Developing Character On and Off the Field
Oct 28, 2015 | Football, General
Thousands flock to the stadium or arenas, millions more tune in on television. Collegiate athletics are now under the category of 'must see.' Even when the events are over, they are dissected, scrutinized, and criticized until game day rolls around again. The cycle has become an American routine and student-athletes now perform on the grandest of stages.
"102,000 people get to come to watch them perform every Saturday," says Texas A&M Football's Director of Player Development Mikado Hinson. "I think that's why a lot of people want to hire athletes when they're done playing because they're used to performing under pressure."
That's where the athletics department comes in. They are preparing Aggie student-athletes for life off the field, when they trade in the uniform for business attire. When the office is just that, not an arena or stadium.
Hinson joined the A&M staff in 2014, when Kevin Sumlin felt there was a need for someone the players could confide in and receive guidance from. Not about football, but college life and their days when they take the pads off.
This initiative is widespread through all Aggie sports, and is a top priority to Director of Athletics Eric Hyman.
"Your athletic tools will only take you so far," Hyman states. "You have to have the skills to be successful when your playing days are over."
Hinson echoes the same sentiment to football players.
"Football, one day, will let you down," Hinson tells Aggies these days. "Whether your clock runs out, whether it's your body or your passion, one day football will be taken from you."
But the Texas A&M Athletics isn't just making statements. They're backing it up with actions.
Hyman implements specific events and seminars that center on preparing student-athletes for that first step after graduation – job searching and the interview process. He's giving them a start to their future.
These sessions include etiquette dinners, résumé building classes, and even a 'Dress For Success' night that helps them make that all-important first impression.
"We tell them the most important part of a job interview is the first 45 seconds," states Hyman.
Student-athletes carry with them the small things needed when exiting college.
"We want them to have some kind of semblance," says Hyman. "What do you do in these kinds of settings? We just want to give them some exposure to it."
Hyman knows they won't have it all down in one setting, but wants to get them going in the right direction.
"If they're on an interview, and they have to eat a meal, it's not about the food," the Aggie AD says with a smile. "There's fundamental things you do. You don't order spaghetti. You don't order ribs. You order food that's easy to eat."
Each seminar has a lighter side. At the 'Dress For Success' evening the male student-athletes engage in a tie-tying contest at the end of the night. Hyman drew a future first-round draft pick when it came to prepping for the main event.
"I, just by chance, got Cedric Ogbuehi," he said, referring to the talented offensive tackle, now with the Cincinnati Bengals. "I worked with Cedric, then they had the contest. Cedric won. He tied it the fastest, and tied it the neatest. He was so proud of himself. You know how competitive student-athletes are."
Hinson focuses on Aggie football, but the message doesn't stray from life after sports.
At times, he'll arrange for speakers to meet with the entire team who have lived what he's trying to communicate on both ends of the spectrum.
This summer, Maurice Clarett visited the Aggies. A star running back on Ohio State's 2002 national championship team, Clarett quickly faded and turned to a life of crime post-football, carried a powerful message. Players got to learn, from a first-person perspective, the dangers of relying solely on football.
Troy Vincent also spoke to the team in the past months. The 15-year pro who now serves as the NFL's executive vice-president of football operations, brings a wealth of knowledge on life in the game. His words in regard to professional football still stick with Hinson.
"(He said) it's an experience, it's not a career," Hinson recalls Vincent's take on the NFL. "What you do beyond that is a career."
With Hyman's outline, and people like Hinson to help fulfill it, Aggie student-athletes are given every resource to succeed in all areas.
The Bright Complex houses the spacious Alice and Erle Nye '59 Academic Center. Home to several classrooms, computer rooms, tutors and academic advisors, you'll often find it busy.
The same goes for the new, state-of-the-art R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center which is conveniently located adjacent to the Academic Center. Student-athletes are now getting the diet they need to maintain the rigorous sports and scholastic schedules they keep.
"I think it's an overwhelming success," says Hyman. "That is a very important factor in success. Being able to have the right nourishment is like putting the right kind of gasoline in your car."
Yes, the Nutrition Center fuels the Aggies, but there is an added bonus to the facility.
"It's a byproduct of it, but it's a chance for student-athletes to mingle with other student-athletes," Hyman adds. "It's great when you see a volleyball player talking to a basketball player, and a women's tennis player talking to a football player. You love to see that bond."
Hyman feels the R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center has helped make Texas A&M a 'top of the line athletic program.'
When it comes to football, Hinson also looks at another angle of life after college. Yes, finances unquestionably will be important, but not to the level of family.
"I look at more their desire to be a husband, their desire to be a dad," Hinson says, almost smiling when he thinks of the families some of these players will have one day. "Regardless of what (they) do, my desire is to make sure they're going to be great husbands, great dads and great men in the community."
The list of what the athletics department is doing for student-athletes continues.
Hyman conducts exit interviews with several outgoing seniors for the purpose of better learning how he can serve future Texas A&M student-athletes.
Hinson plans the football team's chapel session that is held every Friday night or Saturday morning before each contest. He sees to it to make sure they take a moment to think about life, in the ever-busy process of preparing for a game.
And this is exactly what America cannot forget. There is a student aspect to being a student-athlete. And, it comes before the athlete.
Ultimately, these are young men and women who go through a rigorous schedule that few their age could manage. And they do it with everyone watching, and often critiquing their performance.
College athletes are far better than the few who've been singled out in the mainstream media for wrong-doing. You'll find proof of it right here on this campus in College Station.
This country cannot forget these young men and women will soon take off their uniform, never to wear one again. Yet, their journey in life is far from over.
They'll become employers and employees. Husbands and wives. Mothers and fathers.
It simply can't be forgotten.
At Texas A&M, not only are the Aggies remembering this.
