Last week, the Oklahoma State Cowboys announced a new and innovative way that its fan base can get involved with the football program’s NIL fund.
Thanks to customized QR codes located on players’ helmets, travel bag, coasters in the premium areas of Boone Pickens Stadium, signage throughout the stadium, and the OSU football equipment truck, fans will be able to donate to the Cowboys’ NIL fund at the Pokes With a Purpose website.
“This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game,” Head Coach Mike Gundy said at the time. “It gives a chance for everyday fans across the world to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I’m thrilled about this opportunity for our players.”
However, not all coaches appreciate the ingenuity that the folks in Stillwater are showing to help get their fanbase involved. LSU head coach Brian Kelly says the move takes the “collegiate” feel of the game away.
“The collegiate kind of feel that you have, and this is just my personal feeling, putting a QR code on your helmet just doesn’t feel collegiate to me,” Kelly said during the SEC coaches teleconference. “As much as we can continue to keep this game with the band and with college-aged kids playing the game, I get it. NIL is here to stay and that’s great but I think we can be separate from that and still at the end of the game, go to work on NIL.
“I think the QR code to me, begins to, I don’t know – for us, I think we can keep NIL off the field. I think we can generate the things that we need here at LSU separate from the gameday atmosphere.”
While Kelly might not like the way Oklahoma State is going about its business, his words come off bit shallow for fans in the Big 12. After all, Kelly is in a bit of an ivory tower here, as Bayou Traditions, LSU’s official NIL collective, is one of the largest and most successful NIL collectives in the nation.
