Henry Blog: Former FSU athletes help financially

Article left out Dan Football who endowed a $100K trainer scholarship.

Henry Blog: Former FSU athletes help financially


"Former Florida State athletes have been generous with their money over the years when it comes to supporting Seminole athletics.

And those financial contributions and gifts must continue because college athletics pay a high price to compete. Coaches' salaries, training facilities, renovations, endowed scholarships don't happen without cold, hard cash

While everyone's financial situation is different, former Seminole athletes are doing their part to help.
It's being done elsewhere, too. In a big way.

The University of Arkansas on Wednesday announced the family of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a starter on the Razorbacks' 1964 national championship football team, has made a donation valued at $10.65 million to the school's athletics department.

Florida, meanwhile, announced Wednesday it plans to build a $15 million indoor practice facility for football, and the school expects to receive private donations to help fund the project.

And did you read Wednesday where former University of Miami defensive end Calais Campbell, now with the Arizona Cardinals, has given $1.6 million to the Hurricanes to establish an endowed scholarship for defensive linemen?

That is the school's largest donation from a former athlete. Campbell will also be the sixth former Hurricane to have an area of the football offices named after him.

The Seminoles have had their share of successful professional athletes, too, and many have helped financially. Others have raised money through their charities or directly provided funds to former players in need.

FSU might not always immediately see the $1 million gift from its former athletes, but every dollar counts. The program has also done a better job of embracing its former athletes, specifically in football.

"Many (former athletes) participate at some level with us when they are young, and later in life they get involved at a higher," said Jerry Kutz, vice president of marketing and communications for Seminole Boosters, Inc.

Former Seminole receiver Barry Smith, 64, and wife Mary Ann Stiles have donated millions to the university – the Seminoles' soccer/softball team building is named after them

Their support contributes to the athletics program's long-term growth, especially when expenses are nearing $90 million, according to USA Today's college athletic finance base.

"You are giving back and you are helping others," Smith said.

"That's in my DNA. I do see it in guys my age, the older they get they look back very fondly, and most of us wish we could still be down on the field doing our thing, the glory days."

Former FSU baseball All-American John-Ford Griffin has endowed a $100,000 scholarship and the Seminoles' baseball clubhouse is named after the Griffin family

Griffin, 35, who resides in Tallahassee and operates a baseball/softball training facility, stresses how financial contributions provide the framework that makes winning possible.

"When it comes down to developing arenas like at Florida State that can provide that kind of environment for you to produce, that has always been a motivation for me and hopefully that's something that motivates others as well," Griffin said."