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Syracuse University Athletics announced the official launch of Orange United, the university’s name, image and likeness fund that players can use while attending the university. Through donations to the fund, athletes will have the funding to engage in NIL activities, such as autograph signings, personal appearances and endorsements. The fund will be run by the Student Athlete Name, Image and Likeness program, a company that has at least 24 NIL collectives across the country including Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.

Jason Belzer, the founder of SANIL, said Orange United signed a deal with Learfield to be the official partner of SU Athletics. A statement released by Syracuse University stated that Orange United will have access to SU Athletics branding and marks and allows them to promote the collective at SU home games.

“Orange United is a terrific complement to Athletes Who Care, which launched last year. Today signifies an important milestone in advancing our NIL efforts to benefit all student-athletes across our 20 sports,” SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack said in the release.

Mark Hayes, who is currently the vice president of sales and revenue development for the Syracuse Crunch, will be the collective’s general manager. Former Syracuse athletes Joe Burton, Keenan Hale, Justyn Knight and Karen Zajick along with former Congressman John Katko and Dave Meluni, an associate teaching professor of sport management at SU, will sit on Orange United’s board of directors.

Wildhack said at a press conference before Syracuse football’s first game of the year that he wanted to see more engagement between SU athletes and local businesses. The university notably cut ties with Adam Weitsman, its biggest NIL proponent and donor, over the summer, a move that Weitsman said hinged on a decision by Chancellor Kent Syverud.