Brandon Barrett has been a football season ticket holder for many years and a long-time ASU community supporter. We asked Brandon a few questions about why he supports the ASU community and what it means to him to support Sun Devil Athletics.
In what ways are you connected to ASU? I have been an ASU fan ever since moving to the valley in 2005. I am connected to ASU through my business. I am a Chick-fil-A franchise owner and my locations are close to the Tempe campus. I have had probably hundreds of ASU students work with me over the years.
What does it mean to you to be a Sun Devil and be a part of the Sun Devil Family? How does it help connect you with your community? I went to a small Liberal Arts University in South Carolina, Furman University, so I have enjoyed becoming a Sun Devil fan and getting to enjoy Pac-12 sports. I have enjoyed getting to know so many Sun Devil graduates and students and sharing stories and sports dreams with them.
Why is partnering with Sun Devil Athletics important to you? OR What motivates you to give to the gameday experience (through both the sponsorship side and the Sun Devil Club side)? I am personally experiencing why it is so important to support Sun Devil Athletics now more than ever. I played Division I college baseball at Furman University and last month the University announced that due to Covid-19 financial implications, they were dissolving the baseball program which had been there for over 100 years. Personally, this felt like such a betrayal. It makes me sad that I will not be able to take my kids to a game in the stadium I played my home games. As a student-athlete you benefit from receiving an education which will be with you forever, but so much of your experience centers on your team and the program you are a part of. I want to continue to support Sun Devil Athletics so those current and past student-athletes never have to experience the loss of their program.
Describe the most exciting game you have attended. It is a toss-up for me between the Notre Dame game a few years ago and the Oregon game last year. Both of those, I was there with my two sons (8 and 11 years old) and to see their excitement and how they could feel how big a deal those wins were was unforgettable.
If you could have dinner with any Sun Devil student-athlete/coach/staff member from the past or present, who would it be and why? I would say Coach Edwards. My role as a business leader is 90% coaching and developing young people and leaders and that’s what he has done for his entire career. I’d love to pick his brain on leadership and motivation while hearing some great stories as well I’m sure.
The Sun Devil Club would like to thank Brandon for his continued support of Sun Devil Athletics. For more information on ways to get involved with the Sun Devil Club, please contact us.