Jameis Winston and Dak Prescott among many others supporting the inaugural Kenny Shaw R.A.W. Camp→

ATTENDEES OF THE KENNY SHAW RAW CAMP AT DR. PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL GO THROUGH POSITION SPECIFIC DRILLS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Known for its great theme parks and as the ultimate tourist destination, Orlando, Florida is the vacation home for many people who are looking to get away from the norm of their northern lives or for that sweet summer vacation. However, many people do not know that Orlando has raised and birthed many talented, creative, and sports professionals. As a native Orlandoan, I know first-hand that there is so much more to The City Beautiful than what is seen on television and what the rest of the country knows this city for.

Former FSU quarterback and current New Orleans Saints player Jameis WinstoN COACHING ATTENDEES AT the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp on Saturday at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Orlando is home to many professional, amateur, and youth sports programs and organizations. And this past weekend proved that there is so much more going on in Orlando, that many people don’t know about. On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Kenny Shaw RAW Football Camp. For those who don’t know, Kenny Shaw is an Orlando native and Dr. Phillips High School alum. He was also a part of the 2013 Florida State Football championships team and is currently a professional football player.

While attending the Kenny Shaw RAW camp I had a chance to briefly talk with Kenny about his first camp and the success I was witnessing on the field. Kenny stated, “I didn’t know what to expect with this being the first camp, but I wanted to do something for my hometown. There is so much happening and so much talent here in Orlando that people don’t know about.” And he is right. Orlando has so much to offer in the spaces of sports, business, entertainment, and many other industries. A lot of this talent goes unnoticed, due to the fact that people think of Orlando and the place where Mickey Mouse lives, but it’s really a place to come and build your dreams.

Kenny Shaw was able to display some of that talent at his alumna mater Dr. Phillips High School and the turnout was amazing. The camp was split into two sessions. The first session was for elementary and middle school athletes, while the second session was for high school athletes and the atmosphere was amazing. Kenny Shaw also delivered amazing talent in the coaches he had at the camp. From Jameis Winston and Dak Prescott taking time to instill football fundamentals in camp attendees to Kelvin Benjamin, Telvin Smith, HaHa Clinton-Dix, and many more coaches, breaking down plays and coverages when it came time for camp attendees to play their scrimmage games.

Former FSU quarterback and current New Orleans Saints player Jameis WinstoN TALKS WITH CAMP ATTENDEES AT the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

current DALLAS COWBOYS QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT was part of the Kenny Shaw RAW Camp on Saturday at Dr. Phillips. (ASIA MCMILLAN/SPORTS MARKETING PERSPECTIVE)

Being a native of Orlando Florida, and being heavily involved in local sports communities and within the sports industry, this was the first time I was able to witness and attend a sports event that was this authentic in nature. There was no glam and glitz, there was not a huge crowd of people and media or cameras. It was a quiet, real and effective youth football camp. I could tell that the parents and athletes were so amazed that they were being coached by some of their favorite and top NFL players and former NFL players. It was a refreshing feeling to see the Orlando community come together to support their own and to make sure that this event was a success.

Overall, I salute Kenny Shaw for taking the time out to give back to his hometown and the local community, something that he is not a stranger to doing, but it was well worth it to see the support and backing he received from the city.

For more information on the Kenny Shaw R.A.W. Camp, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kenny-shaws-raw-camp-tickets-141178786551#

Kenny Shaw on Social: Twitter | Instagram

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For more information on Sports Marketing Perspective click here.

Camping World Bowl Becomes Cheez-It Bowl

Image via Florida Citrus Sports

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. and Orlando, Fla., May 27, 2020 – Cheez-It®, the official snack of bowl season, announced it is moving east to become title sponsor of the Cheez-It® Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The move kicks off a multi-year agreement between Florida Citrus Sports (FCS) and Cheez-It, brokered by Denver-based Impression Sports & Entertainment.

Image via Sports Marketing Perspective

The game, most recently known as the Camping World Bowl, will continue to feature top teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference or Notre Dame and the Big 12 Conference in late December each year. The Cheez-It Bowl airs on ESPN.

In its third season as an NCAA college football bowl game sponsor and official sponsor of the College Football Playoff, Cheez-It is underscoring its commitment to the sport and its fan base. Coined the “cheesiest bowl game in history” (in the best way possible), the original Cheez-It Bowl premiered in 2018 with the Fiesta Bowl Organization in Phoenix. The brand’s move to Orlando means Cheez-It will entitle one of just three games regularly featuring top picks from Power 5 conferences (outside of the New Year’s Six bowls).

