Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse University’s most high-profile athletics booster says he is out of the game.
Adam Weitsman told syracuse.com on Tuesday that he will no longer provide name, image and likeness deals to SU athletes or bring celebrities to Syracuse University athletic events.
Weitsman cited Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud as the reason for stepping away. While he has never met Syverud, Weitsman got the impression the chancellor did not want him involved in supporting SU athletics.
“From what I understand, hearing it from sources at the university, he did not like the high-profile nature of the celebrities coming to games and the way I was going about NIL, discussing it with the media,” Weitsman told syracuse.com.
“He was not comfortable with that, but the only way I knew to go about doing NIL is to do it high-profile. We’re in Syracuse, New York. We have to bring attention to our area.
“Even though I didn’t go to Syracuse, I love Syracuse athletics and every single person that works there. But I’m not the boss. If the boss doesn’t want me there, I understand.”
A Syracuse University spokesman told syracuse.com it has no comment on the story.
Earlier this year, Weitsman said he would pay more than $2 million in NIL deals to current and future Syracuse athletes. He predicted that his assistance would help the basketball team reach the national championship game within five years.
But the NCAA has started cracking down on NIL, and while Weitsman says that he would ensure he’s not putting the school in danger of violations, some experts told syracuse.com that his actions might be enough to trigger an NCAA inquiry.
Weitsman was asked if the retirement of Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim had anything to do with him disassociating his involvement with the university.
“I am good friends and respect Coach B,” Weitsman said. “I’m also good friends with Coach Autry, Gerry (McNamara) and Griff (Allen Griffin) and love those guys and want them to have the tools to win.”
Weitsman, a millionaire scrap metal dealer, restaurateur and social media influencer, among other ventures, gained notoriety by bringing celebrities and star athletes and sitting courtside with them at Syracuse University basketball games.
Weitsman’s list of visitors was A-List: NFL legend Tom Brady, “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, actor Cole Hauser and many more.
Weitsman also funded several name, image and likeness deals with SU athletes. He said he would honor any current NIL deals but would not form any new deals.
Weitsman’s breakaway from Syracuse provides a stern test at a time when NIL’s influence on college sports is growing exponentially.
Syracuse does have its own NIL collectives, an NIL store and other initiatives to support student-athletes, but no other boosters, at least publicly, that provide the public reach and influence of Weitsman.
“I love the program. I love everybody that works there. I just think it was different personalities,” he said. “I’m just going to peacefully go off into the sunset.”
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