Finn Barkenaes, UCLA's water boy, made headlines when he secured an NIL deal with Niagara Bottling, marking a significant milestone in collegiate sports sponsorship. This opportunity led to light-hearted moments in the locker room where jokes were made about his drinking preferences due to the agreement. Barkenaes expressed his surprise at the recognition, emphasizing the shift in perception for roles traditionally unseen in sports. Niagara's vice president praised his dedication and important role, as Barkenaes starts featuring in the company's marketing campaigns, which aim to celebrate unsung heroes in athletics.
"He can't drink certain kind of drinks because he's got an NIL deal... And I was looking around, and they said, 'No, it's true.'"
"Let's be real, water boys don't get NIL deals, so it's been pretty cool to be part of something that's, like, flip the script on things."
"At Niagara, we believe unsung heroes like Finn keep top athletic programs running strong with high-quality water."
"He was the perfect choice as our first-ever NIL water boy - his dedication to UCLA athletics is unmatched."
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