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Patrick Mahomes wants Texas Tech, adidas to make an impact on 'the entire world'
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- Patrick Mahomes wants Texas Tech, adidas to make an impact on 'the entire world'
By his very existence and success with the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes has done more than enough to put Texas Tech athletics on an entirely new map. Each of his three Super Bowls have generated more free publicity for the Red Raiders than the university would be able to purchase itself.
That doesn't mean Mahomes feels like he's done enough to help the school that made him the athlete, the businessman, the person that he is today. Not by a long shot, and he's proved that over the past few days.
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On Thursday, it was announced Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, were donating a whopping $5 million toward Texas Tech 's south end zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center construction projects, which are nearing completion. Then on Friday, Mahomes returned to Lubbock for a few more surprises.
In association with adidas — Mahomes' signature brand, which the quarterback helped connect with his alma mater in a 10-year apparel deal — six Texas Tech athletes signed NIL deals and were made the inaugural members of Team Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes looks at Texas Tech director of athletics Kirby Hocutt during a press conference at Jones AT&T Stadium, Friday, August 23, 2024.
"You carry the Texas Tech brand on a worldwide stage," Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said to Mahomes during a news conference Friday, "and we're so proud of you. We cannot express the gratitude for what you continue to do."
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Six athletes come from six Texas Tech sports make up the inaugural signees. They are Micah Hudson , the five-star recruit for the football team; reigning USA Softball collegiate player of the year NiJaree Canady, who joined the Red Raiders in late July ; Jasmine Shavers, leading scorer for the women's basketball team; men's golfer Matthew Comegys; women's soccer player Sam Courtwright, who was the Big 12 freshman of the year in 2023; and freshman all-American baseball player TJ Pompey.
More: Texas Tech football's Patrick Mahomes making multi-million dollar donation to program
More: How Patrick Mahomes II, Joey McGuire worked with adidas to bring Texas Tech football a new look
Mahomes said when he first got to Texas Tech, he expected baseball to be his primary sport with football acting as a side hustle. Instead, he learned under then-coach Kliff Kingsbury, became interested in marketing through Rawls College of Business and the rest is history.
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"It's been really cool to see all the things I learned at Texas Tech and how they've made an impact in my life in the NFL," Mahomes said, "and they'll continue to make an impact in my life the rest of the way."
The two-time NFL most valuable player was also instrumental in getting Texas Tech and adidas together in the first place. Mahomes famously wore a swatch of tape with "adidas" handwritten on it to cover up the Under Armour logo during the Texas Tech basketball team's run to the 2019 national championship game. That has since been turned into its own shirt design. Several volleyball players wore one at Thursday's women's soccer match.
Mahomes said he and Hocutt have had a continuous relationship since he went off to the NFL, the Tech AD always checking on him and his family. The relationship has blossomed over time, and it played a part in why adidas and Texas Tech joined forces in July.
Texas Tech alum and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes attends a press conference at Jones AT&T Stadium, Friday, August 23, 2024.
"I'm excited for the future," Mahomes said. "The future with adidas, with Texas Tech and the Mahomes brand. Let's keep being great every single day. Let's make our stamp on this nation of how great of a university this is in Lubbock."
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Mahomes and Texas Tech each have grand ambitions for the athletic department. Mahomes toured the nearly-completed south end zone building — the walkthrough area in the Womble Football Center will be named after him — and the new adidas trappings throughout the facilities. He helped put Texas Tech on a bigger stage by being who he is and is doing even more through his own pocketbook and personal brand to take it further.
"Now we can come together," Mahomes said, "and make our impact on the entire world."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Patrick Mahomes continues supporting Texas Tech through adidas, NIL
