Drew Brees makes comments during a press conference regarding his role with the Boilermaker Alliance collective. The press conference was held Thursday afternoon at Bruno's.
The Boilermaker Alliance today announced Drew Brees as the newest member of its executive board, which is charged with operating the charitable organization that uses the name-image-likeness of Purdue University student-athletes to help them make a difference in their communities.
"After (wife) Brittany and I first looked at what the Boilermaker Alliance was all about, it didn't take us long to say we were 'all in,'" Brees said at a brief press conference. "This aligns perfectly with what we are all about, what Purdue is all about and what the experience and opportunities for student-athletes should be."
Brees decline to say what his personal financial commitment to the fledgling collective is, but left little doubt of his commitment to help it raise money and achieve its goals.
"We recognize the national spotlight is on Purdue University (tonight) and we wanted this to be impactful not just for the student-athletes and for Purdue, but also for the rest of the country," Brees said. "There is obviously a financial component to this, but this about the programs that we can provide through NIL. This is about developing them to being the best human beings they can be.
"This is something we will have to navigate (the financial piece) as we go, and we don't know what changes might be made by the NCAA or others decide to do, but we have to control what we can control and that is supporting all 385 of our student athletes.
“We are honored to have Drew on our board, as we consider him the most well-qualified person nationally to help lead a name-image-likeness organization for any university. He is the perfect fit for Boilermaker Alliance and we are confident his presence will amplify the reputation of our organization,” said Jeff McKean, president of Boilermaker Alliance said in a statement. “This is a new age in collegiate athletics and we know our expansion to all 385 student-athletes on scholarship is unprecedented. We aim to be a leader in this space for years to come."
McKean went on to say in the press conference that he believes that there is no higher profile former athlete in college athletics that is more committed to his alma mater than Brees.
"We believe this will give us an advantage that few, if any, schools have," McKean said.
McKean also released the names of several individuals who will help comprise the organization’s advisory board. They include Akin Ayodele, Rapheal Davis, Jim Everett, Nick Hardwick, Robbie Hummel, Matt Light, Cuonzo Martin, Shaun Phillips, Pete Quinn, Bobby Riddell and golfer Adam Schenk. In his role as an executive board member, Brees will also chair the advisory board.
Additional excerpts from the press release:
Boilermaker Alliance intends to provide a new vehicle to recognize the accomplishments of Purdue student-athletes, while elevating the profile and effectiveness of charitable organizations in Indiana and nationwide. Purdue student-athletes will work on behalf of charitable organizations to help amplify the charities’ reach in a way that is not otherwise possible, through efforts such as making special appearances, signing autographs, posting on social media, managing camps and clinics, mentoring kids and appearing at charity events. In the non-exclusive agreements, Boilermaker Alliance will compensate student-athletes under the new name-image-likeness rules through donations it has received. The organization intends to raise $6 million annually to support this mission.
Boilermaker Alliance began partnering with athletes earlier this year and is actively working with nonprofit organizations across the state and country. The goal is for student-athletes to hone their passions and find an organization that best suits them. Boilermaker Alliance will positively impact the greater Lafayette community and beyond for many years by uniting Purdue student-athletes, Purdue alumni and the charitable organizations they choose.
Boilermaker Alliance is not associated with Purdue University but was founded earlier this year by a group of individuals with a long-standing commitment to Purdue University and the Athletic Department.
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