World Class Faculty & Research / September 26, 2014

NFL players tackle life after football

NFL players tackle life after football

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, UMD ’10, and 14 other NFL players gathered in Baltimore for offseason training — but not for the gridiron. Instead, they worked on their business skills during a program designed by Smith’s Office of Executive Programs and NFL Player Engagement.

Boot Camp: Consumer Products took place in March 2014 and prepared the athletes to run a business. Hank Boyd, Tyser Teaching Fellow, taught several sessions focused on intellectual property and licensing in the context of marketing in its classic four-tier structure.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs-in-residence Harry Geller and John LaPides coached participants in a pitch competition.

Smith said the boot camp sharpened his vision to establish a youth center that fosters academic and athletic development. His Torrey Smith Foundation promotes mentoring and educational resources for Baltimore-area youth.

“The entire boot camp showed me what it is going to take for my vision to become reality,” Smith said. “It also energized me for what is just ahead.”

Watch related video with Professor Hank Boyd

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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

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