They're putting it at the forefront.
"102,000 people get to come to watch them perform every Saturday," says Texas A&M Football's Director of Player Development Mikado Hinson. "I think that's why a lot of people want to hire athletes when they're done playing because they're used to performing under pressure."
That's where the athletics department comes in. They are preparing Aggie student-athletes for life off the field, when they trade in the uniform for business attire. When the office is just that, not an arena or stadium.
Hinson joined the A&M staff in 2014, when Kevin Sumlin felt there was a need for someone the players could confide in and receive guidance from. Not about football, but college life and their days when they take the pads off.
This initiative is widespread through all Aggie sports, and is a top priority to Director of Athletics Eric Hyman.
"Your athletic tools will only take you so far," Hyman states. "You have to have the skills to be successful when your playing days are over."
Hinson echoes the same sentiment to football players.
"Football, one day, will let you down," Hinson tells Aggies these days. "Whether your clock runs out, whether it's your body or your passion, one day football will be taken from you."
But the Texas A&M Athletics isn't just making statements. They're backing it up with actions.
Hyman implements specific events and seminars that center on preparing student-athletes for that first step after graduation – job searching and the interview process. He's giving them a start to their future.
These sessions include etiquette dinners, résumé building classes, and even a 'Dress For Success' night that helps them make that all-important first impression.
"We tell them the most important part of a job interview is the first 45 seconds," states Hyman.
Student-athletes carry with them the small things needed when exiting college.
"We want them to have some kind of semblance," says Hyman. "What do you do in these kinds of settings? We just want to give them some exposure to it."
Hyman knows they won't have it all down in one setting, but wants to get them going in the right direction.
"If they're on an interview, and they have to eat a meal, it's not about the food," the Aggie AD says with a smile. "There's fundamental things you do. You don't order spaghetti. You don't order ribs. You order food that's easy to eat."
Each seminar has a lighter side. At the 'Dress For Success' evening the male student-athletes engage in a tie-tying contest at the end of the night. Hyman drew a future first-round draft pick when it came to prepping for the main event.
"I, just by chance, got Cedric Ogbuehi," he said, referring to the talented offensive tackle, now with the Cincinnati Bengals. "I worked with Cedric, then they had the contest. Cedric won. He tied it the fastest, and tied it the neatest. He was so proud of himself. You know how competitive student-athletes are."
Hinson focuses on Aggie football, but the message doesn't stray from life after sports.
At times, he'll arrange for speakers to meet with the entire team who have lived what he's trying to communicate on both ends of the spectrum.
This summer, Maurice Clarett visited the Aggies. A star running back on Ohio State's 2002 national championship team, Clarett quickly faded and turned to a life of crime post-football, carried a powerful message. Players got to learn, from a first-person perspective, the dangers of relying solely on football.
Troy Vincent also spoke to the team in the past months. The 15-year pro who now serves as the NFL's executive vice-president of football operations, brings a wealth of knowledge on life in the game. His words in regard to professional football still stick with Hinson.
"(He said) it's an experience, it's not a career," Hinson recalls Vincent's take on the NFL. "What you do beyond that is a career."
With Hyman's outline, and people like Hinson to help fulfill it, Aggie student-athletes are given every resource to succeed in all areas.
The Bright Complex houses the spacious Alice and Erle Nye '59 Academic Center. Home to several classrooms, computer rooms, tutors and academic advisors, you'll often find it busy.
The same goes for the new, state-of-the-art R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center which is conveniently located adjacent to the Academic Center. Student-athletes are now getting the diet they need to maintain the rigorous sports and scholastic schedules they keep.
"I think it's an overwhelming success," says Hyman. "That is a very important factor in success. Being able to have the right nourishment is like putting the right kind of gasoline in your car."
Yes, the Nutrition Center fuels the Aggies, but there is an added bonus to the facility.
"It's a byproduct of it, but it's a chance for student-athletes to mingle with other student-athletes," Hyman adds. "It's great when you see a volleyball player talking to a basketball player, and a women's tennis player talking to a football player. You love to see that bond."
Hyman feels the R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center has helped make Texas A&M a 'top of the line athletic program.'
When it comes to football, Hinson also looks at another angle of life after college. Yes, finances unquestionably will be important, but not to the level of family.
"I look at more their desire to be a husband, their desire to be a dad," Hinson says, almost smiling when he thinks of the families some of these players will have one day. "Regardless of what (they) do, my desire is to make sure they're going to be great husbands, great dads and great men in the community."
The list of what the athletics department is doing for student-athletes continues.
Hyman conducts exit interviews with several outgoing seniors for the purpose of better learning how he can serve future Texas A&M student-athletes.
Hinson plans the football team's chapel session that is held every Friday night or Saturday morning before each contest. He sees to it to make sure they take a moment to think about life, in the ever-busy process of preparing for a game.
And this is exactly what America cannot forget. There is a student aspect to being a student-athlete. And, it comes before the athlete.
Ultimately, these are young men and women who go through a rigorous schedule that few their age could manage. And they do it with everyone watching, and often critiquing their performance.
College athletes are far better than the few who've been singled out in the mainstream media for wrong-doing. You'll find proof of it right here on this campus in College Station.
This country cannot forget these young men and women will soon take off their uniform, never to wear one again. Yet, their journey in life is far from over.
They'll become employers and employees. Husbands and wives. Mothers and fathers.
It simply can't be forgotten.
At Texas A&M, not only are the Aggies remembering this.
They're putting it at the forefront.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballOne-on-One: Adam Cushing
Thursday, September 11
The Aggie Football Hour (Ep 3)
Wednesday, September 10
The Pulse #12.2 | Family Over Everything
Wednesday, September 10
One-on-One: Will Lee III
Wednesday, September 10
