This included 6 members of the NCAA Division I Ohio University Football team and one member of the NCAA Division I Ohio University Women’s Volleyball team.
Athletes included:
1. Samantha Steele, Volleyball (Defensive Specialist/Libero)
2. Kurtis Rourke, Football (Quarterback)
3. C.J. Harris, Football (Quarterback)
4. Parker Titsworth, Football (Center)
5. Parker Navarro, Football (Quarterback)
6. Xander Karagosian, Football (Safety)
7. Keegan Wilburn, Football (Wide Receiver)
Specifics of the deal included that each of the student athletes listed above were to serve as brand ambassadors on their personal social media page promoting the Southern Ohio Copperheads and its 2023 season. In return, the Copperheads provided a monetary stipend to each of the athletes.
Kurtis Rourke, the standout Ohio University Quarterback, who was the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Most Valuable Player and MAC Offensive Player of the Year in the 2022 season was excited about this partnership.
He commented, “When Annie [Valeant] approached me with the idea of helping the Copperheads this summer, I thought it was a great idea…I’ve always wanted to watch more Copperheads games since I’ve been at Ohio, and this is a great opportunity for that. I’m looking forward to watching some good baseball and connecting with the people in Athens!”
Roberto Lemus, a junior studying Sport Management at Ohio University, served as the 2023 Copperheads Director of Sponsorship. His primary goals were to create partnerships that benefitted both the Copperheads and each local sponsor. He believes the NIL deals accomplished this.
Lemus commented, “As a community owned student operated organization, it is a privilege to be able to help not only our direct community but our fellow students as well. Partnering with the student-athletes allowed us to provide them an opportunity to experience sports from another perspective, build up their resumes, and give them the option of generating a bit of income that can help them sustain their busy and hectic schedules.” Lemus continued, “We were very happy with what we achieved together this season, their energy and enthusiasm helped bring the crowd together at Bob Wren Stadium and made the game day experience better for all our fans. We feel honored to provide these experiences for Ohio University student athletes, and hope that the Copperheads brand keeps growing so that in the future, we can help more of our student athletes across all the university sport programs.”
This partnership with Ohio University student athletes is a testament to the Copperheads commitment to providing innovative and unique opportunities to those within Athens and surrounding communities. Additionally, the Copperheads continue to foster a culture of innovation, adaptability, and always moving the line of what a summer collegiate baseball team can be.
By Cole Watson
The Southern Ohio Copperheads is a community-owned, student-operated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 2002, the Copperheads is a summer collegiate wooden bat baseball team that competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and plays its home games at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, OH. The Copperheads organization strives to provide the most affordable means of family-friendly outdoor entertainment in southeast OH. Tickets to Copperheads games are $5 and children under the age of five receive free admission. Staffed by Ohio University students, the Southern Ohio Copperheads also serve as a “learning lab” for student interns looking to work in the sport and entertainment industry.