“Cheez-It is a go-to snacking tradition for football fans and cheese-lovers – especially those who can’t get enough of that uniquely cheesy and crunchy experience,” said Jeff Delonis, Senior Director of Marketing for Cheez-It. “Our preceding bowl game sponsorship with the Fiesta Bowl Organization helped solidify Cheez-It as a staple in the college football postseason.  Now we’re excited to turn to the next page and build our bowl-season tradition further through our new partnership with Florida Citrus Sports and the world-class destination of Orlando.”

The fully integrated partnership includes exclusive naming rights, digital and social media content, in-stadium exposure, product sampling, on-site activation at the game and other FCS organization events, as well as a redesigned Cheez-It Bowl logo.

“We’re proud to partner with Cheez-It, one of the boldest and most creative sponsors in college football,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports. “Their commitment to creating an uncommon experience will add new flavor to ‘the best bowl trip in America’ here in Orlando. We’re excited about the impact that bowl season’s official snack will bring to our community.”

This year’s Cheez-It Bowl will be the 31st edition of the game, and its 20th in Orlando. Since relocating to Central Florida in 2001, the game has developed into one of the nation’s top postseason contests.

The 2019 edition of the game featuring Notre Dame and Iowa State boasted a total live audience of more than 4.7 million viewers and was the fourth-most-watched game outside of the New Year’s Six. ESPN retains the exclusive right to televise the game on ESPN or ABC.

Be sure to follow Cheez-It on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and stay tuned for more bowl-specific updates later this year.

ABOUT KELLOGG COMPANY

At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we strive to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. Our beloved brands include Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Special K®, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Eggo®, Mini-Wheats®, Kashi®, RXBAR®, MorningStar Farms® and more. Net sales in 2019 were approximately $13.6 billion, comprised principally of snacks and convenience foods like cereal and frozen foods. Kellogg brands are beloved in markets around the world. We are also a company with Heart & Soul, committed to creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030 through our Kellogg’s® Better Days global purpose platform. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com or www.OpenforBreakfast.com.

ABOUT FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS

Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events.

ABOUT IMPRESSION SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Impression Sports & Entertainment specializes in providing clients with full-service sponsorship sales representation, sponsorship consulting and venue naming rights services. Founded in 2011, Impression Sports has established itself as one of the leading firms in the industry by working with top brands, including Premier Boxing Champions, University of Colorado, USC, the San Antonio Spurs, Auburn University, the Fiesta Bowl organization, USA Swimming and ESPN Events among others. Its management team provides in-depth experience and results-driven success in venue naming rights, title sponsorships and high-profile sales and sponsorship platforms.

NFL Announces Nominees for 2019 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

The National Football League today announced the five finalists for the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award.

Starting today, fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/rookies through Monday, January 20 at 3:00 PM ET to determine the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

The 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award will be recognized in Miami during Super Bowl LIV festivities and online at NFL.com/rookies.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2019 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

A closer look at the finalists:

• San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa

A 2020 Pro Bowl selection, Bosa set a rookie franchise record with 16 tackles for loss, in addition to nine sacks in 2019. He began the season with seven sacks in his first seven games, tied for the second-most by a player in his first seven games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. In Week 8, Bosa also joined Julius Peppers (October 13, 2002) and Kevin Williams (December 28, 2003) as the only rookies to record at least three sacks and an interception in a single game since 1982. 

• Tennessee Titans WR A.J. Brown

Brown led all rookies with 1,051 receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns among rookies with eight. Brown became the second wide receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie in franchise history, joining Ernest Givins in 1986. This season, Brown joined Isaac Curtis (five in 1973), Willie Gault (four in 1983) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (five in 1998) as the only rookies with at least four touchdown receptions of 50-or-more yards since 1970.

• Oakland Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs led all rookies with 1,150 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, while his 1,316 scrimmage yards led all AFC rookies in 2019. Jacobs surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (697 in 1982) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in team history. This season, Jacobs also became the first rookie since Cincinnati’s Ickey Woods (1988) to have at least two rushing touchdowns in three of his first eight career games.

• Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Murray led all rookie quarterbacks with 3,722 passing yards and 544 rushing yards in 2019. His 2019 season set rookie franchise records in passing yards, passing touchdowns (20) and passer rating (87.4). Murray joined Carolina’s Cam Newton (2011) as the only rookie quarterbacks with at least 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in NFL history.

• Philadelphia Eagles RB Miles Sanders

Sanders led all rookies with 1,327 scrimmage yards (818 rushing, 509 receiving) in 2019 and joined Saquon Barkley as the only rookies with at least 800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards since 2000. He surpassed LeSean McCoy (637 in 2009) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in franchise history and surpassed DeSean Jackson (1,008 in 2008) for the most scrimmage yards by an Eagles rookie in team history.

