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Recruit Shuns KPMG for a Football Team, Surprising No One

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Hell hath no fury like an accounting firm shunned, the old saying goes. Except that’s not an old saying, it’s something silly I just made up.

Anyway, we stumbled across this article about a recently graduated Texas A&M football player, Connor McQueen, who is opting for a job on the team’s coaching staff rather than joining KPMG:

He graduated earlier this month with his master’s degree in accounting. McQueen had already signed on to work for KPMG, one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms. However, he just couldn’t turn away from football.

On Tuesday evening, McQueen announced that he would be staying in Aggieland.

“Beyond excited to be joining the Texas A&M Football staff as an Offensive Analyst! Wouldn’t feel right starting off my career anywhere else.”

Ouch. The KPMG recruiting team will be smarting from that one for awhile.

Would anyone choose KPMG over working on a football team? No one in Texas probably, but I reckon most people would go for a job with a bit more certainty and longevity. From what I gather, Connor McQueen was a bit of cult celebrity at Texas A&M. Is he going to give that up to be just another face at KPMG in Dallas or Houston or wherever? I don’t think so. Plus, I don’t feel like anyone with the last name McQueen should be involved in something as milquetoast as accounting.

The point, I think, is that accounting is a good career option for a lot of people, but it’s almost nobody’s dream, especially if you’re male, in your early 20s, and live in Texas. Accounting firms want people to believe that they can make their dreams come true, but in the end, everyone knows they can’t. Unless, of course, you’re one of these deranged people who counts becoming a CEO of Big 4 accounting firm as a top five life goal. And even if that is one of your top life goals, the odds of you achieving it are still pretty slim.

And even though it’s irritating for them, I’m sure KPMG was diplomatic about it. “Oh, sure, Connor. We understand. Sounds like a great opportunity. We’ll be here if you change your mind.”

Except, in the unlikely event that he does change his mind, he’ll probably end up getting poached by PwC.

[247Sports]

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