87:60 by Virtuoso Sports Innovation: Connecticut's Untold Story
Apr 11, 2025
Rob Thompson, a sports and innovation expert with ties to the Walter Camp Football Foundation, dives into Connecticut's vibrant sports legacy. He reveals how the state was pivotal in the birth of American football and discusses economic growth through sports innovation. From the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness rights for college athletes to the evolution of sports broadcasting with ESPN, this conversation challenges the common perceptions of Connecticut's sports identity and hints at the future of sports tech.
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Walter Camp Awards Anecdote
- The Walter Camp All-American Awards event was once a simple dinner with local fanboys and silent auctions.
- BJ Kito created the fan fest and flag football clinic to better engage fans and players given basketball games weren't drawing crowds.
Walter Camp's Football Innovation
- Walter Camp redefined American football rules to ensure player safety and structured gameplay in 1880.
- His innovations like the line of scrimmage and downs created the sport as we know it today, starting in Connecticut.
Connecticut's Overlooked Sports Legacy
- Nobody commonly knows American football originated in Connecticut despite its global popularity.
- The state's sports legacy is underappreciated and outweighs known claims like pizza or UConn basketball.