This is Pepsi’s 18th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 17th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.

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About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.  For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Media Contacts

John Deighton, NFL

646-876-6028

John.Deighton@nfl.com

Jillian Galasso Djukic, Pepsi

914-253-3174

jillian.galasso@pepsico.com

Jones High School Shows Maximum Effort In Loss Against Miami Northwestern

Image via FHSAA

Who: Jones High School & Miami Northwestern

What: Class 5A State Championship Game

When: December 14, 2019

Where: Daytona Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL

Jones High School Fightin' Tigers went into their first 5A State Championship game on an 11-game win streak. Facing a dominant Miami Northwestern Bulls defense, the Tigers went into Daytona Beach prepared and ready to take on the task of winning their first state title.

Image via FHSAA

Taking matters into their own hands, Jones High School puts points on the board first with a run by #7 RB, Avarius Sparrow, and PAT by #16 Jeffrey Saint-Louis. As Jones led Northwestern 7-0, mistakes on special teams led to a turnover allowing the Bulls to march into the endzone to tie the game 7-7.

While being ranked No. 2 behind Northwestern in 5A with a 57.3 MaxPreps rating and 30.1 strength of schedule, Jones saw some difficulty on defense. Miami Northwestern used their running ability against Jones to open the field in the 2nd quarter leading to a 17-yard pass completion for a touchdown. With Miami Northwestern now leading 14-7, holding off the Tigers for the rest of the 2nd quarter was the task at hand. However, Jones was not finishing the first half sitting down. Led by senior RB Anvarius Sparrow, the Tigers end a great drive with a 12-yard run into the endzone. With minutes left in the first half, Jones forces a fumble in the red zone, recovering the ball and running out the clock ending the first-half tied 14-14. 

The second half was all about Miami Northwestern. The Bulls began the 3rd quarter in high spirits, although the Tigers possessed all the momentum. As the Bulls prepare to take over the game, they open the 3rd quarter with a 5-minute drive leading to a 10-yard rushing touchdown by #2 Nathaniel Noel, putting them up 20-14. Miami Northwestern would go on to outscore Jones 20-3 in the second half.

The Bulls would not come out of this game without facing some adversity. Having over 150 yards in penalties, Miami Northwestern tapped into their experience and would overcome their mistakes. With 234 passing yards and 146 rushing yards, the Bulls would pull out a big win over Jones 34-17. This win gives the Bulls their 7th title in school history and their third consecutive state title.

With this game being their first state title appearance, Jones High School should not be counted out as one of the top high school football programs in Florida. With talented offensive players returning to the field next season, and a defense that continues to grow and learn, the Jones Fightin' Tigers and head coach Elijah Williams should look to make another championships run in 2020.

Final Score: Miami Northwestern 34-17

Rushing Leaders:

Avarius Sparrow - 111 yds, 2TD (Jones)

Nathaniel Noel - 69 yds, 3TD (Miami Northwestern)

Passing Leaders:

Tysan Robbins - 14/19 for 125 yds

Taron Dickens - 18/24 for 234 yds

Mike Norvell Is Florida State's New Head Coach

Via Florida State Football

After almost five weeks of anticipation, Florida State has finally filled the head coach position for its football program. After the announcement was made that Mike Norvell would be taking the job, many fans and former Florida State players had mixed feelings on the new-hire. However, Florida State seems to be embracing change and moving forward with a hopeful future.

In four seasons, Mike Norvell took a staggering Memphis program into unseen territory. Norvell helped Memphis (12-1) to its first AAC title in its third straight conference championship game. Eight days after beating Cincinnati 34-24 at home in their final regular-season game, Memphis pushed for another win, 29-24, on Saturday.

In a statement announcing his hiring at Florida State, Norvell said, "I'm humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the head coach at Florida State University, one of the iconic brands in college football... I'm so very excited about the future and the opportunity to return Florida State football to one of the nation's elite. I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running, putting together a great signing class, a great coaching staff, and joining arms with our current and former players to help elevate our football program each and every day."

Via Florida State

When Norvell took over at Memphis, he was one of the youngest head coaches in the country. Norvell, 38, replaces Willie Taggart, who was fired nine games into his second season at Florida State. Taggart was 9-12 in 21 games as FSU's coach.

Norvell was the offensive coordinator at Arizona State under Todd Graham before getting the head coaching job at Memphis and before that worked under Graham at Pittsburgh as the co-offensive coordinator and at Tulsa as the passing game coordinator.

