Tag: Knights of the Raritan

Rutgers fans unlock another important level to the NIL fundraiser by the Knights of the Raritan collective

The Knights of the Raritan give an important NIL update.

The Knights of the Raritan have been successful over the past month in their most recent fundraising initiative. A second round of fundraising was completed which raised an additional $25,000 for student-athletes.

The Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective is the most visible extension of Rutgers in this collective space. The Knights of the Raritan (KTR), while not operated by the university or the athletic department, serve an important role for the future of Rutgers athletics in the ever-changing world that is NIL and the NCAA.

The second round of fundraising is now completed, meaning that two matching gifts of $25,000 have been secured. The next round, KTR said, is dedicated for men’s basketball:

Last year, KTR undertook an ambitious challenge to raise $1 million for the NIL collective. It is a vitally important undertaking if Rutgers is going to be competitive in the Big Ten.

 

Greg Schiano, the Rutgers football head coach, has said that NIL is paramount to his team’s ability to continue the rebuilding process. Especially in the Wild West landscape that is college football right now.

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“It’s paramount in what we are doing right now. That is where college football is, and you have to be able to be competitive in that landscape, and we have to be able to be competitive in that landscape. And it’s not going to get less. It’s going to only get more,” Schiano said this past November.

“We have guys that have performed at a high level. Well, you know what, they are going to be people that’s trying to get them off our team. That’s the facts. And there’s going to be guys, we are not only going to want to keep our own guys here, but we are going to want to go out and pursue; and we have to do the things that Big Ten teams do to be competitive and eventually be champions. Every bit helps but we need every bit.”

Two years ago, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum echoed these sentiments in acknowledging that every recruiting conversation is centered on NIL:

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“NIL is everything right now there’s not a conversation that goes on in a living room with a player that doesn’t start then with what am I getting? It’s the new world,” Finebaum said in a 2022 nterview with Rutgers Wire.

“I talk to coaches all the time and they mask it as if it’s just part of a conversation but it’s the entire conversation. And so you have to find a way to get around it and if you don’t, you’re going to be out of business.”

Rutgers and NIL: Knights of the Raritan offering new incentives to join collective

The Knights of the Raritan have a new fundraising initiative.

The Knights of the Raritan, a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective, is beginning a new push this week to increase its membership.

The collective, founded to support Rutgers student-athletes, has become an influential and instrumental part of recruitment and retention for all Scarlet Knights sports. KTR was launched nearly two years ago.

The ‘Scarlet Ticket’ drive, which begins on Wednesday, offers Knights of the Raritan (KTR) members the chance to win what is being billed as “two premium season tickets” for every football game, men’s basketball game, women’s basketball game and wrestling match for the upcoming academic year (2024-25).

Fans can buy entries for the contest, starting at $10.99 for one entry, all the way up to $499.99 for 50 entries.

“We are excited to launch the Scarlet Ticket campaign, offering fans the ultimate Rutgers Athletics experience,” said Jon Newman, the president of KTR “This first-of-its-kind initiative not only supports our beloved teams but also rewards our dedicated supporters during a season sure to be filled with incredible games and memories.”

Existing members are encouraged to participate and upgrade their KTR experience.

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It is certainly a fascinating offer and could afford the lucky winner a chance to see a special year in Rutgers athletics.

Football, which retained most of its core, is coming off a 7-6 season and a win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl. Men’s basketball boasts two five-star recruits in their upcoming class and women’s basketball is starting to see its young team come together over the past month.

Wrestling is nationally ranked and finished the season with four Big Ten wins, an impressive accomplishment in the toughest conference in the nation.

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Earlier this year, KTR ran a successful auction that sold off the sneakers Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano won during the Pinstripe Bowl.

Heel bent on helping Rutgers: Greg Schiano’s bowl sneakers help fund Rutgers football’s NIL push

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano helps NIL fundraising for his team.

Among all the head coaches in Rutgers football history, Greg Schiano is a shoo-in as the program’s best. He will stop at nothing to put his best foot forward for the team.

Terrible puns intended.

