 "Photo: Philip Crowson")
After retiring from the NFL in 2006, former receiver for the Green Bay Packers, Terrence Murphy, moved back to College Station and will be opening a community-oriented gaming store on Friday.
As one of the youngest owners in the nation's top gaming franchise, Play-N-Trade, Murphy said he intended to create a place for kids to get everything they need and have fun while doing so.
Because he is a former student and football player at Texas A&M, Murphy said he has always had a heart for Aggieland and helping out those who attend the University.
"I just wanted to put some stuff back into College Station that could give A&M students a chance to have jobs," Murphy said. "We're starting to have so many students, the biggest freshman class ever at A&M in 2012, and so it's getting to the point where it's like, 'Where do they work?' So my heart is to hire A&M students and to give them an opportunity to do what they love because 80 percent of the students play games, or have played games."
Although Murphy is from Tyler, Texas, he said he wanted to open the store in College Station because it is a place he holds close to his heart.
"I chose College Station because after I was injured, you know, I was going through a lot. But every time I saw an Aggie, or any time I came to College Station, when I left, I always felt great," Murphy said. "They were just like, 'Man, we're praying for you, keep your head up, you're one of the greatest receivers to play at A&M and we're supporting you.' It's just a place full of positive people, down-to-earth people, and they work hard."
The store buys, sells and trades games and gaming equipment. Murphy said the store has an array of in-store tournaments with popular games like Call of Duty and Madden NFL 09. To maximize patron satisfaction, customers are able to try any game, new or used, before purchasing it.
"If you go to Best Buy, to the movies or to Wal-Mart to buy Madden 09 and you take it home and you hate it, you can't take it back," Murphy said. "So here, we don't even waste anybody's time. If you ask us, 'Hey, do you have Call of Duty for Xbox?' we say, 'Yeah, go ahead and try it on this 32-inch Samsung HD TV.'"
There are nine high-definition TVs located on the walls of the store for this very purpose. At the front is a 50-inch liquid crystal display screen reserved for the final round of each tournament.
Murphy said that in addition to the most recent and popular games, the store also deals with "retro" gaming systems.
"We do PS1, we do Dreamcast and all the old systems. We got a thing called 'retro duo' and you can play Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis on one system. Plus, it's only like 20 dollars to buy.
"Another thing that's been a big deal is when an Xbox or Playstation 3 gets messed up or messes up, you bring us yours and instead of having to call corporate and lose it for like a month and a half, you can just bring it here," Murphy said. "We have a loaner or user and we'll give you an Xbox so you can keep playing the same day."
Murphy was inspired to move back to Aggieland and head a kid-friendly gaming franchise after marrying his girlfriend, Erica Calabrese, a University of Texas alumni.
"Terrence has a personality where it's all or nothing," she said. "It's a constant thing and he never turns it off. He's devoted and he knows that if he wants to do well, he has to put in all the work."
Murphy said that while football has been a large part of his life, it is time to move to a place where he can settle down and start a family. The former NFL player wants to have kids and is motivated by his religious beliefs and relationship with God in opening the store.
"I'm just really trying to see where my heart is and where the Lord is leading me, and it's been ministry. I minister kids from 5-year-olds up to college students," Murphy said. "I had two speaking engagements last night and my heart is for kids."
Serving others is one of the primary motivations of Murphy's Play-N-Trade branch, and he has planned various community-oriented activities, such as lock-ins for the children in his ministry, for the store once it has opened for business.
"On a Friday night at 9 p.m. when the store shuts down, we'll do a check-in for the kids, let them eat pizza for about 45 minutes, play games and tournaments and have a blast," Murphy said. "For the last ten minutes, I want to sit down and witness to them about Christ. I just want to say, 'Hey, this is what you need to do to try and be successful in life and stay out of trouble,' and just really give them motivation."
The store will have a website where members of the Bryan-College Station area can offer suggestions and ideas. In addition, there will be a program every quarter where whoever has the best idea will receive free gaming merchandise, like a Nintendo Wii gaming system.
To further the aspect of community service, the store promotes Games for Grades, a program in which local elementary schools are chosen to participate in collaborative fundraising activities.
"Games for Grades is where I would go to an elementary school, pick a grade or a class or a student that's struggling, and mentor to some kids," Murphy explained. "If a kid is not getting his grades, I go meet his teachers, go to the PTA meetings, and every time they get they get an A, they get 10 percent off a game. The margin I make off the game, I give back to the school."
The lock-in idea is a personal touch Murphy added to the franchise. The company had never before attempted a community-based activity like it, and after getting the endeavor approved by corporate, the franchise has since added lock-ins to its list of services.
"When I went to Newport Beach, California, for training with corporate, most of the franchisees were there and everyone was around 40 with partners, and I'm like 24 and I'm doing this myself," he said. "I like doing things that stretch me and make me work hard."
The store is aiming to open the day after Thanksgiving. Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Murphy said the store will open for midnight releases on popular and highly anticipated games, and might even plan a few midnight gaming tournaments.
"I just think, without a doubt, it's going to be a great environment for a lot of kids to come and play tournaments and just hang out," said Brandon Leone, former A&M athlete and friend of Murphy. "Terrence is a blessing. He's a great guy and he really cares about kids."
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