Ever heard the phrase, “There’s No I In Team”? A Majority of sports require a full roster of players that are expected to perform at a high level in order for the team to be successful. There are players who are better than others, and players who may be regarded as the best on their team, but in recent years, there has been an uptick in “One-Man Shows.”
With young and up and coming players getting better and better, the number of organizations focused on the branding and development of star players has increased.
Arguably the most prolific of “one man shows” is the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team. Starring the first overall WNBA draft pick Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes had an extremely successful season, coming up just short of winning their first national championship to the Uconn Huskies.
Throughout the season, Clark broke many long-standing records, including the records for all time NCAA scoring and all time field goals. Clark has gotten a lot of credit for expanding women’s sports, and rightfully so; Viewership for women’s basketball is at an all time high.
On the other hand, players as good as Clark leave little popularity and recognition for other players. So much branding and sponsorship deals can leave a large shadow on their teammates that is hard to overcome. I personally could not name any other player on Iowa’s basketball team. That is not to say that those players don’t deserve credit and recognition, but it’s hard to talk about an average role player when there is a record breaking star on the other side of the court.
Another example would be Nebraska men’s basketball star point guard Keisei Tominaga. This season, the Cornhuskers had one of their most memorable seasons to date, as they finished No. 3 in the big ten and were selected for their first NCAA tournament appearance in ten years. Although Tominaga is not near the popularity level of Clark, he is without a doubt the most well known player on Nebraska’s roster.
Known by fans as the “Japanese Steph Curry,” Tominaga became one of the most recognizable players in the country. Because of his relevance, the Nebraska basketball team gained national attention. It may have even played a part in the team’s seeding in the tournament. The national sensation graduated at the end of the year, and his future in basketball is unknown.
Many teams have developed around their stars and branded players towards their program, though Nebraska football is taking a different approach. The most important offseason change for the team is the addition of five star freshman quarterback Dylan Riola. Riola is ranked as the No. 2 quarterback recruit of the 2024 class. It has been a while since Nebraska had a player at a high enough caliber to gain national relevance, but Riola could be that player for the Cornhuskers.
Though he has not played even a single game at Nebraska yet, he is certainly the most well known player on the roster. Fans look to him to get Nebraska back to the glory days when they made national championships look easy and produced Heisman contenders every year.
Even though these players are great, capable, and deserving of attention, it takes a whole team to win; not just a singular player.
