TicketsNo flight delay was going to keep the Cincinnati Bearcats from center stage in the bright lights of Atlanta, including winning the Best Institutional Program at the third-annual gala.
Staff members Eddie Taylor, Chad Allen and student-athletes Gabby Guenther (tennis), Hampton Gucky (swimming and diving), Evan Prater and Jalen Hunt (both football) hopped off their bird and had an hour at the hotel to prep for the ball.
While the entourage's presentation of the Institutional Program of the Year award has been covered, there was a lot more than what met the eye, before and after that magical moment. From mental health revelations to blue raspberry Airhead candy nostalgia, it was certainly a trip of a lifetime.
SELECTIONS It might not have been on the same wavelength as CBS Selection Sunday, but it was romantic.
Guenther, a sophomore, was the youngest of the group and shared her family's excitement for the selection.
"They loved it and thought it was really cool for me to do something outside of my sport, getting into the community more and network with people," she said. "I'm a sport admin major, so working with other student-athletes and administrators was great for my business brand. I knew nothing about NIL, and I used to be tentative until I got my first deal and realized it was fun."
And as soon as she got back, she resumed her summer internship within the UCATS office.
Hunt was particularly reflective about the moment he was selected, noting his sister was proud of him in knowing "how far I'd come from not playing, getting injured, then coming here (from Michigan State prior to the 2023 season) and playing a full season."
"I got a text from Eddie that I had been elected to attend the summit," Hunt said. "I was very confused how because I never signed up for it. I was picked by my coaches, and when he told me that, I felt honored. A lot of coaches did say after the spring that I had grown a lot, meaning the work I had put in on and off the field proved to them that I was not the same as last year. To me, when I went to the summit, it was not just about being there, but proving I belonged there."
TAKE IT ALLLLL IN The gauntlet of content creation and education sessions all of Sunday and Monday provided a worthy challenge to all of the attendees: make content, talk deals and network as far as the eye can see.
"I feel like I'm a pretty social person, so I was able to introduce myself and ask where they went to school," Gucky said. "That happens even at lunch in the same line and asking if people want to sit with us at panels. We would be around them later too, so that built a lot of relationships with others.
"I knew Gabby from tennis going into this, but not Jalen or Evan. We got to sit back and debrief at the end of the days. It's hard being a college athlete, so bonding over that with people you meet in the same space is really cool."
Guenther noted NCAA President Charlie Baker's candidness about the future of NIL was a significant highlight of the second day, as well as hearing from professional athletes once in their shoes and in the same content realm, including the Utah Jazz's Micah Potter and national champion and Olympian gymnast Tasha Schwikert.
Gucky and Hunt were highly complementary of the mental health presentations, specifically naming Soul Cole (former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman) as a leading voice.
"The two speakers (in one of the rooms) walked up and down which made for a great interactive piece and opened the floor to share, which I thought was impactful, especially since they were both men and talking about the stigma," Gucky said. "Even with Evan and Jalen, they are 'supposed' to get everything done and be big and strong all the time. I feel like we connected a lot on that level."
Nightly debriefings were held amongst the entire student-athlete contingent at the hotel, from Grand Canyon and Saint Mary's to Michigan.
Deals were available at the event as well, and that is where things really picked up.
Hunt made conversation at the Celsius energy drink table and submitted his information for a follow-up. Then, minutes before he sat down with GoBearcats.com, he was told they were picking him as an ambassador.
"The flavor I had was really good, and I probably could have used it back in the day getting up in the morning. It had such a distinct flavor, and I don't eat candy anymore. I remember it as a kid, and I told (the representative present) whatever she was doing at Celsius was spot-on."
Taylor also reminded him that not everyone secured that deal. He was chosen.
THE FUTURE ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE Sorry for the tease, but there is more to unpack. Stay tuned for how the student-athletes' takeaways will shape their coming years in Clifton and beyond.
Staff members Eddie Taylor, Chad Allen and student-athletes Gabby Guenther (tennis), Hampton Gucky (swimming and diving), Evan Prater and Jalen Hunt (both football) hopped off their bird and had an hour at the hotel to prep for the ball.
