DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - TJ Semke, John Gianninoto and Tayvonn Kyle are just a few of the thousands of Americans whose schools are set the college football season with a "Week 0" game on Saturday.
But there are a few differences. First, all three are former players. Second, they've all got work to do elsewhere.
In Daytona Beach, Florida, to be specific.
The trio among the Hendrick Motorsports pit athletes who are former college football players. Semke and Gianninoto are both tenured members of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team with driver Chase Elliott at the helm. Semke, the team's jackman, played for four years at Kansas University (2012-2015). Gianninoto, the No. 9 fueler, was a four-year starter at center for UNLV (2007-2010).
Both the Jayhawks and the Rebels open their 2025 seasons on Saturday with UNLV hosting Idaho State at 4 p.m. and Kansas set to take on Fresno State at 6:30. And like any fan, alum and especially, former player, Gianninoto and Semke both like to keep up with their former squads.
But there's that whole NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway thing that has their attention drawn elsewhere on Saturday.
"I'm probably not checking it until I get on that plane afterward," Gianninoto said. "I'll record it if I can and watch it when I get home but for the most part, if I'm working, I'm locked in.
"Hopefully, they can take care of business."
Semke, a native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, a KU walk on and a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan, backed up Gianninoto on the priority of the day. But he also admitted, whether it's the Jayhawks or the Chiefs, if an opportunity presents itself to check a scoreboard, he tends to take advantage.
“I’m always locked into the race, certainly, but I’ll definitely keep an eye on a score if I can,” Semke said. “If we are in a rain delay, the game will definitely be on.”
RELATED: Score some William Byron gear with our Daytona trivia quiz!
Gianninoto and Semke keep close tabs on their alma maters, and both have had more to root about lately than in the past. The Rebels are a combined 20-8 the last two seasons after finishing above .500 only once the previous 21 seasons (2013). UNLV hired former Florida coach, Dan Mullen, in the offseason. Kansas, meanwhile, turned in a 9-4 campaign in 2023 under coach Lance Leipold, complete with a bowl game win. They Jayhawks were a combined 29-125 from 2010-2022.
For Kansas, a member of the perennially wide-open Big 12 Conference, that momentum has also included some recent stadium renovations and Semke, like most Jayhawks fans, is encouraged by the direction of the program.
“Everyone wants to pretend they follow, whether their team is 0-12 or 12-0 but the reality is, the more energy and success their having, you hear about them more, they’re more visible and you’re able to latch on to them,” Semke said.
Kyle was a bit more fortunate on Saturday afternoon. One of his former squads - Iowa State - was slated to open the college football season at noon against Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, giving him a chance to check out most of the game before his obligations became more pressing later in the afternoon. The Cyclones entered the game ranked 22nd in the country with the Wildcats 17th.
After leaving Ames, Iowa for the University of Virginia as a graduate transfer in 2023, Kyle found what so many other former football players do after their careers are done - that NASCAR is an option for them. Kyle was hired by Hendrick Motorsports in September and while he's still a development member, he'll go over the wall as the right-front tire changer at Daytona on Saturday night for the No. 44 team.
“There’s been a lot of overlap with football, the process in totality hasn’t changed a lot,” Kyle said. “It’s a technical thing that you do on a day-to-day basis and when you’re surrounded by good people, that helps too.
“It’s that team aspect whenever you’re talking about pit stops. It doesn’t matter how good one person is, one person isn’t going to be able to push the envelope like a team can.”
RELATED: Check out Hendrick Motorsports paint schemes for Daytona
Unlike Semke and Gianninoto, Kyle's allegiances are split and he admits he pulls for the Cyclones and the Cavaliers in hopes that the two don't cross paths anytime soon. And while Gianninoto and Semke are firmly entrenched in the racing world, Kyle is finding it easier to adjust while making connections through former gridiron glory.
"We bond on that every day," Kyle said. "We can relate to one another and be laughing whether we're struggling with something or whatever the case may be. There's definitely that common singularity in our backgrounds. It makes us closer."
Kyle enjoyed a standout career, appearing in 54 games as a defensive back in his five seasons, including starting 12 for the Cavaliers to finish. He made 130 tackles along the way.
New additions like Kyle continue to keep the pipeline flowing between college football and racing and for his part, Kyle said he'd certainly tell former teammates about his career and their options. Undoubtedly, the athleticism required on the football field translates beautifully onto pit road.
RELATED: MLB Hall of Famer, John Smoltz, visits Hendrick Motorsports
But as Semke concluded, that's only part of the picture. For him - a consummate underdog who had to walk on and earn his spot on the Kansas roster before coming to Hendrick Motorsports and personifying and embodying the heart and work ethic that makes the organization special - it's just as much about mental sharpness and tenacity.
“I think for me, when I started playing defensive line, I was the strongest dude on the team, but I was obviously undersized for the position I was playing,” Semke said. “But whether you’re an undersized defensive lineman or you’re on a pit crew, being savvy and having great technique are things that get you further than God-given ability or height, length or things like that.
“People make it in the NFL or the top tier of pro sports not always because they just have height and weight and strength. Otherwise, it would just be, ‘Who’s the best in the combine?’ There are so many layers that make people great at what they do.
“And a lot of intangible things help. Our pit crew is the perfect testament to that. We’ve been one of the best crews for a long time and we have some of the oldest, smallest guys on pit road just by being great technicians. And we’re staying at the top.”