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The Iowa State football team and the Iowa Pork Producers have come together to form the perfect NIL partnership. The company is using a hilarious play on player names to market their meats.
On Monday, the Iowa Pork Producers Association unveiled the name, image, and likeness agreement in a press release.
“The Iowa Pork Producers Association is partnering with four Iowa State University football players to promote the pork industry… The goal is obviously to push Iowans to buy pork products. More specifically, they want you to purchase more ham and bacon.”
The four Cyclone players involved in the deal are Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann, and Caleb Bacon. Using a combination of those team members’ last names, the company created the “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” campaign.
A photo featuring two of those players in the team’s season opener apparently sparked the partnership.
“After the ‘Hamann Bacon’ photo went viral on social media following the Cyclones’ season opener, we knew we had to jump on this opportunity,” said IPPA president Trish Cook.
The NIL agreement will reportedly run through the month of October and will include social media promotion with the four players “surrounded by delicious Iowa pork.” The Iowa Pork Producers will also donate $1,000 to the food pantry of each players’ choice.
According to the IPPA website, Iowa is the number one state in the nation for pork production with nearly 150,000 Iowans employed by the pork industry.
College football fans on social media have been quick to comment on the Iowa State partnership.
“This is brilliant,” one follower wrote.
“Marketing genius!” said another.
“If NIL does nothing else, it gave us this. Kudos,” this person commented.
Of course, not everyone loved the news (cough… Hawkeyes… cough).
“Wow, they combined the two things that suck the most – ham and Cyclone football.”
We’ll side with the Cyclones on this one as it’s one of the most creative NIL partnerships we’ve seen.