Carter’s Corner: Florida Victorious Profiled, SEC Baseball, More Gators Tidbits

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The foundation of college athletics shifted dramatically in July 2021 when NIL (name, image and likeness) became a reality that allowed student-athletes to benefit financially from their prominence.

Of course, that development has reportedly led to pay-for-play enticements as part of the recruiting process, primarily in football and men’s basketball. However, with the NCAA wielding less and less power in the emerging landscape, what all this means remains uncertain.

What is clear is that to compete at the highest level, athletic programs must have an NIL strategy and an organization that supports those efforts financially. Florida Victorious is the outside booster group that contributes to the Gators in the NIL space.

Orlando Sentinel beat writer Edgar Thompson on Tuesday wrote about Florida Victorious and its latest efforts, including a plan later this week to launch a state-wide billboard campaign to capture the attention and imagination of UF’s massive alumni base. The school has 500,000 living graduates, with roughly 80% residing in the Sunshine State writes Thompson.

 

Stay tuned, Gator fans! 👀

This Friday, Gator fans receive 20% off Homefield gear by using our code VICTORY24. And FV gets a share of revenue as a result. A win-win! 🐊🤝🐊

And you know you can use more Gator gear! 🧡💙 https://t.co/lkhPwkrMHD pic.twitter.com/0ypnWCdRsu

— Florida Victorious (@Fl_Victorious) February 12, 2024

Here are other fresh headlines of interest to Gators fans:

— The departure of Craig Fitzgerald to Boston College has created a void in the weight room, a topic Nick de la Torre and Andy Staples discuss via a story from Barkley Truax of On3.com.

— Following a mistake-filled loss to Alabama, LSU turns the page with a trip to the O’Dome tonight to face the Gators writes Sheldon Mickles of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate.

— The UF baseball team opens the season Friday against St. John’s and Aria Gerson of the Nashville Tennessean offers a season-opening SEC power ranking.

— Speaking of Gators baseball, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan has a new contract extension writes Jacob Rudner of 247Sports.com.

— ICYMI, UF football coach Billy Napier wants to continue calling plays writes Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com.

— Former Gators receiver Kadarius Toney, a healthy scratch in the Super Bowl, celebrated in the locker room nonetheless writes Matt Ehalt of the New York Post.

TOPICAL TWEET

Former Gators punter Tommy Townsend…