Andrew Luck just finalized his biggest achievement yet as Stanford’s general manager. But it wasn’t landing a top recruit, but
Andrew Luck just finalized his biggest achievement yet as Stanford’s general manager. But it wasn’t landing a top recruit, but instead a huge sum of money to get better players next season and beyond.
Luck has a huge challenge ahead. The school hired him nearly a year ago to bring the football program back to a level of respectability it has not had in a decade. However, the football team is trailing far behind their rivals in the ACC when it comes to the name, image, and likeness wars, and the money necessary to win them.
Well, that changed on Wednesday. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to break the news that the football program has been given a massive $50 million gift to specifically help improve the team in the years ahead. The record-breaking donation comes from Stanford football alum, 1964 graduate, and long-time booster Bradford M. Freeman.
“With Brad’s incredible gift, we are positioned to win on the field and build a bridge to a sustainable future for Stanford football,” Luck said in a statement. “The ability to support our players through new scholarships and institutional NIL will reinforce Stanford as the preeminent place in the country to be a football scholar-athlete.
“I believe that Stanford has the opportunity to be a leading program in college football, and we are entirely motivated to field championship-caliber teams.”
Veteran NFL coach Frank Reich is currently serving in an interim role for the 2-3 team while they seek out a long-term replacement. The new funds could also go a long way in bringing in a big-name coach to help rebuild the program, especially the recruiting side of things.
Part of the agreement will see Stanford name both a tunnel and a gate at Stanford Stadium after Freeman. The investment firm owner has given gifts to both Stanford athletics and the university for decades. He is a former trustee for the school who has also served on numerous advisory boards. Freeman has often said that he credits his time at Stanford for impacting “the trajectory of my life.”
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