New NIL fund Light the Stack is a game-changer for Texan student-athletes

BY GAVIN PATRICK

Sports Editor

Tarleton State University's new NIL fund, Light the Stack, is designed to support Texan student-athletes like never before. Now, when Texan Nation sees its campus smokestack lit purple, there’s a win for the record and checkbooks.

Light the Stack, launched August 14, was built to “help recruit and retain elite student-athletes,” per Tarleton State Athletics. Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz said the fund gives the athletic programs an opportunity to “compete at the highest levels,” and the department is doing all it can to bolster athletic talent and incentivize long-term commitments to Tarleton State.

What’s in it for the donor? Anyone who pledges at least $15 a month or $180 a year—across any or every sport of their choosing—will receive a Light the Stack decal sticker, two priority points per $100 and entries into monthly giveaways (one per $20) for gear, exclusive access, special events and more. All gifts are tax-deductible as well.

2025 is the first year Tarleton has used a full-fledged priority point system for contributors. Fans can get priority points not just by giving to Light the Stack but also by buying season tickets, making any unrestricted donation to athletics and joining the Texan Club. Those points accumulate toward benefits, like access to reserve seating, seat selection, parking, away game tickets and more.

Uryasz said fans will see more deals like these over the years.

“I think the big thing is pointing people there, getting them involved, pushing them to get involved at the lowest level,” Uryasz said. “If it's $15 a month, great. If it's $150 a month, if it's $1,000 a month, it all adds up. But it's going to help us in the long run without a shadow of doubt.”

The exploitation of NIL money is a much-maligned saga in collegiate athletics, but Uryasz assures donors that their money is being used the right way.

Since July 1, after the NCAA and House of Representatives reached an agreement on a $2.8 billion settlement to allow schools to pay athletes directly, the athletic department has had total control over revenue-sharing payments, with all operations now coming “in-house.”

Uryasz said he allocates a budget to each program and works very closely with the coaches and student-athletes to put together the best opportunities.

“Every agreement starts with the student-athlete and the coach, then goes through my office, and we look at those one-by-one and make sure it's something consistent with what we think, number one, the value is and what we think is in the best interest of our program,” Uryasz said. “We have better controls on it than we’ve ever had.”

Light the Stack funds are meant to help student-athletes succeed on and off the field. This means fans aren’t just affording money toward building championship-level teams – they’re also investing in helping the athletes grow as people.

While the funds do not go toward scholarships, it will give student-athletes a steadier income and opportunities to afford academic services—like tutors or school supplies—making it easier for them to stay in school and graduate.

Jake Withee, the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications, said part of the marketing effort will be sharing testimonials from student-athletes and coaches explaining how beneficial these funds are.

“They're not going out there and buying the Rolexes or anything at this level – they’re using [the funds] to help with their housing, help with their bills so that they don't have to go get another job,” Withee said. “They can focus on their studies, their school and their practice.”

Another function of Light the Stack proceeds is keeping Texan athletes out of the transfer portal, which is already a winning fight. Only three players from the football team entered the portal after last season, and one—linebacker Ty Rawls—wound up staying.

This is a rare occurrence in the age of NIL and, Uryasz said, is a compliment to head coach Todd Whitten. He wants to add to that assurance by continuing to give players reasons to stay at Tarleton.

“Dr. Hurley and the administration [have] put us in a position to be successful here without a shadow of a doubt,” Uryasz said. “And we want to do everything we can to use those funds as judiciously as we can to recruit and retain those kids.”

As already seen from testimonials and social media posts, Uryasz said the department will be “very aggressive” in marketing Light the Stack because it will only go as far as Texan Nation takes it.

“This is a grassroots effort,” Uryasz said. “We will continue on our end as administrators and development staff to actually go out and solicit significant contributions to this effort as well. It's kind of a two-fold theme: major contributions and the grassroots effort.”

Jeff Golden, a member of the Tarleton Alumni Association, is one of the first to contribute to Light the Stack.

As someone who loves his institution, Golden believes in the power of the collective – and with Tarleton’s increasing level of national exposure and achievements, he thinks it's a great time to join the fight.

“Any gift helps student-athletes succeed and represent Tarleton with pride,” Golden said. “It’s a simple way to invest in their future and our tradition.”

To pitch in, visit www.tarletonsports.com/LightTheStack.