College football’s cloaked and untitled power barons rarely reach out for attention or recognition. There are exceptions: T. Boone Pickens, for instance, put his name on Oklahoma State’s stadium and enjoys having indirect public spats with Mike Gundy every now and then. Phil Knight can’t help but be public, but does seem to enjoy occasionally swinging his lead around—-particularly when he shows up in Ohio State’s locker room and says he’s most proud of them, all while his Oregon Ducks lose to Oregon State. Did you know Helfrich was doomed then? Man, you should have.
Another big exception to the rule: John “Papa ‘Papa John’ John” Schnatter, a Louisville booster who also basically got the Cardinals’ stadium named after himself and who celebrated the Cardinals’ basketball championship in a very relaxed and collegial manner with his fellow Cards fans.