Randy Peterson
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May 19, 2025
You caught the big financial sports news recently, I presume, and no, we’re not talking about the money mess that’s become as much a part of college sports’ negatives -- as marching bands, cheer squads and the wonderful smell of pre-game tailgating are to the positives.
Ink is barely dry on thefive-year contract worth a total of $265 million that Brock Purdy recently signed. Tyrese Haliburton is in the midst of a five-year contract worth a reported $260 million.
That’s half-a-billion for two of the best ever to wear Iowa State uniforms. Two good guys, but this just in:
On Saturday, David Montgomery, now a star running back for the Detroit Lions, came back to receive his diploma.
How’s that for positives in this college sports world filled with headlines about a coaches’ girlfriend running North Carolina football (I exaggerate a smidge), about daily transfer portal drama, court rulings, the President suggesting that Nick Saban head a yet-to-be formed college sports commission, and coaches making outrageous salaries.
We needed this dose of the good news: Two of the largest contracts in professional sports – and a fulfilled promise to get college diploma.
It doesn’t get any better than that, in this Debbie Downer age of no accountability – of everyone blaming everyone else for their problems.
“Getting my Iowa State degree was the most important thing I had on my list,” Montgomery, told Iowa State’s Letterwinners web site.
“I set a goal I wanted to finish this in the next couple of years, so being able to do that was very important. This was a priority for me. When I got a full-ride scholarship I made a promise to ensure myself to finish. Full-ride scholarships aren’t easy to come by, and I wanted to make sure I was exhausting every opportunity to ensure I would graduate.”
To recall:
** Purdy, the final pick (and 262nd overall selection) of the 2022 NFL Draft becoming having the seventh-best annual salary for a quarterback in NFL history.
** Haliburton, the heart of the still-playing Indiana Pacers who just as well could have chosen Northern Iowa over Iowa State.
** Montgomery, a two-time NFL 1,000-yard rusher who wasn’t even recruited all that heavily walking across the stage to get his diploma.
If that’s not a marketing department’s advertising campaign layup, then there’s not one.
I can see it now, Iowa State’s three stars emerging from the Pop-Tarts trophy – one proudly holding his diploma, and the other two displaying lucrative pay checks.
We reached out to athletics director Jamie Pollard during a busy weekend that included son James’ college graduation. We asked what the Montgomery, Purdy and Haliburton stories mean for Iowa State.
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On Montgomery, Pollard said:
“I was so pleased to see David not only graduate, but take the time to walk in commencement. Our staff spends so much time emphasizing the importance of academics and graduation, from the first moment each student-athlete arrives on campus. I compare it to chiseling a sculpture. You chisel, and chisel, and chisel, and eventually a sculpture emerges. It was so rewarding to see David’s “academic sculpture” emerge after all the “chiseling” we provided to him.”
On Haliburton and Purdy:
“It is surreal to see the success and financial rewards that both Tyrese and Brock have achieved,” Pollard said. “It seems like just yesterday they sat in my office as 17-year-olds, with their parents, contemplating coming to Iowa State University. Their success is a point of pride for so many Iowa State fans and alums. Even more powerful, their success provides a blueprint for future student-athletes to follow, should they decide to be a Cyclone.”
Does it get any better than that, during out current sports climate?
The best story among the three, arguably, is Purdy, whose recruiting popularity didn’t rise until he accepted a scholarship offer from Iowa State coach Matt Campbell.
“I want to go someplace where I can develop and get ready for the NFL," Purdy told me while sitting in an airport after his recruiting visit to Alabama in 2018.
“We knew he was something special,” Campbell said. “The way he practiced, the way he approached the game, and the way he worked as hard off the field as on the field — we knew Brock was a special guy.”
He’s special, all right, as are Haliburton and Montgomery.
Award-winning columnist Randy Peterson can be, and has been, reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)