‘Like father like daughter‘. This quote sits perfectly with the Sapp’s, who are making big moves this year. While Warren Sapp takes on the role of Colorado’s new pass rush coordinator, his daughter Mercedes Sapp is making a name for herself. She made a big NIL announcement that grabbed attention and made a statement. It’s pretty clear that instead of relying on her father’s reputation, she is using it as an inspiration to carve out her own path with determination, ambition, and a focus on creating her own legacy rather than relying on handouts.
Well, looks like Warren Sapp’s daughter isn’t just riding the NIL wave, she’s straight-up steering it. She has been serving as USF’s Student-Athlete Enhancement Coordinator since the fall of 2022. And guess what? She just dropped a bombshell on IG story that turned heads. But what was that about? It’s a nod to Embarc Collective, which is Tampa’s go-to launchpad that helps Florida’s startup talent build thriving companies. And she made a big NIL announcement saying, “peace, love, Go Bulls.” And guess what? That was the same place where USF’s women’s soccer players went to attend their “Leveling the Playing Field: The Future of Women’s NIL” event that took place on 4th April.
That’s where Embarc Collective comes in. They emphasize that “You don’t choose entrepreneurship on a whim.” Embarc collaborates with founders who demonstrate “grit to be successful” and “understand that time is your most precious resource.” Based in a 32,000-square-foot hub in downtown Tampa, they support over 125 tech startups with practical resources. Mercedes didn’t just endorse them; she pointed her athletes straight at infrastructure.
Now, she had to ride for her gals – how could she not? Mercedes Sapp didn’t just talk the talk, she stood between the posts and lived it. Back in her college days, she played Division I soccer at UNF as a goalkeeper, and she didn’t just fill the roster – she rewrote it. In 2020, she became the first UNF student-athlete ever to snag Goalkeeper of the Year honors. That year? She started all 16 games, locked in a ridiculous 0.823 save percentage, and dropped eight shutouts – the most in a single season during UNF’s D1 era.
And this ties her straight to her roots. Sapp knows Tampa because of her dad, Warren Sapp, who earned seven Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, and made the Hall of Fame in 2013. Then there’s her mom, Jamiko, who played soccer and even Mercedes’s brother, Warren Sapp II, suited up at Florida Atlantic University. No wonder Mercedes brings that legacy and focus into her role at USF, where she builds systems and shows her athletes how to navigate them. But this isn’t the only thing because of which Mercedes is making headlines.
Mercedes Sapp’s bold move
If not the NIL, what’s grabbing Mercedes Sapp’s attention? Well, Senator Cory Booker delivered a 25-hour and 5-minute speech in protest of the administration’s policies. He remained standing throughout and spoke continuously without breaks, surpassing the previous record set by Former Governor of South Carolina Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957.
Then Booker’s team ensured he had a plethora of topics to discuss, preparing 1,164 pages of material to sustain him through the night. By the end of his speech, he had already gained significant attention online, going viral. “By the end, Booker had gained over 700,000 followers on TikTok, and over 350 million likes on the livestream.” He told CNN, “I definitely started cramping up from lack of water. In the end, I was just trying to do something to stop my muscles from cramping.” Now, comes the interesting part.
Most football fans are familiar with Warren Sapp, but this time it was his daughter, Mercedes Sapp—also known as Cede—who stole the spotlight. She took to her Instagram story to share her thoughts on Booker’s speech, drawing parallels to a dramatic moment from a popular TV show, “Scandal.” “For those who watched Scandal. THIS IS THE LIVE ACTION OF MELLIE FITZ FIGHTING FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS… and she WON after being there for hours, but not 24. I needed this, thank you Senator Booker.” She expressed her gratitude to Senator Booker for his inspiring actions.
In the TV show Scandal, Mellie Grant once spent hours on the Senate floor in an attempt to block a bill. The bill in question placed funding for Planned Parenthood under discretionary spending, allowing lawmakers to potentially withdraw the money. Mellie, outraged by this possibility, particularly as it involved $1.1 million, was determined not to accept it. Mercedes noted, “She went to great lengths to obstruct a legislative progress while technically not contravening it.” Mercedes pointed out that just like Mellie, Booker showed courage and stood up for something important.
Looks like Mercedes is not among the ones who fear to share their opinion.
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