Penn State’s Sean Clifford talks NIL at 1st public event in Mechanicsburg

After Pennsylvania passed legislation and the NCAA instituted an interim policy allowing college athletes to profit off their names, images and likenesses this past month, Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford quickly figured out his priorities.

Firstly, he didn’t want any potential opportunities to interfere with football. And second, after a year without doing so, he wanted to make sure he could once again interact with “the best fans in the country.”

The redshirt senior was able to satisfy both of those requirements with his first public appearance deal since the new legislation, appearing at Black n Bleu Restaurant in Mechanicsburg on Saturday afternoon to sign autographs and take photos with Central Pennsylvania Nittany Lions fans in a paid appearance.

“I definitely wanted to do an in-person, public appearance, and I think it’s really cool that we can do that now with the new bill,” Clifford said. “This is somewhere where a lot of Penn State fans come to cheer on the Nittany Lions. The owner (Donny Brown) is such a great guy, and the staff is so supportive of Penn State football. I’m happy to be here.”

While the event took place at Black n Bleu, it was actually organized by Darren Backus of Camp Hill sports memorabilia company Best Authentics.

Backus says this isn’t just a new world for college athletes but for his industry as well, navigating just how this NIL freedom will operate.

“It’s going to kind of be the wild west as far as what’s available to these players,” Backus said. “It’s not going to be equitable. Quarterbacks are going to be in more demand than a cornerback or a defensive tackle. That’s just the way the landscape is.”

Clifford sees the new avenue for income as a chance for college athletes to ease into professional life, as opposed to it simply being a cash cow.

“It just allows you to be an entrepreneur at a young age” Clifford said. “And I think that’s the main key. It has to be rooted out of an academic, entrepreneurial mindset. I don’t think the focus needs to be on ‘How do I make as much money as I can?’ It can end like that, but I don’t think that’s the right focus. I think the main thing is to have fun and do the things you might not have been able to do before, and start your career off earlier.”

Limited to 300 tickets, the restaurant sold over 100 by noon at $30 a piece to meet the Nittany Lion quarterback. Clifford’s compensation was not disclosed.

“Whatever (the players) get, they get,” said Tanni Stumpf, a York resident who drove to Mechanicsburg for the event. “I’d rather go to these things where the top players can go out and make money.”

As the signal-caller for a blue blood program like Penn State, Clifford is sure to receive plenty more interest when it comes to endorsement offers and other appearances.

But he insists that once fall camp starts for Penn State, everything is about football.

“I don’t want (NIL opportunities) to affect how I play on the field,” Clifford said, noting camp is still a couple of weeks away. “Because that’s the end goal, to win a Big Ten championship and to win a national championship. And that means if something gets in the way of that, that thing will be cut out. If the opportunities come, they come. But I’m not too worried about it.”

Still, he understands that on-field success will open up even more doors.

“I’m trying to win games because I want to win. For myself and my teammates and my family and the Penn State community,” Clifford said. “The goal has not changed. But there’s definitely a new world.”