Sources: The Associated Press, ESPN, and Florida State Football

NFL and TikTok Announce Multi-Year Partnership to Bring NFL Content to Fans Around the World

Via NFL

Launch of Official Account with New Content Every Week of the Year

Worldwide Hashtag Challenges Starting with #WeReady to Kick Off NFL's 100th Season

Sept. 3, 2019 -- The National Football League (NFL) and TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, announced today a new multi-year partnership to bring the excitement of the NFL experience to TikTok's global community, combining the passion surrounding NFL football with the fast-growing digital platform.

As part of the partnership, the NFL is launching its official TikTok account, delivering content to fans across the platform's global markets. NFL content will include uniquely packaged highlights, sideline moments, and behind-the-scenes footage. Additionally, the NFL and TikTok will partner together around a series of NFL-themed hashtag challenges, inviting members of the TikTok community to express their passion for their favorite NFL clubs and players on TikTok. The NFL and TikTok will also be partnering together on unique marketing opportunities for brands to activate around NFL content on TikTok.

#WeReady Kick Off Campaign
The NFL and TikTok are rallying fans to join in the excitement of kickoff with the #WeReady hashtag challenge campaign. From September 3rd - September 5th, fans are encouraged to show their pride for their favorite team by creating their own unique TikTok videos with the #WeReady hashtag. Popular TikTok creators and NFL clubs will join fans in showing their team spirit and excitement to get "back to football" ahead of the NFL's 100th season.​

TikTok will also be celebrating the NFL's 100th season kickoff live in Chicago on September 5. Attendees can experience TikTok in real life at Soldier Field and create their own unique TikTok videos that show their love for their favorite teams and players in an NFL-themed experience.

"Partnering with TikTok is a natural extension of our media strategy," said Blake Stuchin, Vice President, Digital Media Business Development for the NFL. "The platform reaches a fast-growing global audience of NFL fans and future fans. The NFL programming and hashtag challenges are a perfect way to kick off the NFL's 100th season – with fun, new content that will entertain fans and invites them to celebrate and experience their NFL fandom in a way that's authentic to the unique experience of TikTok."

Sports is a popular and beloved category on TikTok. Sports fans crave authentic moments, and people find that in TikTok's unique and creative short videos that capture the humor, passion, and surprise of the sports world. From the fans and the food to the mascots and players, this partnership will bring the excitement of an NFL game day to TikTok's diverse content ecosystem while involving the TikTok community in the broader NFL experience.

"We're thrilled to partner with a powerhouse in the sports industry like the NFL to bring new life and a fresh perspective to the sports entertainment experience," said Mayan Scharf, Global Partnerships, TikTok. "TikTok is a destination where fans can feel like they are a part of the team and we look forward to showcasing content from the NFL that is exciting, authentic and surprising to TikTok community."

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About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire and enrich people's lives by offering a home for creative expression and an experience that is genuine, joyful, and positive. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. www.tiktok.com.​

Media Contacts:
Laura Perez, TikTok
pr@tiktok.com

Brenna Webb, NFL
brenna.webb@nfl.com

Ohio State Football Beyond Four Years

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Via Ohio State FB

Coming from a university that places great emphasis on networking and building genuine business relationships (Full Sail University), I was excited to hear about the Ohio State Football Real Life Wednesdays program. Although this program is not new, one of their latest videos captures the real mission and vision for Real Life Wednesdays.

Real Life Wednesdays is a three-phase program that takes student-athletes through the process of filling and maintaining their "toolbox" and building brand awareness through internship opportunities and career fairs. By bringing in guest speakers such as Phil Knight (Nike), Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Kenneth Chenault (American Express) athletes have the opportunity to shake hands and connect with some of the top executives in the nation. In the words of Ryan Stamper, Director of Player Development for Ohio State Football, "we don't want to make sure our guys are just set for the four years they're here. My goal is to make sure they're set for the next 40 years."

Being that Columbus, Ohio is the 15th largest city in the nation and the state is home to 25 Fortune 500 companies, Ohio State also provides student-athletes with internship opportunities with many companies in Ohio and around the country. Also, through the Real Life Wednesdays program, athletes are given opportunities to shadow companies and executive and are taken through mock interviews.

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From My Perspective:

I think Real Life Wednesdays is a program that every school needs from high schools to colleges and universities. These days, having a high school diploma or a college degree is not enough. Taking advantage of every opportunity, you have to connect and network with potential employers or industry professionals is the key to establishing a long career after graduation.

Many student-athletes are not well-equipped with the tools needed after college or after their sports career. I'm not sure if the Real Life Wednesdays program is for all student-athletes, but Ohio State Football has a very organized plan in place for their athletes.
 

Check out the video below to see what Ohio State is doing to prepare student-athletes for a life and career beyond four years.

Sources: Ohio State Football