Rice Athletics Announces the South Main Collective
8/2/2024 11:12:00 AM | General
Dear Rice Family,
College athletics is in the midst of significant and unprecedented change. As we continue to work towards clarity for the future, one transformation is already here – Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). Since 2021, student-athletes have been eligible under NCAA rules to receive compensation from outside parties for use of their name, image and likeness. During this time, numerous Rice student-athletes have benefited from NIL deals; however, as a university and athletic department, we have been very thoughtful and measured with our approach to NIL. We have, and will always continue to, put the best interests of our student-athletes at the forefront of everything we do.
From the beginning, we have worked to educate our student-athletes and equip them with the knowledge to successfully navigate the new NIL landscape. Through our SOAR Student-Athlete Development program, we have created educational programming such as financial literacy and brand building workshops, and we have partnered with outside companies to provide platforms for our student-athletes to connect with businesses on NIL partnerships.
Now, I am excited to announce the formation of the South Main Collective. The South Main Collective is the official NIL collective of Rice Athletics. Founded and operated by four former Rice letterwinners, the collective is an independent organization that unifies three existing collectives (The Brotherhood, Rice Fight Collective and Owl's Nest Collective) for the betterment of Rice student-athletes in all sports. The South Main Collective will provide NIL possibilities to Rice student-athletes while also helping to prepare them for life after college through professional development and networking opportunities. The South Main Collective is vital for our success, and we need your support to live up to the expectations we have to be Champions. Please visit www.southmaincollective.com or follow @SouthMainNIL for more information on how you can support our student-athletes.
As we look ahead to the changes on the horizon, our commitment to academic and athletic success will not waver. Rice University will continue to be a premier destination to gain a world class education and compete for championships. This is an exciting time for Rice Athletics, and I'm honored to lead this department to greater heights. Thank you for your support of our university, our athletic department, and our student-athletes. Rice Fight Never Dies!
Go Owls!
Tommy McClelland
Vice President and Director of Athletics