Investors Gave Model Student-Athlete a Standing Ovation

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

One month ago marks the inaugural Nebraska Athletics Leadership Society Investors’ Meeting in Memorial Stadium. The event, which featured Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany as the keynote speaker, was an innovative way for Nebraska Athletics to share its vision to support more than 600 student-athletes and to guarantee them the best experience in collegiate athletics.

Nebraska’s trailblazing philanthropic program supports the Student-Athlete Experience Fund, encompassing 196 lead donors from 17 states and two countries. Core donors gathered inside the West Stadium Club to hear and understand how and why alumni, friends, families and partners can create an exclusive one-of-a-kind Nebraska Athletic Experience. Marc Boehm, Executive Associate Athletic Director for Development, coordinated the event and credited his staff of Alex Kringen, Mike Dobbs, Leslie Bargen and Jack Pierce for "bringing it all together."

If you’re looking for a metaphor that can help you understand this unique idea, think Green Bay Packers, an NFL franchise which is always sold out and owned by investors who contribute to the fund to draft the best players and to enjoy the best fan experience. Packer owner certificates have no investment value because their generosity is designed to operate the best franchise, sign the best players and support the best and most loyal NFL fans in America.

The Packers and Huskers may seem like a continental divide, but their respective search for excellence reflects a shared pride for history and a deep appreciation for tradition.

Nebraska came up with the idea to launch a Leadership Society, which meets NCAA guidelines to impact 600-plus student-athletes in 24 sports through expanded communication, exclusive events and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Since Nebraska is one of six known athletic departments in America that receives no university or state subsidies to support its operations, the Huskers rely on donor generosity to stay on the cutting edge of facilities, academics, life skills, performance, and leadership.

For First-Of-Its-Kind Investors, Nebraska Covers All the Program’s Bases

This first-of-its-kind investors’ meeting covered A to Z in Nebraska Athletics with an executive report from Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst, (pictured above with Fowler), a financial report from John Jentz, a compliance and accountability report from Jamie Vaughn, a gender equity, diversity and inclusion report from Pat Logsdon, an academic report from Dennis Leblanc and a life skills report from Keith Zimmer.

The second half of the Nebraska Athletics inaugural investors’ meeting included creative presentations from Chris Brasfield about recruiting millennials, Steve Waterfield on performance and research, Diane Mendenhall on university collaboration and David Witty on the Nebraska Brand.

All reports and updates were relevant, but let the record show that the highlight of this pioneering, fact-filled, entertaining 3½-hour meeting happened right in the middle of all the action. Meet Mattie Fowler, a speaker who was so dedicated to represent the University of Nebraska in her five years as a student-athlete, she swept about every top award available.

Fowler’s speech to this elite Nebraska Athletics Leadership Society startup group was so spot on, she received a heartfelt standing ovation from everyone in the big banquet room, including Commissioner Delany, who is one of the top, if not the top power person in collegiate athletics.

In her 6th year at Nebraska, “I’m still just as captivated and moved by this place as I was the first time I stepped on campus,” Fowler said. “I only took one recruiting visit. This was it. I walked through the front doors to West Stadium and saw the Academic All-Americans lining the walls, and I could feel greatness around me."

Standing on the Sideline at a Football Game, Mattie Fowler Felt the Energy

“I stood on the sideline before a football game and I could feel the energy, passion, and devotion of this community,” she said. “I went to a volleyball game where I watched thousands of fans stand the entire fifth set. It was the easiest decision I have ever made. I was hooked.”

Fowler labeled those facts as easy selling points. “They speak for themselves,” she said, “but what you can’t grasp on a two-day recruiting visit is the unbelievable level of investment and support behind the scenes.”

She praised Nebraska for having a staff that “takes the time to get to know us, identify our strengths and recognize our potential way before we do.”

In her freshman year, Nebraska Softball Coach Rhonda Revelle came up to Fowler during practice and said: “You’re going to be an Academic All-American before you’re done here.”

Fowler perked up and asked Revelle if she really believed that. “I’ve never been wrong when it comes to this,” Revelle said.

In that instant, becoming an Academic All-American became Fowler’s goal. “I wrote it on my bedroom mirror and inside of my notebook,” she told Nebraska donors. “I was going to be an Academic All-American because Coach Revelle saw something in me.”

Unfortunately, after three seasons, Fowler had two knee surgeries and didn’t think she was consistently playing at a high enough level. “I was embarrassed that I had set such a lofty goal,” she said, “so I stopped writing it down and erased it from my mirror. Even though I had temporarily lost confidence in myself, the coaches, staff and trainers were still in my corner, pushing me, demanding excellence.”

