Sitting at a small table in front of a green and white banner, like so many interviews and pressers from his past, Draymond Green on Thursday announced the largest single donation by a student athlete in Michigan State history. The figure, $3.1 million, seemed to be specifically chosen to surpass a previous donation by another MSU basketball great, Magic Johnson, by a mere $100,000,000.
Not five days prior, on the field at Tiger Stadium, during the first break of a game that technically never happened, LSU would announce a similar donation of $1 million by frequent NFL Pro Bowl representative, Patrick Peterson.
While the two figures may be vastly different, they both came about in the same fashion, demonstrating the value of investing in a certain kind of player. Even before leaving their respective schools, Green and Peterson shared the distinction of All-American, garnering numerous awards in their respective sports. But it was their common notoriety as the ideal student-athletes, who “did things the way they should be done,” that make their gifts unsurprising.
It’s not hard for coaches, administrators, or even fans to recognize a special talent on the field. In this day of 24-hour recruiting coverage, we can pass judgement on whether a player is good enough simply by clicking play on a video. But each of these cases, especially Greene’s, show the value of taking the time to develop someone who comes to you as a good kid into a great athlete.
“One thing coach Izzo used to always tell me is ‘I’m living my dream. All I want to do is see you live yours.’ As a freshman, it’s hard to believe that. The way he’s on you, you don’t understand it, it’s hard to believe it. Once you realize, ‘This guy wants me to be successful more than I want to be successful,’ it develops that love and makes you want to come back and give back to these guys like others have done for me.” – Draymond Green
It’s also no surprise that portions of each donation will be going to each university’s respective strength and conditioning facility. It’s arguably the place where college athletes spend the majority of their time. It’s where they are molded, and often where they are most challenged. A gifted cornerback may never really be challenged by a receiver on the practice field, but he will never be able to lift all of the iron in the weight room.
But what’s most important about these donations is that they demonstrate the value of bringing in young athletes who have more than just a little talent. Both Draymond Green and Patrick Peterson have been hailed as ambassadors for MSU and LSU. They are the example of what every student athlete should aspire to be, not because they made it to the pros, but because they represent the ideals of leadership and loyalty that encourages both their fellow athletes and community to support their schools.
“LSU is a wonderful place that helped me develop into the person that I am today. I hope that my donation will encourage and inspire other former student-athletes to give back.” – Patrick Peterson
While chasing the most talented and flashy athletes may yield short term results, long term wealth can easily be found by investing time and effort into the right players and personnel, the ones who’s character inspires those around them. The millions of dollars donated by each of these athletes may be significant, but they are just the start. Leaders will lead, and their universities will be better for it.
Feature image via K. Fowler, LSJ
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