Rutgers football fan David Salerno purchased the sneakers via an online auction hosted by the Knights of the Raritan. The Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective auctioned off the sneakers worn by Schiano during the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

A 31-24 win over Miami probably helped to fuel interest in the sneakers.

Schiano has publicly credited the NIL push from The Knights of the Raritan for helping with player retention efforts. Rutgers kept the overwhelming core in place from last year’s team that went 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten).

“We’d like to thank coach Schiano and the football staff for putting their best feet forward on this fun project with us,” said Jon Newman of the KTR executive committee.

“We have more member incentives planned throughout the year with exclusive experiences so if you haven’t joined Knights of the Raritan yet – it’s not too late.”

The shoes seem to still have on them the field paint from Yankee Stadium. KTR certainly seemed to toe the line on this one.

Greg Schiano talks importance of NIL, Knights of the Raritan

Greg Schiano sees NIL as vitally important for his program.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — During the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Ohio State, an advertisement was played at SHI Stadium for the ‘Knights of the Raritan.’ It was the first time that the ad, which featured a QR Code, was played at a Rutgers football game.

In terms of hitting its desired audience, it is probably the largest exposure the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective has received. Now in its second year, the Knights of the Raritan (KTR) has had several big fundraising initiatives in an effort to better support Rutgers student-athletes.

And while Schiano was obviously busy during the game break when the advertisement was announced throughout the stadium (and the QR code displayed on the giant scoreboard), he was familiar with the announcement’s purpose.

More than that, he understood the intent of the fundraising push that KTR is currently engaged in this month:

“It’s paramount in what we are doing right now. That is where college football is, and you have to be able to be competitive in that landscape, and we have to be able to be competitive in that landscape. And it’s not going to get less. It’s going to only get more,” Schiano said about NIL on Monday.

“We have guys that have performed at a high level. Well, you know what, they are going to be people that’s trying to get them off our team. That’s the facts. And there’s going to be guys, we are not only going to want to keep our own guys here, but we are going to want to go out and pursue; and we have to do the things that Big Ten teams do to be competitive and eventually be champions. Every bit helps but we need every bit.”

 

#Rutgers Nation:

Have your phones ready in the 1st quarter tomorrow to participate in our “Give To Knight” flash fundraiser supporting our @RFootball NIL efforts.

Scan the QR code, contribute in real time, bookmark it to give later, or scan now and support as some already have. pic.twitter.com/7ITfztN6LR

Rutgers held a halftime lead over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday before falling 31-16. In many ways, the game was the perfect advertisement for the program’s need for continued NIL funding.

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Rutgers was up on the nation’s top team at halftime, ultimately playing a tight game and falling short. As things stand, Rutgers currently has the talent to compete in the Big Ten against the top teams, but needs to attract better players and retain them.

That’s where Schiano’s continued push for NIL funding is going to decide the direction of the program.

Greg Schiano encourages turnout for Sunday’s Fan Fest

Rutgers football will have its Fan Fest on Sunday.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — On Sunday, Rutgers football will be hosting an annual Fan Fest. Head coach Greg Schiano encouraged fans to come out and thanked the Knights of the Raritan for their sponsorship of the event.

The Knights of the Raritan (KTR) is a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective that was founded last May. The group has partnereded with Student Athlete Empowerment (SAE) to create opportunities for Rutgers student-athletes to be able to capitalize and monetize on their intercollegiate athletic careers.

As such, KTR is sponsoring Sunday’s Fan Fest, which begins at 5:00 p.m. and runs for two hours. Fans in attendance are then encouraged to attend the women’s soccer game against Hofstra, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. at Yurcak Field.

The soccer field is adjacent to the Rodkin Academic Success Center, which will host the Fan Fest.

“We got the meet the team tomorrow night and I want to thank KTR for sponsoring that – in this day and age of NIL these things are important,” Schiano said following Saturday’s practice.

“And it’s great for our fans to get to meet the players. I think it’s really great for our players to meet our fans. To know the people that are supporting them and to have a little interaction with them is great. So I encourage everybody to come on out. It’s a great evening.”

