Iowa Marching Band Members Make NIL History

Mellophone section signs first-of-its-kind deal with Iowa-based kitchenware business.

Joseph Cress/For the Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

As defending National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark (the All-American easily one of the most talked about college athletes in the NIL space) and the No. 3 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team tipped off their season this week, another group of Hawkeyes made their first entry into the history books.

18 members of the Hawkeye Marching Band's Mellophone section recently signed a first-of-its-kind NIL deal with The Brick Kitchen, an independent, family-owned, Iowa-based kitchenware business.

"Most people don’t realize the amount of effort Marching Band students put into their performances," shared Shelly Whited, owner of The Brick Kitchen in a press release. "Many of these students are also trying to maintain part-time jobs, so it can be stressful. This is a great way for us to provide a little financial help and have a lot of fun while doing it. We are also excited to be the first business to ink a deal for a full instrument section with an NCAA Marching Band."

The Brick Kitchen will showcase band members in advertising and social media campaigns and will compensate financially and with products from store inventory.

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Fourth-year Hawkeye Marching Band Member Will Whited’s parents own The Brick Kitchen, so this partnership really is a family affair.

He shared with ABC Cedar Rapids that he hopes this historic deal inspires other small businesses in the future.

”We’re happy to be the first of its kind to do something like this, and we hope we can just maybe pave the way for more NIL deals like this in the future, and to be compared to people like Caitlin Clark and other Iowa athletes, it’s really a badge of honor,” said Whited.

Hawkeye Marching Band Director, Eric Bush, echoed the impact of what this deal can show the local community and country overall.

”We bleed black and gold, you know we’re major ambassadors for the university. And you know, we’re a big part of game day. A big part of the fabric of the university. So to have those students be recognized as well, I think it’s really important,” Bush said.

It's another how NIL doesn't just impact the players and sports who dominate the headlines, but how it can positively impact other people as well.