The University of Utah gymnastics and men’s and women’s basketball teams were all gifted cars from the Crimson Collective, the U’s NIL collective on Wednesday. This comes after the Crimson Collective provided trucks to Ute football players earlier in the fall semester.
All three teams gathered at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday afternoon for the special reveal. Donors to the collective, media, athletics staff and more were all present. This includes Mark Harlan, the athletics director here at the U.
“I can’t tell you how appreciative we are for this amazing opportunity for our student athletes,” Harlan said to the crowd. “This is an amazing place to go to school. I think this type of NIL opportunity for these young people, it just goes in great cadence with the education that they’re receiving … The kind of facilities they have, the kind of coaching, the kind of professors, the kind of experience, the kind of living they have, it just all comes together.”
This gift is a continuation of what has become an incredible week for the Runnin’ Utes men’s basketball team. This past Saturday, they defeated the BYU Cougars in a thrilling rivalry game at the Huntsman. The Utes currently hold an 8-2 record as they finish up the out-of-conference schedule these next couple weeks.
“To see everyone here today, to see the support from all of them and where they want this program to keep going … it’s pretty special,” said senior guard Gabe Madsen. “It just shows that they really support us and we just want to keep winning and bring this program back to where it was.”
Women’s athletics at the U have continued to rise in recent years, largely due to the success of both the women’s basketball and gymnastics programs. Utah’s gymnastics program is one of the best in the nation. Maile O’Keefe, a fifth-year gymnast at the U, said she thinks the support they receive from both the university and community is a big part of it.
“It’s super amazing that we have the support from donors and fans to be able to fund something as amazing as this, not only for sports like football and men’s basketball but for women’s basketball and gymnastics,” O’Keefe said. When I first came here, there was no NIL my freshman year of 2019. NIL-wise, we’ve grown so much.”
The gymnastics team will have their Red Rocks Preview this Friday night and they will officially open their season with a home meet on Jan. 5 against Boise State.
The timing of this gift could not have been better for the women’s basketball team, who are currently ranked #11 in the country. Expectations are high as they begin their conference schedule in just a couple of weeks.
“It means a lot just to see how much we get supported,” said Alissa Pili, a senior forward on the women’s basketball team. “That support is what’s gotten us to be one of the best teams in the nation. I think a lot of people here are genuine and they’re very giving people, so I think having that type of support when you’re an athlete means a lot.”
These athletes will have their choice between either a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Edition or a 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn.
