Brooke Daugherty

My name is Brooke Daugherty. I am a freshman majoring in journalism and minoring in political science.



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News Story

NIL could change the way NCAA coaches and athletes view the recruitment process

By Riley Leichliter, Roland Liu, and Brooke Daugherty

BLOOMINGTON,  Indiana (November. 4, 2024) –

There’s nothing like performing well within your college sport, hearing everyone cheer and feeling an immense amount of pride in your athletic ability. Athletes like Indiana University Division 1 wrestler Anthony Bahl and American University lacrosse player Deirdre Brown have experienced this firsthand. While athletic skills remain important in college recruiting, a strong social media presence, and marketability are now influencing factors.  NIL is tied to fan engagement,  many programs have recognized the value of recruiting athletes with the potential to build a school’s brand.

However, Dr. Galen Clavio, director of the National Sports Journalism Center at IU, warns that focusing too heavily on popularity could undermine the core values of athletic competition. “You don’t see professional sports teams signing athletes solely because they are popular on social media,” Clavio noted, emphasizing that recruitment should prioritize athletic skill over online presence.

Anthony Bahl, a wrestler at Indiana University, sees a balance between talent and marketability. “Skill is the most important thing,” Bahl emphasized, “but if an athlete has a strong social media presence, it can bring more attention and fans to the program, which can be valuable. But at the end of the day, skill and hard work should still come first.” These abilities can benefit both athletes and schools.  Bahl’s perspective speaks on creating a recruiting environment that favors well-rounded recruits with an athletic and public appeal.

Anthony Bahl wrestles at Indiana University
Anthony Bahl, a wrestler for Indiana University, takes down his opponent during a match. Bahl thinks hard work and skill are the most important aspects when it comes to recruitment, but recognizes the impact that athletes with large fan bases can make. Photo courtesy of Anthony Bahl.

Deirdre Brown, a Division 1 women’s lacrosse player at American University, agrees that while social media can give insight into a recruit’s character, it shouldn’t overshadow athletic scholarships. “I think that while it can be a tool used within recruiting, I do not believe that a decision should be solely made based on someone’s social media presence. At the end of the day, you are there to play a sport and do a job,” Brown said. Clavio’s view echoes Brown’s, in that coaches are now having to navigate the balance between recruiting athletes that have a social media following and those with athletic potential.

Deidre Brown playing Lacrosse in a game at American University
Deidre Brown, a player on American University’s Women’s Lacrosse Team, sprints down the field with the ball in her stick. Brown believes social media can be used as tool, but is weary of the changes being made to recruitment as a result. Photo courtesy of Deidre Brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For incoming athletes, the ability to earn money from NIL deals can play a huge role in deciding where to pursue college sports. While many still prioritize the strength of the athletic program and quality of coaching, NIL considerations have introduced new criteria. Bahl remembers that when he was looking at schools, NIL opportunities factored into his decision-making. “NIL was definitely something I thought about. It’s a big chance to earn money from a brand, so I wanted to choose a school that would support that,” he said.

Both athletes acknowledged the appeal of going to a school with a team as well as a social media presence. Bahl talked about IU’s fan base and popular sports culture as factors that influenced his decision. “The school’s popularity and strong fan support make it a great place to compete,” he said. Brown, too, was drawn to American University’s active engagement on Instagram, where content allowed her to see the team’s character and unity. “AUWLAX at the time had a large following, and they consistently posted videos of the team,” she said. “It allowed me to see inside the personality of the team.”

Both athletes compared their busy schedules to full-time jobs. With practices, games/meets, classes, and studying the time commitment can easily exceed 40 hours per week. Although NIL earnings and scholarships provide financial support, they both stressed the importance of rewards like personal growth, being a part of a team, and skill development.

Bahl expressed that, while scholarship and NIL money are helpful, “the real reward is in the experience and everything I learn along the way.” Brown echoed this highlighting the life lessons and values developed through balancing academics and athletics. “The reward is my education and personality development,” she said. For these athletes, NIL is a meaningful addition to their sports journey, yet it does not overshadow the significance of their educational and personal achievements.

Dr. Clavio has a more cautious view of NIL’s future, warning that programs could be at risk of prioritizing money over athletic tradition. “The NCAA, for a variety of reasons, has been desperately trying to fight against external parties… like being able to make direct payments to athletes,” he explained. He suggests that NIL could challenge the NCAA’s sports model, and change collegiate athletics. “With this, we could see a lot of college athletic programs revert back down to what some would consider club status,” Clavio said.

Dr. Clavio lectures to students at IU
At Indiana University, NIL expert Dr. Clavio participates in a press conference with students. Clavio emphasizes the changing landscape of the way recruitment is viewed in the NCAA since NIL has taken effect. Photo taken by Mike Badrov.

 

 

For less prominent sports, however, Brown sees less impact of a NIL impact on recruiting. She thinks that sports like football and basketball will leverage the NIL heavily, potentially recruiting athletes with high social media status to boost funding. “To some teams, it may be to their benefit to recruit a higher-status player, in order to bring in more fans, attendance, and money to the team,” she says.  But, for smaller sports, Brown expects the recruiting process to remain relatively unaffected, with coaches continuing to focus on athletic skills and team fit over marketability.

