From Rose Bowl MVP to restaurant entrepreneur, Nate Hybl has spent his life competing, taking chances, and pursuing new opportunities.

Nate joins Sports ’N Torts to discuss his journey from the University of Georgia to Oklahoma, where he became the starting quarterback and earned Rose Bowl MVP honors. He shares why he transferred before the days of NIL and the transfer portal, what it was like playing for Bob Stoops, and his perspective on the changing landscape of college football. We also get into his time in the NFL, the excitement of making the Cleveland Browns roster, and the reality of how quickly a professional football career can come to an end.

When football was over, Nate had to figure out what came next. That journey eventually led him to develop gusto!, the Atlanta-based fast-casual restaurant chain he founded in 2014. Nate takes us through the early days of building the concept, raising capital, working the grill and cash register, and growing gusto! into a recognizable brand. We discuss entrepreneurship, competition, the challenges of the restaurant industry, and his passion for making healthier food more accessible.

We also talk golf, including Nate's accomplished junior golf career, his brother Ryan's move to Georgia Tech as head golf coach, and why Nate's biggest golf dream these days involves spending time on the putting green with his two young boys.

Football, golf, family, and business. This conversation covers a little bit of everything with a guy who continues to approach life with gusto!

Show Notes

Georgia, Oklahoma & College Football

• Growing up in a small Georgia town, playing multiple sports, and being raised in a football coach's household.
• Choosing Georgia, transferring to Oklahoma in search of playing time, and becoming part of Bob Stoops' program.
• Winning the Big 12 championship and earning Rose Bowl MVP honors.
• Nate's perspective on NIL, the transfer portal, and what his college football experience might look like today.
• Georgia versus Oklahoma, where his football loyalties stand, and the loudest stadiums he ever played in.

Life in the NFL & Beyond

• Making the Cleveland Browns roster and experiencing the excitement of playing professional football.
• His first NFL paycheck, learning from NFL coaches, and the business side of professional sports.
• Playing in NFL Europe and the uncertainty of competing for a roster spot.
• The transition out of football and the challenge of finding a new direction after a lifetime of competitive athletics.

Building gusto!

• Recognizing an opportunity for healthier fast-casual food in Atlanta and spending four years developing the gusto! concept.
• Learning the restaurant business at Zoës Kitchen, raising $600,000, and opening the first gusto! in 2014.
• Going from working the grill and cash register to building a restaurant company with 13 locations and approximately 300 employees at the time of recording.
• The inspiration behind the gusto! name and Nate's vision of building a brand rather than simply owning a restaurant.
• Competition, consistency, restaurant economics, and the challenges of making healthier food affordable and accessible.
• The future of gusto!, new menu ideas, and why Nate believes in the company's mission.

Golf, Family & Life Outside the Restaurant

• Growing up playing golf with his brother Ryan and their shared love of the game.
• Ryan's move from Oklahoma to Georgia Tech as head men's golf coach.
• Why Nate considers golf such a special game and how he hopes to find more time to play.
• Winning the Masters versus winning the Super Bowl.
• Raising two young boys, letting kids enjoy sports without specializing too early, and Nate's dream of spending evenings on the putting green with his family.<