...the Notre Dame legend might have finally struck gold in an unlikely place: Mouthguards.
Ismail first discovered the "performance mouthwear" company Bite Tech in the mid-'90s, while playing for the then-Los Angeles Raiders. He used the company's mouthguards to try to reduce head injuries because of the way they absorbed force. He thought they worked so well, in fact, that he later decided to invest a large amount of money in the company (though he declined to disclose the exact amount). Unlike many of his other business ventures, though, Bite Tech is gaining users and positive publicity. It partnered with Under Armour in 2009 and was named earlier this year to Fast Company's list of the 10 most innovative companies in sports.
The premise of its "performance mouthwear" is that it not only absorbs more force and allows the body to intake more air than a regular mouthguard, but also keeps the jaw in its natural, relaxed position, which the company claims enhances the bodies' performance both mentally and physically. While this is currently being debated in the medical community (the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry published a supplement on athletic mouthguards, including Bite Tech, in its July/August 2009 edition), it has certainly won over plenty of big-name athletes. Testimonials on the company's website include former Oklahoma star Adrian Peterson (who is also an investor), Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn, Major League Baseball slugger David Ortiz and PGA golfer Hunter Mahan. Auburn's national championship team also used the mouthguards last season