While the entourage's presentation of the Institutional Program of the Year award has been covered, there was a lot more than what met the eye, before and after that magical moment. From mental health revelations to blue raspberry Airhead candy nostalgia, it was certainly a trip of a lifetime.
SELECTIONS It might not have been on the same wavelength as CBS Selection Sunday, but it was romantic.
Guenther, a sophomore, was the youngest of the group and shared her family's excitement for the selection.
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"They loved it and thought it was really cool for me to do something outside of my sport, getting into the community more and network with people," she said. "I'm a sport admin major, so working with other student-athletes and administrators was great for my business brand. I knew nothing about NIL, and I used to be tentative until I got my first deal and realized it was fun."
And as soon as she got back, she resumed her summer internship within the UCATS office.
Hunt was particularly reflective about the moment he was selected, noting his sister was proud of him in knowing "how far I'd come from not playing, getting injured, then coming here (from Michigan State prior to the 2023 season) and playing a full season."
"I got a text from Eddie that I had been elected to attend the summit," Hunt said. "I was very confused how because I never signed up for it. I was picked by my coaches, and when he told me that, I felt honored. A lot of coaches did say after the spring that I had grown a lot, meaning the work I had put in on and off the field proved to them that I was not the same as last year. To me, when I went to the summit, it was not just about being there, but proving I belonged there."
TAKE IT ALLLLL IN The gauntlet of content creation and education sessions all of Sunday and Monday provided a worthy challenge to all of the attendees: make content, talk deals and network as far as the eye can see.
"I feel like I'm a pretty social person, so I was able to introduce myself and ask where they went to school," Gucky said. "That happens even at lunch in the same line and asking if people want to sit with us at panels. We would be around them later too, so that built a lot of relationships with others.
"I knew Gabby from tennis going into this, but not Jalen or Evan. We got to sit back and debrief at the end of the days. It's hard being a college athlete, so bonding over that with people you meet in the same space is really cool."
Guenther noted NCAA President Charlie Baker's candidness about the future of NIL was a significant highlight of the second day, as well as hearing from professional athletes once in their shoes and in the same content realm, including the Utah Jazz's Micah Potter and national champion and Olympian gymnast Tasha Schwikert.
Gucky and Hunt were highly complementary of the mental health presentations, specifically naming Soul Cole (former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman) as a leading voice.
"The two speakers (in one of the rooms) walked up and down which made for a great interactive piece and opened the floor to share, which I thought was impactful, especially since they were both men and talking about the stigma," Gucky said. "Even with Evan and Jalen, they are 'supposed' to get everything done and be big and strong all the time. I feel like we connected a lot on that level."
Nightly debriefings were held amongst the entire student-athlete contingent at the hotel, from Grand Canyon and Saint Mary's to Michigan.
Deals were available at the event as well, and that is where things really picked up.
Hunt made conversation at the Celsius energy drink table and submitted his information for a follow-up. Then, minutes before he sat down with GoBearcats.com, he was told they were picking him as an ambassador.
"I had never had a Celsius drink before, and the one tasted just like a Blue Raspberry Airhead, and I loved those as a kid," Hunt said. "Every day I was there I drank that exact kind. That drink made me more of a social butterfly. I was okay with talking to random people I didn't know. I was asking them their names and schools, things I normally wouldn't do."
"The flavor I had was really good, and I probably could have used it back in the day getting up in the morning. It had such a distinct flavor, and I don't eat candy anymore. I remember it as a kid, and I told (the representative present) whatever she was doing at Celsius was spot-on."
Taylor also reminded him that not everyone secured that deal. He was chosen.
THE FUTURE ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE Sorry for the tease, but there is more to unpack. Stay tuned for how the student-athletes' takeaways will shape their coming years in Clifton and beyond.
Still not over these looks🤩#Bearcats | @NILSummit pic.twitter.com/gC8IIoBxwv
— Cincinnati Bearcats NIL (@GoBearcatsNIL) July 5, 2024