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Erin Matson’s first NIL deal was an awesome experience.
Back in 2021, Marc Pons of Chapel Hill Tire said his young daughter was a big field hockey fan and asked if his company could do something – anything – with UNC All-American Erin Matson.
“Maybe she would record some commercials for us?” he said, as part of his long-time partnership with WCHL. “We would pay her, but I don’t know how this new thing called NIL works.”
After another sponsor was asking about Carolina star Sam Howell doing something on the radio for them, I contacted UNC’s compliance office and was told if Howell had an agent we could not go directly to him.
I looked up Matson’s number and called her. She answered, and I introduced myself. She probably didn’t know me from Adam but sounded like she was happy to hear from me. That was a tip she was also pretty great off the field.
To make sure, I asked her if she had an agent. After all, she had already won a couple of ACC Player of the Year awards and led the Tar Heels to three national championships.
“No, no agent,” she said.
“Then it’s okay to ask if you would record some commercials for one of our best sponsors, who would pay you?”
“Oh, my God!” she said. “Of course I would!”
I told Pons Erin would do it and said to call her directly. He gushed and said, “Do you think she would go to lunch with my daughter and me?” Ask her, I said.
Fast forward and Matson became our first NIL partner, recording several different spots for Chapel Hill Tire, whose business just happened to jump in the ensuing months. She also went to lunch with Pons and his daughter, happily.
We met with Erin periodically in our studio. With each meeting, she seemed to know more about NIL, in general, and how it worked at Carolina so she might be able to get some more deals. MIGHT be able!
Matson went on to write a personal blog for us in her final season and, of course, it was among the most-read posts on this website. She was so grateful for the opportunity, and we were so grateful to have her work with us.
We didn’t know that Karen Shelton would retire after winning her 10th national championship and Erin’s fourth. And that Matson was planning to ask Bubba Cunningham for an interview to succeed her hall of fame coach. Done deal, followed by Matson’s first NCAA title.
“She is the first head coach in the country who did NIL when she played and now can guide her players through it,” he said.
What a hire for Bubba, Marc and us.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jerome M. Ibrahim
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
“What a hire for Bubba, Marc and us.”
Ditto!