The NIL policy has changed the NCAA sports  world,  reshaping recruiting and athlete choices. In this new era, athletes like Bahl and Brown are witnessing how opportunities to profit from their name, image, and likeness are influencing both their personal decisions and broader institutional approaches. Indiana University, like many others, is adapting to these changes, preparing athletes to not only excel in their sports but also to manage their brands and navigate NIL. As the policy evolves, so too will the roles and expectations of student-athletes where athletic talent, personal branding, and financial opportunity will cross paths.

On Friday Oct. 18. on Kirkwood Avenue, various students and visitors were intreviewed about their thoughts on the potential impact NIL could have on recruitment. Overall, those interviewed believed that athletes should be judged based on skill over marketability when it comes to recruitment. 

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Public Relations Story

Tim Cook reveals new Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Aidan Murphy
Finley Bisch
Brooke Daugherty

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) —Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the release of the brand-new Apple Watch Series 1 with an introductory video on Tuesday at the Apple Event in Cupertino, California.

After the video played, Cook took to the stage again, proudly displaying the new watch. In his introduction, Cook emphasized his excitement for the new product that Apple claims will revolutionize the way watches are used. The audience met Cook with applause and a standing ovation when he returned to the stage wearing the new Apple watch. This enthusiasm carried on throughout Kevin Lynch’s demonstration of the various features the new watch will possess. The audience was thoroughly impressed with Lynch’s presentation of the numerous new features as they praised the new watch with cheers and more applause.

Mike Wells talks to his class
Professor Mike Wells uses his Apple Watch to remind him to stand between teaching his classes. This Apple exercise feature was created to combat the sedentary lifestyle that many struggle with.

 

In Cook’s introduction he also explained why Apple believes the new Apple Watch is the best watch in the world. He described the accuracy of the watch and discusses how each watch will be customizable from customer to customer. “It’s incredibly customizable, so you can find one that reflects your personal style and taste,” Cook said. He also outlined the importance of connecting with other through the use of the Apple Watch and discussed the watch’s role in tracking health and fitness. Once Cook gave an overview of the watch’s attributes, he took time to explain one of the watch’s main features, which is the digital crown. The digital crown allows for scrolling, zooming in and out, and adjusting the screen without obstructing the view of the face with your fingers. Cook compared this new innovation to other user interfaces Apple has made over the years, such as the mouse for the Mac as well as the touch screen on the iPhone. “We placed extra functionality on a mechanism that’s been on the watch for decades,” Cook said.  After he gave a comprehensive introduction to the product, Cook displayed another video, this time narrated by Apple’s Senior VP of Design, Jony Ive.

The video went more in-depth about the aesthetic aspects of the watch. Ive gave the audience a glimpse into what Apple had in mind when designing the watch. He not only explained the design of the Apple watch, he emphasized the correlation of its design with functionality. “In addition to the digital crown, we’ve had to invent other input technologies designed specifically for a product this small,” Ive said. “So, as well as sensing touch, the display also senses force.” Ive described solutions to obstacles that the design team had to face when making a product much smaller than usual. Another large part of the watch that was kept in mind during the design process was the communication aspect. The watch features easy and quick communication between Apple watch users and others. The video also went into detail about the different types of wrist straps, as well as disclosing that there would be three different collections of the Apple Watch. Not only would they be releasing the line of the Apple Watch itself, but also collections called Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. Once the second video concluded, Vice President of Apple, Kevin Lynch was called up to give the first live demonstration of the Apple Watch.

 

man running with apple watch on
Spencer Anderson, freshman, uses his Apple Watch to train for an upcoming marathon. The Apple Exercise feature provides mile splits that help him stay on pace to reach his goal.

 

Lynch continued to demonstrate the various aspects of the watch. He tested out many applications that are pre downloaded on the watch and are also used on other Apple products such as iMessage, Apple Maps, and Apple Music. Lynch emphasized that when designing the watch, they want to make the applications easily accessible. “Now we thought a lot when we were designing Apple Watch about how to really reveal all of the great ecosystem of applications on this device,” Lynch said. “And we wanted to build in a way that was really easy to find and use.” Lynch went into depth about the Health app and other various fitness aspects that come with the watch. Fitness and health tracking are an important aspect of the new product. When Lynch’s demonstration had concluded, Cook returned to the stage for the last time to introduce two new applications that have been added to the watch, the first being the fitness app and the second being the workout app. Cook explained that these apps were created with leading a healthier lifestyle in mind. He then gave some logistical information about the watch’s price which starts at 349 dollars, and its intended release date, which is set for early 2015. Cook closed the presentation by telling the audience how excited Apple is to launch its new product. “It’s something functional yet incredibly beautiful. It empowers people and enriches their lives. Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.” Cook said.

Join Tim Cook as he highlights the Apple Watch’s new amazing health features! See how it encourages users to take charge of their well-being.

Tim Cook shares Apple’s mission to create the best watch in the world, combining personalization, customization, and lightning-fast responsiveness. Watch to see what truly sets Apple apart.

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