Today Nebraska Athletics announced their plan to be the first athletic department to provide a tangible solution for helping its student-athletes prepare for the coming changes to Name, Image and Likeness policies in collegiate sports.
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This announcement brings me tremendous joy -- not only because Nebraska is my alma mater, or that their partner in this endeavor is Opendorse, the athlete marketing platform I co-founded with my college teammate Adi Kunalic in 2012…
But because the initiative isn’t just a ‘check the box’ solution. This isn’t something built to capture buzz and attention. That isn’t the Nebraska way.
This is real.
This is rooted in proven, powerful solutions.
This is built to last.
This is real.
This is rooted in proven, powerful solutions.
This is built to last.
The vision Nebraska Athletics has for developing a NIL solution for current and future student-athletes is as inspiring as the time Nebraska Football introduced collegiate sports to the importance of strength and conditioning.
Back then, they didn’t just build a weight room.
They built a movement.
They transformed everything about student-athlete development, providing a blueprint for success that would be replicated throughout college sports.
They built a movement.
They transformed everything about student-athlete development, providing a blueprint for success that would be replicated throughout college sports.
Today, Nebraska didn’t just sign up for a new software.
They started a movement.
They found a partner that has transformed the athlete marketing industry, providing the infrastructure for success that can help student-athletes throughout the country.
They started a movement.
They found a partner that has transformed the athlete marketing industry, providing the infrastructure for success that can help student-athletes throughout the country.
I’m proud of my alma mater for making the first move.
But I’m more proud to know their program is built with purpose.
Because I know firsthand how important it is for a program to have real purpose behind it.
But I’m more proud to know their program is built with purpose.
Because I know firsthand how important it is for a program to have real purpose behind it.
To explain, let me tell you a story...
In 2007 I put on a helmet and walked onto Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska to play my first game for the prestigious Cornhuskers football program.
In 2007 I put on a helmet and walked onto Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska to play my first game for the prestigious Cornhuskers football program.
After a whirlwind recruiting experience wherein I juggled the courtship of dozens of schools across the country, I had chosen Nebraska as my new home.
At the time, it was the biggest decision of my life - at just 18 years old I selected a path that would forever change my fate.
At the time, it was the biggest decision of my life - at just 18 years old I selected a path that would forever change my fate.
Looking back now, I know I made the right decision, but the weight of that decision, the impact it has had on my entire life, makes me want to reflect on the factors that led me to commit to Nebraska in the first place...
Just a year prior, in early 2006, I put on a helmet and walked onto Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska -- but this wasn’t a football helmet -- it was a construction helmet.
Why?
Why?
We were walking through the ground floor of the brand new football facilities being built on the north side of the stadium.
The ‘tour’ of the soon-to-be-complete facilities included tremendous hyperbole, which resonated with my 16 year old ears.
The ‘tour’ of the soon-to-be-complete facilities included tremendous hyperbole, which resonated with my 16 year old ears.
“You will have the biggest weightroom in the country.”
“You will have the best practice facilities in the country.”
“You will have the most high-tech locker room in the country.”
“You will have the best practice facilities in the country.”
“You will have the most high-tech locker room in the country.”
“You will be able to workout, get treatment, watch film, practice, study, eat without leaving the stadium.”
“You will play in front of the biggest jumbotron in the country.”
“You will play in front of the biggest jumbotron in the country.”
Everything sounded amazing. No other school had facilities THIS fresh.
I hadn’t even met the coaching staff yet, or been to a game in Memorial Stadium, but was starting to love the idea of playing football for Nebraska.
When we walked onto the field, I was sold.
I hadn’t even met the coaching staff yet, or been to a game in Memorial Stadium, but was starting to love the idea of playing football for Nebraska.
When we walked onto the field, I was sold.
“Did you know Nebraska football has sold-out every single game since 1962?”
Nope. I didn’t know that.
But when I whirled around to see 85,000+ seats, I started to imagine them filled with fans cheering for us… for me…
...if I were a Nebraska Cornhusker.
Nope. I didn’t know that.
But when I whirled around to see 85,000+ seats, I started to imagine them filled with fans cheering for us… for me…
...if I were a Nebraska Cornhusker.
That day - the first tour of Nebraska’s facilities - stuck with me throughout the recruiting process.
After considering more than 20 scholarship offers, I committed to Nebraska football in the fall of 2006 and signed my letter of intent in Feb 2007.
I was officially a Husker.
After considering more than 20 scholarship offers, I committed to Nebraska football in the fall of 2006 and signed my letter of intent in Feb 2007.
I was officially a Husker.
That summer, our recruiting class walked into the brand-spanking-new facilities, which were undoubtedly the best in the country.
The biggest locker room.
The freshest players’ lounge.
Not one but TWO indoor football fields.
Three outdoor practice fields.
The biggest jumbotron in the country.
A stadium that had been sold out for more than 45 years.
We were destined for greatness.
The freshest players’ lounge.
Not one but TWO indoor football fields.
Three outdoor practice fields.
The biggest jumbotron in the country.
A stadium that had been sold out for more than 45 years.
We were destined for greatness.
We went 5-7.
Our coach got fired.
What the hell happened?
Turns out…
Facilities are fantastic for recruiting.
But...
Practice fields don’t make plays.
Weightrooms don’t win games.
