Gym owner planning $500-a-month endorsement deal for Miami Hurricanes football players
Dan Lambert, the owner of American Top Team, has a plan for Miami (Florida) football players to reap the benefits of new NCAA rules that will allow them to be compensated.
Lambert, a longtime Hurricanes football fan, has become a millionaire as the owner of the Florida-based chain of mixed martial arts gyms. American Top Team is also the training facility for many professional fighters, including Jorge Masvidal and Amanda Nunes.
Lambert plans to offer all 90 scholarship football players a monthly stipend of $500 this year if they advertise for his gym over social media.
“I want to help the kids. I want to reward them for what they do, and I want a better product on the field, too,” Lambert told ESPN. “I want to improve the reputation of the school and the team I love so much. I think it’s a cool opportunity to get involved and make a difference.
“I’m not looking to profit from this,” Lambert said. “I want to try to bring people together and make our team better. I’ve got too many Gator and Seminole friends that have been (expletive) on me for the last 20 years. I want to reverse it.”
Lambert’s offer to the Hurricanes has not been accepted yet. The total could rack up to $540,000 this year.
“There are improper ways of fans supporting their players, and now there is a legal way to do it,” Lambert told ESPN. “And if there is a legal way, and you can dot the I’s and cross the T’s, I’m going to do it.”
Lambert has also started a corporation, called Bring Back The U. The company will aim to have support from local businesses to in hiring players as spokesmen.
