STATESBORO, Georgia, April 19, 2024 – Eagle Nation Collective, the Official NIL Collective of Georgia Southern Athletics, collaborates with Burnt Church Distillery and Southern Crown Partners to launch “Hail Southern Premium Vodka” across Georgia. Fans will get their first taste of the NIL Collective-inspired vodka at the inaugural GATAJam in Statesboro Saturday night featuring country music star Cole Swindell.
Processed and bottled by Burnt Church Distillery at 80 proof (40% alc/vol), Hail Southern Premium Vodka is distilled seven (7) times through an organic and sustainable natural fermentation process, is made from 100% corn and is Gluten as well as GMO free.
A portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold of the NIL Collective-inspired vodka goes to the Eagle Nation Collective to benefit Georgia Southern student-athletes through various NIL initiatives.
“We are extremely proud to partner with Eagle Nation Collective to support the student-athletes of Georgia Southern University,” said Chris Crowe, President of Burnt Church Distillery. “Giving back and contributing to our local community is in our company’s DNA and we are thankful for the opportunity to do so with the launch of Hail Southern Premium Vodka.”
Distributed by Southern Crown Partners, an Official Partner of Georgia Southern Athletics, Hail Southern Premium Vodka will be carried at various bars, restaurants, and retail outlets throughout Georgia. Visit https://scpdist.com/ to learn more.
“Hail Southern Premium Vodka isn’t just another spirit,” said Leonard Bevill, the Managing Partner of Eagle Nation Collective. “Now our fans can buy and enjoy one of their favorite tailgate drinks knowing they’re also supporting their favorite team. Working with Chris and Burnt Church Distillery throughout this process has been great too. They are true professionals and definitely masters of their craft. We’re very fortunate to have them and Southern Crown Partners on our team.”
Based in Bluffton, SC, Burnt Church Distillery is a community-based farm-to-bottle spirits company founded by Billy and Sean Watterson. Their tasting room and restaurant are located at 120 Bluffton Road, Bluffton, SC.
Eagle Nation Collective is the Official NIL Collective of Georgia Southern Athletics. Started with a group of twenty investors, the collective currently represents a student-athlete from every athletic program at Georgia Southern.
NIL comes from the right of publicity, which is an intellectual property right that protects a person’s right to use their name, image, likeness, or other components of their identity (e.g., nickname, pseudonym, voice, signature, likeness, jersey number, or photograph) for commercial benefits or promotional purposes.
On July 1, 2021, the NCAA enacted the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy. This was a direct result of O’Bannon and Alston’s legal cases.
An approved NIL activity occurs when a student-athlete provides a service using their NIL in exchange for some form of compensation at market value. The most important concept associated with an approved NIL-related activity is “an exchange of services.” The student-athlete provides a service using their NIL, and the recipient of that service compensates the student-athlete in return. NIL activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Yes. Student-athletes cannot enter into deals that promote any third party related to or associated with the development, production, promotion, distribution, wholesaling, or retailing of the following: tobacco products, including but not limited to any tobacco product, alternative nicotine products, electronic nicotine delivery system; alcohol products, beverage, or brand; adult entertainment products and/or services; gambling/sports wagering in any format (i.e., in person, online, etc.); prescription pharmaceuticals; NCAA banned substances; weapons (including but not limited to firearms and ammunition), political advertising, or other opportunities that go against Georgia Southern University values.
No, if a student-athlete receives money or goods without providing a service, it would be considered an extra benefit under existing NCAA rules. The student-athlete would be deemed immediately ineligible and must go through the NCAA’s reinstatement process before returning to competition. All NIL activities MUST be quid pro quo: there must be an exchange of goods or services for compensation related to one’s NIL. However, there can be no compensation tied to athletic performance such as statistical achievements, wins, or awards.
