It’s Beaver fever at Jim Fisher Volvo, and everyone has a good time
NIL events are popping up throughout the country. Players are making appearances in warehouses, supermarkets and gymnasiums, at dinner/auctions, birthday bashes and bar mitzvahs. Well, maybe not bar mitzvahs.
The second one of the fall sponsored by Oregon State’s “Giant Killers” collective came off last Saturday at Jim Fisher Volvo in Portland.
Nine of Coach Jonathan Smith’s elite players showed for an NIL event just blocks from Providence Park, where the Beavers had cold-cocked Montana State 68-28 six weeks earlier.
More than 150 Beaver believers convened to collect autographs, take photos and kibitz with their favorite players during a three-hour meet-and-greet.
Paul Hornung Award finalist Jack Colletto was joined by tailbacks Damien Martinez and Dashawn Fenwick, offensive linemen Josh Gray and Brandon Kipper, receivers Anthony Gould and Tyjon Lindsey, linebacker Omar Speights and safety Kitan Oladapo.
“The biggest takeaway was how impressed everyone was with the players,” said Fisher, an OSU grad who is part of the Giant Killers’ board.
I talked to most of the players and was taken with how personable and likable they were.
“These young men represented the university and the football program with class, style and respect,” wrote Serge Alexandre, one of the attendees, on Facebook. “They were all very engaging, humble, respectful and in unison when talking about where the program is headed. Our young men are in great hands with Jonathan Smith and his staff.”
The group of nine on hand Saturday is part of the 21 football players being taken care of this year by Giant Killers. Each was given $5,000 before August training camp and will receive a total of $10,000 if they stay at Oregon State for the academic year, as outlined in the NIL story that I wrote on Oct. 14 here.
Fisher got involved with Giant Killers because he wants to see his alma mater’s athletic teams succeed.
“NIL is the law of the land now,” he said. “We can’t participate at the level of a lot of other schools, but we have to be in the game. We want to show our guys that they’re appreciated and that we recognize their value to the program.”
Jim and wife Julie hosted the event held at the Fishers’ dealership. After eating lunch from a nice sandwich and salad spread, the players parked at each of nine tables located throughout the building. Beaver supporters young and old were free to mingle with any of the gridders.
“I thought it went very well,” Fisher said. “It was a good turnout. There was a good flow of people in the room most of the time. I spent some time with most of the players. I sat and talked to Kipper for awhile. He wants to get into coaching. After he is done with football, Lindsay wants to start a nonprofit to help the homeless. Oladapo was super nice. Gray was so polite. I asked if he wanted a bottle of water and he said, ‘Yes thanks, but I’ll get it.’ Anthony Gould asked for my business card. They’re all good guys.”
I had a few minutes with Martinez, who is reserved and soft-spoken but nice to talk to. He had an undeclared major so far but is considering a career in law enforcement or investigation after he is finished with football.
“Maybe a murder investigator,” he told me. “That might require some work on a police force first. I met an officer back home (in Texas) and he said he would take me for a ride-along next summer.
“I think (a job like that) would be rewarding. I love to solve problems, and it would make me feel good to help people out.”
Fisher got positive feedback from the attendees.
“One middle-aged couple went around and sat with each player for several minutes,” he said. “(The players) were open to pictures with little kids. It was cool. They were just so genuine. I could tell they were appreciative that we’re trying to help them out. It was fun. I had a great time. We’ll try and do it next year.”
Colletto, the Beavers’ versatile Swiss Army knife, attracted the biggest crowds of any player. But all received their share of attention and seemed to enjoy it.
“This takes me out of my comfort zone a little bit,” Fenwick said with a smile, “but it’s cool. Nothing bad about getting paid to talk to people and sign autographs.”
“It makes you feel important, all this fuss about us,” Gray said.
“I love getting out to meet our fans,” Kipper said. “It’s a chance to give back to people who have supported us. It feels good to make little kids’ day with an autograph or a picture.”
For several of the players, it was the second NIL event. The first was held at Kiefer Nissan in Corvallis a few weeks ago.
“It’s a chance to see the other side of it,” Speights said. “When you’re on the field and the fans are cheering for you, you pretty much have no idea who they are. Here you have a chance to see some faces and shake hands with those people.”
I asked several of the players for their thoughts on NIL. All were thinking along the same lines. Great idea and appreciated. Nice to make some extra money. But dangerous when used for recruiting or transfer purposes.
“If I’d have been offered $100,000, I’d have gone to play in Mexico,” Kipper joked. “But really, it would be hard to turn down. And if colleges are buying players? Doesn’t really seem like that’s the way it should be.”
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