Stadiums don’t make you successful.
Our coach got fired.
What the hell happened?
Turns out…
Facilities are fantastic for recruiting.
But...
Practice fields don’t make plays.
Weightrooms don’t win games.
Stadiums don’t make you successful.
Having the best facilities in the country can certainly help attract top talent (after announcing the North Stadium renovations, Nebraska signed the #5 class in 2005, #20 in 2006, #13 in 2007) but it’s what the program can do with that talent that matters most.
Perhaps it’s not just about having the best for your student-athletes -- it’s about getting the best out of your student-athletes...
In 2008, we had a new head coach at Nebraska.
He brought with him a deep-rooted passion for football, and a proven program for getting the most out of his players.
His first meeting with the team, he preached discipline, commitment, and the importance of accountability.
He brought with him a deep-rooted passion for football, and a proven program for getting the most out of his players.
His first meeting with the team, he preached discipline, commitment, and the importance of accountability.
“We will be the strongest team in the country.”
“We will have the best practices in the country.”
“We will be the most tight-knit locker room in the country.”
“We will workout, get treatment, watch film, practice, study, eat with a purpose.”
“We will have the best practices in the country.”
“We will be the most tight-knit locker room in the country.”
“We will workout, get treatment, watch film, practice, study, eat with a purpose.”
“We will play in front of the biggest supporters in the country.”
We believed in the man’s vision for the program, first because of his conviction, but second because of the undeniable proof -- he had just won the College Football National Championship the year prior.
We believed in the man’s vision for the program, first because of his conviction, but second because of the undeniable proof -- he had just won the College Football National Championship the year prior.
When we walked out of that meeting, I was sold.
I was part of a program that was going to not only have the best facilities possible, but to have a plan for every player on the team...
I was part of a program that was going to not only have the best facilities possible, but to have a plan for every player on the team...
A plan to help us get the most out of one another, and use the foundation built before us to produce a team that would be remembered long after us.
In 2008 we won 9 games including a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson and their first year head coach Dabo Swinney.
In 2008 we won 9 games including a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson and their first year head coach Dabo Swinney.
In 2009 we were the number one defense in the country and one second away from winning the Big 12 Championship and heading to a BCS bowl.
(We settled for a 33-0 shutout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl).
(We settled for a 33-0 shutout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl).
We made our supporters proud, we worked with a purpose, we were tight-knit, we had the best damn practices, we were stronger than our opponents.
What the hell happened?
Turns out…
Facilities are fantastic for recruiting.
But...
Players make plays.
(not practice fields)
Teams win games.
(not weightrooms)
Programs make you successful.
(not stadiums)
Turns out…
Facilities are fantastic for recruiting.
But...
Players make plays.
(not practice fields)
Teams win games.
(not weightrooms)
Programs make you successful.
(not stadiums)
Perhaps you’re thinking… what do you mean by ‘program’?
To me, a program is an all-encompassing approach to achieving a goal, often with a set of core values, vision, purpose, and processes for ensuring all players are moving in the same direction.
To me, a program is an all-encompassing approach to achieving a goal, often with a set of core values, vision, purpose, and processes for ensuring all players are moving in the same direction.
Because of the breadth and depth of the concept, most programs will set simple to understand statements that help unify the team and remind them of the common goal.
A guiding principle of our refreshed football program at Nebraska was a simple quote, which, by 2009, was etched on the walls of our facilities:
“Focus on the process, compete every day.”
“Focus on the process, compete every day.”
What does all of this have to do with today’s announcement?
The experience Adi and I went through at Nebraska emphasized the importance of building teams with purpose.
The power of pillars in building a program that gets the most of its players.
The experience Adi and I went through at Nebraska emphasized the importance of building teams with purpose.
The power of pillars in building a program that gets the most of its players.
I believe the foundation of our Nebraska experience was built on three pillars:
Assessment
Education
Performance
All three are needed to get a new program off the ground and repeating each phase is critical to ensure ongoing success.
Assessment
Education
Performance
All three are needed to get a new program off the ground and repeating each phase is critical to ensure ongoing success.
This is the experience we went through at Nebraska.
Our head coach didn’t just send us into the weight room and expect results.
He found the best strength coach in the country and built a program that would maximize the value of the weight room for everyone on the team.
Our head coach didn’t just send us into the weight room and expect results.
He found the best strength coach in the country and built a program that would maximize the value of the weight room for everyone on the team.
The Opendorse Ready Program will function in the same manner.
The three pillars of the program:
Assessment
Education
Performance
We will help student-athletes understand their NIL value and do everything we can do help them maximize that value.
The three pillars of the program:
Assessment
Education
Performance
We will help student-athletes understand their NIL value and do everything we can do help them maximize that value.
Today, Nebraska once again set the standard in collegiate sports.
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to help their team navigate the NIL-driven future of collegiate sports.
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to help their team navigate the NIL-driven future of collegiate sports.
Plenty of work to do.
Plenty to be proud of.
Looking back, when innovation was needed in college sports...
Nebraska was ready.
Looking forward, when innovation is needed in college sports...
Nebraska is ready.
Plenty to be proud of.
Looking back, when innovation was needed in college sports...
Nebraska was ready.
Looking forward, when innovation is needed in college sports...
Nebraska is ready.
