It’s early fall and football is back! I’m passionate about this sport at all levels, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, San Francisco 49ers, and Foothill Falcons, where our son played through high school. Despite the violent nature of hitting and tackling, there’s a special bond formed by players and coaches who sacrifice so much individually for their team.
If you follow college sports, you are aware of NIL, where athletes can now earn income from the use of their name, image, and likeness. What was once sanctioned by the NCAA has now become its own cottage industry, with star players (mainly in football and basketball) earning six and sometimes seven figures, sometimes before ever stepping on a playing field or court. The new NIL era is not yet regulated; we should expect that to change over time.
Players are now allowed to transfer to a different school in the middle of their collegiate career. One of the key motivations is the ability to earn (more) money.
This is why I was intrigued by a recent article about two-star collegiate football players, quarterback Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State and offensive lineman Grey Zabel from North Dakota State.
Each is a leader on their team, and both programs have had huge success despite being smaller schools.
Each received offers to transfer to bigger programs, and they were offered large sums of money. ESPN reports that Gronowski’s offer was $1.2 million, and Zabel’s was in the six figures. That’s serious money, especially for someone in their twenties.
Each decided to stay with their current school. Clearly, there was something more important than money. These two, each from small towns, described the environment, coaching, and camaraderie they’ve established with their teammates. “I didn’t want to miss out on something special (just to) go take a paycheck somewhere else,” Zabel told the reporter.
Said the South Dakota State coach: “There’s nothing I can do to compete with the money…we have to deliver an experience e that’s different than most, we have to be genuine.”
Transform Your Practice! We are proud to announce the launch of PX90, an online program designed to take your patient experience to the next level!
Join us for the launch event (via webinar) on 10-10-24 @ 8 pm Eastern. We will do a “workout” together and have a special offer for those attending.