New Episode of BBOC: Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff
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New Episode of BBOC: Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff
1 / 2New Episode of BBOC: Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff
2 / 2New Episode of BBOC: Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff
New Episode of BBOC: Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff
On the latest episode of JohnWallStreet Presents: Big Business on Campus, a college sports podcast powered by Playfly Sports, JohnWallStreet Founder Corey Leff and Playfly Sports Chairman Michael Schreiber sit down with Clemson University Vice President and Director of Athletics Graham Neff.
In this 50-minute conversation, the trio discuss:
AdvertisementAdvertisementConnecting Athletics, Campus, and Commerce
Clemson launched Clemson Ventures in 2024, before the House settlement was even finalized, to give the athletic department more control over its commercial future. But the standalone affiliated organization does more than sell sponsorships and multimedia rights.
"Yes, that's the core business and largest tentpole from a revenue standpoint, [but all] our commercial revenue functions [are now connected under that one umbrella]. Licensing, a lot of our contracts, e-commerce, merchandise, apparel, Clemson Plus, which is our content production [platform]...and then lastly, the campus component," Neff said. "At Clemson, we have 28,000-plus [people on campus between the] student body, staff, [and] faculty and [partners] get the [association with] the Tiger Paw etc. So, [considering their] presentation and connectivity throughout campus [and providing them with access] to key leaders [allows us to build partnerships that extend beyond game day]."
Turning Content into Long-Term Loyalty
Clemson Plus gives Clemson Athletics a home for original programming, highlights, and classic games. From the outside, it might resemble a traditional direct-to-consumer media platform. But its strategic value resides further down the funnel.
"35%, 40% of Clemson's [alumni base] has graduated within the past 12 years—the implication being they're by and large 30, 35 and under. How that demographic consumes content, interacts with your platforms, [and] engages with your brand is different [than] older demographics," Neff said. "So, the Clemson Plus strategy was not an immediate revenue generation [opportunity. The idea wasn't to] create a new business unit and [see what we] can squeeze out of this. [In fact,] we actually tucked [membership in as] a benefit of joining IPTAY, which is our annual [philanthropic] fund…We want you to join IPTAY because now we're going to engage with you in a lot of other different ways; with emails, ticket offers, welcome packages, all kinds of different things. And then we're betting on you, [the donor], as a 30-something, for the lifetime connectivity and lifetime value [he or she] will bring wanting to be connected to Clemson and Clemson Athletics."
Private Capital with a Donor-Backed Twist
The University of Utah has shown how private capital could enter college athletics through an affiliated commercial entity. Clemson Ventures' setup provides for similar structural flexibility. However, the school is far less interested in taking on institutional capital than exploring ways to turn existing donor and alumni affinity into investment-minded support.
"I've come to be intrigued by [the idea of creating] a vehicle [that can] capture donor private capital so to speak. So, in a different way than philanthropic support from our [donors who want to] name a brick and mortar [building] or give a [scholarship or] endowment…Funds that can be contributed with an investment approach versus just a contribution approach," Neff said. "We haven't consummated that and we're not imminently going to do that, but I've come to be curious about how that could look…. I could see structures, like [Project Northstar], in college athletics because there is unique donor and philanthropic alumni support that doesn't exist per se in professional sports... [Maybe] there are ways to capture that interest and those dollars, but [to] do it in a different donor-supported type fund."
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We'll be back with the next episode of JohnWallStreet Presents: Big Business on Campus in two weeks. Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn and Scarlet Knight Enterprises Chairman Oliver Luck will be our guests.
Previous episodes of BBOC, including sit-downs with Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, Arizona AD Desiree Reed-Francois, Maryland AD Jim Smith, American Commissioner Tim Pernetti, Pittsburgh AD Allen Greene, Wake Forest AD John Currie, Kansas AD Travis Goff, Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris, Big Sky Conference Commissioner Tom Wistrcill, SMU AD Damon Evans, Ohio State AD Ross Bjork, West Virginia President Michael Benson, and Weatherford Capital Founding Partner Drew Weatherford, IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard and USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews on the Enrollment Cliff, Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould, St. John's AD Ed Kull, Army AD Tom Theodorakis, and Alabama AD Greg Byrne can be found on JohnWallStreet's YouTube channel.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
