What happens when your athletic dream crashes into reality? Desmond Mamudi's powerful story takes us from the football fields of Virginia Tech to the unexpected path of entrepreneurship in his family's pizza business.

Desmond pulls no punches describing the brutal side of college athletics few fans ever see. After transferring to Virginia Tech with dreams of playing at the highest level, catastrophic knee injuries derailed his career. The transformation from valued recruit to "liability" happened with breathtaking speed, revealing how quickly players can be discarded once injured. His subsequent transfer to the University of Rhode Island provided a more supportive environment, but further injuries ultimately ended his playing days.

The conversation shifts to one of the most dramatic changes in college sports history – NIL deals that have athletes earning millions before taking a single college snap. As someone who played just before this revolution, Desmond offers a unique perspective on how money is reshaping player motivations. "You could have paid me 10 bucks and I would have played," he reflects, contrasting his experience with today's environment where players hold out for better compensation.

Perhaps most compelling is Desmond's journey to find purpose after football. Returning to Tampa to work in his immigrant father's New York New York Pizza chain (now with nine locations), he's learning the business from the ground up while pursuing his MBA. The parallels between football and business emerge throughout – understanding people's strengths, putting them in positions to succeed, and building something greater than yourself.

Ready to hear a raw, honest conversation about resilience, family, and reinvention? Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe for more powerful stories from athletes navigating life's unexpected turns.