More Than Just Football

David R.

February 10, 2010 - 9:39 PM

All over the country different universities make the statement that their professors and faculty truly care about the students at that school. This might be true, and it might not be true. One place where it is most definitely true and applied is at the University of Oregon.

This last Monday, John Neal, the secondary coach for the University of Oregon's football, team made a visit to my fraternity. Division one football is a huge commitment for the coaches as well as the players, even in the off-season. The visit reinforced the fact that university faculty, even those who are involved with what seems to be the most significant organization at the U of O, still care about the heart and soul of the University of Oregon.

Coach Neal came and talked to us about how to be a team player and work together with those you are surrounded by. These concepts can be applied in a fraternity, as well as on the football field. It is much different than a football team, but it is the same in some ways. We all have to work together to achieve the goals we establish. If there is a lack of communication or members become focused on different goals then the chances of success are significantly reduced. I enjoyed hearing Coach Neal talk about how his experiences as a coach are relevant to the experiences that one could have while being involved in a fraternity. The situations he described can be related to any student at the University of Oregon. He described how there are certain players who have a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning to come to morning workouts. He said that he tries to explain to his players that no accomplishment can be made if people aren't willing to get out of bed. I know there are students here, including myself, who have early classes from time to time that are painful to get up for. As much as I would like to hit the snooze button on my alarm sometimes, I understand that the work I put in now will pay off in my post-college years when I am working and doing what I want to do. As easy as it would be to catch an extra few hours of sleep, I am dedicated to obtaining the education necessary to put me in the position I want to be in when I graduate. Coach Neal had a phrase that he shared with us that he said was introduced by Head Coach Chip Kelly. "Win the day" is a common theme within the football program. Sometimes people get too overwhelmed with the issues they may be facing. Taking things one step at a time is the best way to accomplish certain tasks. "Win the day" implies a similar message. Getting up in the morning with the mindset that you will do whatever it takes to make accomplishments that day is what will lead down the path to a promising life. Im glad I got to hear Coach Neal talk. He provided us with lessons that can be applied on the field, as well as off of it.