The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
Southern California. Hugely successful in business, the one they called "Surf" in Ann Arbor proved more than willing to return the flow of good will. Stephenson has endowed a fund to support a U-M football scholarship. For the once-and-forever Wolverine, that gesture seemed as natural as the fit of a winged helmet. After participating on four Big Ten championship teams with the Wolverines, he briefly competed as a member of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Then he transitioned to the next phase of his life, eventually overseeing a multibillion-dollar real estate development firm based in Newport Beach. The Del Mar, Calif., resident had never met U-M head coach Brady Hoke until a couple of years ago. Hoke was in California for his initial leadership training venture with a group of Michigan seniors, and was having dinner with some of his former staffers from San Diego State. Stephenson noted he'd gotten out of contact with Michigan football under the previous coaching regime, but struck up a quick and chance alliance with Hoke. "My wife and I were walking on the beach that afternoon," Stephenson recalled. "We came walking up the street and went by the restaurant. I did a double take. I stuck out my hand, introduced myself, and we started a conversation. "During that conversation, I indicated that I was here in San Diego, doing a lot of things, and one of them was teaching a leadership class at the time. He mentioned the team was out there for a leadership program." Two years later, Stephenson helped out with the latter, becoming one of several speakers to the U-M seniors. The Michigan alumnus knows what the present Wolverines are enjoying, in terms of input that can change their lives and those of others. "The greatest gift they've been given over the last four years at Michigan is a top-notch course in leadership," Stephenson said. "That's something they can practice for the next 60 or 70 years. It's something they're almost obliged to do, because when they introduce themselves, people are going to say, 'Hey, you're a Michigan football player.' Right out of the chute, more is going to be expected of them. "You know, when you think about it, if you don't have the ability to go back and lead the football team as a coach, you're going to be leading aspects in your community, or whatever environment you're in. One of the ways you can show true leadership is to give back.'" That's precisely what happened in his situation. "I went through the experience and enjoyed it so much, and have been successful in life … I really want someone else to live that same experience and not have the issues that were in front of me," he explained. "My way of giving back was to endow funds for a scholarship. It goes full circle." Stephenson remains an ardent fan of the Wolverines, excited over what Hoke is building. "I want these guys to go out and win a Big Ten championship," he