Refusing to Let Anyone Fall Short, Fowler Fulfilled Her Coach’s Prophecy

At that point, Fowler realized “what we have at Nebraska is a tradition of excellence,” she said. “We refuse to let any of our own come up short. It took five years, but I fulfilled Coach Revelle’s prophecy, so she’s still never been wrong. I couldn’t have done it without my coach’s vision and guidance, and I could not have done it without the resources that our donors provide.”

The Alex Gordon Indoor Training Complex opened in the fall of Fowler’s freshman year. “I have yet to see a hitting facility across the country that’s half as nice as our hitting palace, which is what we call it,” she said. “I spent countless late nights in that place.

“The Hewit Academic Center is top of the line and provides an innovative space for student-athletes to study, collaborate and grow intellectually. I spent even more late nights studying there,” said Fowler (pictured above) flanked by Revelle and Dr. Donna Dudney, associate dean for undergraduate programs in Finance in Nebraska's College of Business Administration.

When you invest in Nebraska Athletics, “most people will associate that with the tangibles,” Fowler said. “Haymarket Park was my home for five years.”

Fowler calls the East Stadium expansion “incredible”, the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory “state-of-the-art” for research and the new Hibner Soccer Stadium “beautiful”.

“I want to make sure you know that your investment goes beyond that,” Fowler told investors. “All of you in this room have changed lives and bettered this community by investing in the Huskers.”

Nebraska Post Eligibility Opportunity Program Gives Student-Athletes Choice

Last year, thanks to generous donors, Nebraska launched the Post Eligibility Opportunity (PEO) Program, where student-athletes who have graduated and exhausted their eligibility may use a one-semester scholarship toward graduate school, an internship or study abroad experience.

“At Nebraska, we’re used to setting the standard for innovation in intercollegiate athletics,” Fowler said. “But I don’t think any of the donors or staff members could have predicted the lasting impact this program could have just in its first year.”

At this point, in front of a captive audience, Fowler recognized four Huskers who seized the opportunity to broaden their growth through unique experiences:

Chongo Kondolo (pictured above with Nebraska Coach Mike Riley on 2015 Senior Day), a former Husker lineman, used his PEO funds to intern as a youth mentor with Americore. This internship led to a fulltime job with Jenda Family Services. Without the PEO scholarship, he wouldn’t have been able to participate in the unpaid internship, and he may have missed on the opportunity to align his career with his passions to service families in need.

Josh Ungar, a former gymnast, used the PEO program to intern with Husker Power, where he found his passion for sports medicine, which he is working towards at UNMC.

Ross Dickson, a former golfer, used the PEO to intern with the junior golf association, which led to his dream job working at Augusta.

Jacque Juffer, a former swimmer, is using the PEO program to follow her passion for public policy while working on Capitol Hill.

When Mattie Fowler Says Investors Are Changing Lives, She Definitely Means It

Fowler did her homework and reinforced her conclusions. “When I say you are changing lives, I mean it,” she told the investors. “These opportunities for me and my peers would not be possible without your generosity and support,” she said.

Husker Nation national acclaim "would not be possible without your support,” Fowler said. “Your investment brings in five-star recruits and develops them so they leave as five-star individuals.

“I’ll never say no to an event like this because I’m indebted to this athletic department, to the donors and to the staff,” Fowler said. “My ultimate goal is to be sitting in your seat one day, so I can give back some fraction of everything this athletic department gave to me. 

“I am so fortunate to stand in front of all of you, and I have been so privileged to be a Husker,” Fowler said. “Thank you for all that you do to enhance this athletic department and inspire a new generation. As always, Go Big Red!”

Husker SWA Pat Logsdon: Mattie Epitomizes Student-Athlete, Servant Leader

Everyone in the room, including Pat Logsdon, Nebraska’s executive associate athletic director for Administration and Senior Woman’s Administrator (pictured above), thanked Fowler with a robust standing ovation.

“Mattie has truly been a joy to work with,” Logsdon said. “She epitomizes everything a student, an athlete and a servant leader should aspire to be. Mattie had a meaningful impact not only on her softball teammates, but her fellow students and student-athletes. She’s a passionate and engaging leader who’s made exceptional contributions to the UNL campus, the Nebraska Athletic Department and the Lincoln community.

“Mattie’s a native of Tucson, Arizona, but we consider her one of our own because she represents all of the best qualities associated with the people of Nebraska,” Logsdon said. “She’s hard-working, loyal, humble and has a deep desire to serve others. She’s an exemplary leader who no doubt will have incredible success in any endeavor she chooses.”

That includes the ultimate achievement possible. If you wonder what that might be, take the time to read this remarkable story describing the fifth annual University of Nebraska Business Administration Women in Business Breakfast.

Click the video link at the very bottom of that story. Revelle envisioned Fowler becoming an Academic All-American, and now, let’s just say her next prediction is nothing less than shooting for the moon with a talented young woman she devoutly believes in.

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