This past offseason was educational, and romantic, for Angelo Crowell. The Buffalo Bills linebacker went off to an Ivy League college to learn how to get a business off the ground and jetted off to a tropical paradise to get down on one knee.
Buffalobills.com: Congratulations on your engagement. How did you propose?
Angelo Crowell: I woke up one morning and said I wanted to take that next step in my life. It was romantic even though I'm not always that romantic type of guy. We went on a trip to Nevis (island in the Caribbean) and I had a private dinner set up on the beach.
Buffalobills.com: How involved will you be in the wedding planning?
AC: Oh no, she's going to be planning it. I'll be out here playing football.
Buffalobills.com: Can you tell me about your experience at the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program at Wharton in February?
AC: That was very informative. It was six days of learning about stocks and bond, how to manage people, real estate. It was very in-depth and hands-on; you got a lot of one on one time. We had a chance to really negotiate with other people.
Buffalobills.com: I heard you made 20,000 pretend dollars there. Did it feel as good as the real thing?
AC: Yeah (laughing). It felt good because it was actually pretty hard having to deal with somebody and having a game plan. You have to know what they know and know about the market, and then you come back at them with the best price.
Buffalobills.com: How did you get interested in real estate?
AC: The money. That's the honest answer. My fiancée is actually a real estate attorney, so she knows a lot about the real estate market. We decided to indulge in it.
Buffalobills.com: What was it like being on an Ivy League campus at Wharton? I've always wondered if it makes a person feel smarter or it's just intimidating.
AC: I felt pretty smart. I wear my Wharton sweatshirt out and people ask me, "Man, did you go to Wharton?!" I tell them "Yeah, I went to Wharton. What do you do?"
Buffalobills.com: What is the most valuable lesson you took away from that program?
AC: Evaluating what you are getting into. You have to look at the positives and negatives and really research what you want to do before you start a business. You have to really know what you are doing and plan as much as possible.
