Exploring Life & Business with Tim Patrick of 8IGH

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Patrick. 

Hi Tim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For me, it all started in sunny San Diego but it was not always so sunny for me. I have endured and overcome a lot to be where I am today. I understand the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”, because that was my life. My dad did 15 years in federal prison and my mom did around 4 years. As a result, there were different dynamics that played a part in my upbringing; my mom, dad, stepmom, grandma, and grandpa all contributed at some point in my life. Despite the hardships, I still managed to see the light through sports. 

Since I can remember, I have always been a multi-sport athlete, basketball and football being my favorite. I knew one day I would either be playing on the hardwood or the turf. For me, it really didn’t matter which one because the goal has always been to be in a position to provide for those that provided for me. 

I excelled in basketball and football throughout my entire career but my senior season at University City High School back home was one to remember. I earned first-team all-league and team MVP honors in football and second-team all-league and team MVP honors in basketball but I really did not get the looks I wanted so I decided to attend Grossmont College in El Cajon, California. If you know anything about that area, you know that there are several junior colleges to choose from but Grossmont stood out to me. Coach Jordan was that player’s coach I needed at that time in my career and the school’s history of getting players out gave me hope. 

My first year at Grossmont, I excelled like I knew I would, but my grades were not where they needed to be. Today, I speak to the kids throughout Denver and I always stress the importance of grades. 

Going into my sophomore season, I had two goals, become the top receiver in California junior college football and maintain a high enough GPA so that I can get an opportunity to play at the level I always knew I could play at. 

That season, I played with so many talented individuals, one being Treyous, who is now a brother and business partner. We had the number one offense in the state, averaging 50 points a game and crazy stats on the offensive side of the ball. That year, I caught 61 pass receptions for 964 yards and 8 TDs, earing in 1st Team All-Conference. I achieved one goal, excelling on the field but yet again I fell short in terms of grades. 

I had around 10 offers, one being Georgia which is where I saw myself going but they pulled my scholarship once my grades were revealed. I almost sold myself short by committing to the University of North Dakota. While I was on my official visit, I had every intention of committing right away but Treyous texted me and told me whatever I did, do not commit because he knew a big school was going to take a chance on me. Surprisingly, the University of Utah took that chance and that’s where I ended up committing. 

Going into Utah, I was under the impression that I was getting a full scholarship but I learned early that I would have to walk on and earn my scholarship. Talk about pressure, there was no way I was walking away without a scholarship, I could not afford to attend the University of Utah. It only took one practice for me to earn what was rightfully mine from the beginning. At Utah, I suffered a leg injury that changed my perception about life as a whole and allowed me to reorganize my priorities in life. It shifted from being an athlete student to a student-athlete and I was able to walk away with my degree in Sociology and Human Development from a prestigious university. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My NFL journey is one that’s relatable in the sense of going undrafted, guys go undrafted every year and still get an opportunity to play in the NFL but they don’t normally end up where I am today. I was initially picked up as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. Less than three months later the Ravens waived me. I guess they didn’t really see my potential at the time but I still had the fire in me to keep going. Not long after being released from the Ravens, San Francisco picked me up and I had a great camp. I was certain that I would get a spot on the practice squad at the minimum but that was not the case. San Fran at the time had some nice receivers but I knew I was more talented. Being cut for the second time dimmed my fire, just about put it out until I spoke with 49ers General Manager John Lynch. He gave me that spark that I needed to keep the vision alive in my head. 

In 2017, the Denver Broncos signed me to their practice squad, giving me another opportunity to make my mark. Though I was excited, I was still reserved as a result of being cut two times prior. During my time on the practice squad, I gained a lot of knowledge from the late great Demaryius Thomas, not only a mentor but brother to me. In 2018, I got my first start and scored my first career touchdown. The end has always been my friend, I visited often throughout my career but that touchdown impacted me a little differently. That moment defined me as an NFL receiver in my opinion and I have not looked back. 

During the 2019 season, I got a little more playing time but I really exploded during that 2020 season. In 2020, I had 742 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions in 15 starts. Today, I am one of the starting receivers for the Denver Broncos and I was signed to a 3-year 30M dollar contract extension for my efforts. Let’s just say the cream always rises to the top. 

As you know, we’re big fans of 8IGH. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Up until this point, my entire career has been surrounded by sports and with where I am in my football career today, I felt like it was time to venture into the world of business. Being who I am, it’s hard to trust a lot of people but I knew I could trust Treyous based on his track record in business and our relationship. When Treyous, the co-founder at 8IGH, initially approached me about jumping into a business venture being built around blockchain technology, I was a little hesitant. After he educated me on the space, I saw the vision, a new light began to reveal itself. Following the education, the team at 8IGH developed my own personal 1 of 1 NFT called 1st down Timmy. It definitely was an experience; they incorporated a digital frame to showcase my NFT on the wall and produced a promo video to market the product. I knew I wanted to be affiliated but I really did not know what that looked like. 

They gave me the role of business relations officer in which I would be responsible for bridging the gap between big players’ brands and the world of blockchain technology, specifically, digital assets. For the first time in a long time, I get to step outside of the helmet to conduct business. At 8IGH we offer NFT development and distribution, blockchain technology business implementation, Web3 development & maintenance, and blockchain & financial literacy education. For me, the blockchain & financial literacy seminar piece is the most important service we offer. Within the sports realm, athletes are not taught how to manage their finances which result in consequences. Being able to provide this information to a demographic I have been a part of my entire life is powerful. 

The biggest project we are working on is with The Basketball League, the 3rd largest professional basketball league in the US. We were able to establish a partnership with the league to incorporate blockchain & financial literacy seminars, sports NFTs, an NFT ticketing system, and forming a DAO. We will make history and change the way fans and sports teams interact by introducing the 1st Professional Basketball Team to run as a DAO. So basically, we will purchase a team in TBL that will be controlled by the community that supports it. The things in which the community can vote on will range anywhere from choosing the teams location to selecting which players to draft. I anticipate that we will garner a lot of attention once the ball gets rolling with this project. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Being in the same room with my close ones all at once is my favorite childhood memory. 

Contact Info:

• Email: nft@8igh.com
• Website: www.8igh.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8ighofficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/8ighofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xigBDeTVmX0

Image Credits
BlitzFits 8IGH
BlainePhotos