The event will feature the chance for fans to meet the players, get autographs and photos, interact with Sir Henry (the mascot) and other fun activities including face painting, boardwalk games and food.

Earlier this year, KTR topped $1 million in fundraising via a matching effort.

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Five Rutgers athletes ink first ever climate change-focused NIL deal

A new NIL deal focused on climate change will feature Rutgers athletes.

Five Rutgers athletes are becoming the face of the climate change conversation in New Jersey as part of a first-of-its-kind endorsement deal.

The Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal struck between EcoAthletes and the Knights of the Raritan (KTR) is a seminal moment for college athlete partnerships. The deal centers on utilizing Rutgers student-athletes to help promote the discussion and need to make progress on issues related to climate change.

As outlined by their press release, KTR “will activate NIL deals with the five Rutgers student-athletes to advocate for the much-needed #ClimateComeback through a combination of podcast interviews, social media posts and in-person speaking appearances on or near the New Brunswick, NJ campus.”

This is believed to be the first-ever climate change-focused NIL deal.

“EcoAthletes is thrilled to work with our five inspirational student-athletes Champions and Knights of the Raritan to promote positive climate action at Rutgers,” said Lew Blaustein, founder and CEO of EcoAthletes, in a statemented released by KTR.

“We believe that this partnership represents just the beginning of what can become a wave of climate-focused NIL deals. And we expect that executives who lead climate-active brands and nonprofits will look at the Rutgers program and see tremendous value in having authentic, climate-minded student-athletes endorse their climate-friendly products and/or programs.”

The five Rutgers athletes are:

  • Senior women’s gymnast Kaitlyn Bertola
  • Sophomore Big Ten 3,000-meter indoor track champion Alex Carlson
  • Sophomore women’s lacrosse player Kelsey Klein
  • Sophomore women’s swimmer Halé Oal
  • Sophomore women’s swimmer Natalie Schick

They will be engaged in helping raise awareness of climate change and the work being done by EcoAthletes, as they join other “athletes and academics, climate scientists and ecopreneurs, green business leaders and journalists, devoted to identifying & equipping the Jackie Robinsons and the Megan Rapinoes of the climate crisis to lead climate action.”

KTR is an NIL collective that recently raised over $1 million for Rutgers student-athletes.

“Our main goal at Knights of The Raritan is to support Rutgers student-athletes who are using their platform to engage in their passions,” said Jon Newman, Knights of The Raritan executive director and CEO of the Hodges Partnership.

“We’re honored to support ‘R’ athletes and EcoAthletes in its mission to spur climate action globally.”

How a new NIL collective is looking to shape the future of Rutgers athletics

How a new NIL collective is looking to shape Rutgers athletics.

It is a new era of college sports, one where student-athletes are able to leverage their personalities and their platform in a unique way.

And with the dawn of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), student-athletes are looking to maximize their potential to bring in revenue and capitalize on their stage. For Rutgers student-athletes, that is where the Knights of the Raritan (KTR) comes into play.

Launched on Thursday, KTR has the stated aim of “empowering Scarlet Knight student-athletes to achieve their greatest potential in the classroom, on the playing field and in life. The collective seeks to enable them to maximize their NIL opportunities the right way, without compromising the values of the university.”

The all-volunteer organization is comprised of Rutgers alumni, fans and corporations that are aiming to maximize the exposure of the student-athletes within the framework of NIL.

Subscription models provided by KTR means that fans can get involved for as little as $10 monthly.

Nine supporters of the Rutgers athletic fanbase make up the executive committee overseeing the NIL collective: Jon Newman, Al Reicheg, Danny Breslauer, Jeff Towers, Scott White, Ken Miller, Jerrold Colton, Russ Nesevich and Ryan Stryker.

As part of the collective’s launch this week, Breslauer, spoke with ‘Rutgers Wire’ about KTR, its impact and goal and how it aims to help shape the future of Rutgers athletics.

Oh, and Breslauer is a passionate supporter of Rutgers athletics and is a former voice of Scarlet Vision:

Throwback Friday, eh?

Check out what Breslauer had to say about the newly launched NIL collective, the Knights of the Raritan.

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