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Post by hollywoodswagga on Jun 27, 2011 9:21:55 GMT -5
The point I wanted to show was that it is not a white or black player issue for giving back to their athletic programs. For example, Ndamukong Suh donating 2.6 million dollars to the University of Nebraska, Charles Woodson donating 2 million to the University of Michigan and Steve Smith NBA player donated 2.5 million to Michigan State University. These players are in the professional limelight thus the reason we know about their gifts back to their universities. However I am sure there are far more donations back to universities that we do not hear about.
Now I am not sure about Hayes not treating players well or Fobbs not being friendly but I do know the majority of the players do not make it professionally and that there are many players who are doing well for themselves not in professional sports. The main problem with A&T is when you are done with your last game there is no help transitioning you to the work place profession. This is perception of most of the former student athletes. So, when you sign your athletic scholarship, it is not a four year scholarship. The scholarship has to be renewed yearly by the coaching staffs that evaluate each player performance. There are many ways for your scholarship not to be renewed for the following year. For example, there are summer workouts that are “NON MANDATORY” but it is known that you do not have to show up but you better be there because you risk losing your scholarship. So, players show up for these summer workouts missing valuable experience with summer internships which will help you seek employment post graduation. Recently players who show up to summer workouts are struggling finding employment which is an immense disadvantage compared to the average student who can gain experience during the summer with no consequence of LOSING A SCHOLARSHIP. There are many players who feel that missed out because you had to put their sport first because you are getting schooling paid for.
I received my degree from A&T however I chose North Carolina A&T because of athletics. I give yearly contributions and no I have not given back to the athletic department. I love my years at North Carolina A&T however I feel that my years as student athlete were in vain with the reasons in my last post. I would like to see A&T change how they treat players so this cycle of players not wanting to give back can stop. Again players feel that they have do a lot on their own with no help from athletic department that you put so much time in and for.
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Post by aggierattler on Jun 27, 2011 12:54:13 GMT -5
Players were not welcomed back by previous coaching staffs’… well at least by one head coach whose name rhymes with Dee Hobbs. He told the players not to come around which did not sit well with the NFL players or the younger players who wanted to see the guys around… Once you leave and you hear and see how other universities treat former players by showing appreciation of accomplishments it makes you feel that your time at A&T was in vain. Your first reaction is to not to give back because you feel shorted… I know guys who received a large shipment of their universities apparel upon graduation. Also, when you see other schools spring ball games you have former players around always in a location where they are visible to recruits and fans. Once A&T start showcasing these former players like other universities do then you will see guys around more and would be more inclined to give back. For example: When I went to App States homecoming with a former player the YOSEF club had a separate tent for players and guest of players which had food drinks and a separate entrance to get to the seats for the game. I stay in contact with many of my teammates and we all say if we were to go back and do it all over again we would still attend A&T because we loved our experience at A&T, but the athletic department needs a complete overhaul. Someone mentioned in another post about white ex-players giving back to their schools… “Other” schools highlight the accomplishments of players that make it to the pros that attended their program by invitations to spring ball games, help with high school recruiting, allowing participation with pro-days, jersey framing, etc. Yet A&T chooses to disregard these accomplishments. There are players on the current team that do not know that there are Aggies playing at the highest level or how successful A&T was not so long ago. I have been fortunate enough to visit the field houses of other universities. In doing so, I witnessed the motivating display of past and current player’s game photos and accomplishments. That would make any player (current college and former players) feel good. You walk into A&Ts field house and see walls cluttered trophy cases that make it difficult decipher what the trophy is for. I know of many former white/black players that give back to their schools as it is a tax write off for donations. So ask yourself, what is the reason this does not happen at A&T?? i like your ideas, swagga. i've been advocating on this board for a long time to have large framed photographs on display of former aggies (in their pro uniforms) who played at the pro level. i think its an excellent way of re-connecting with our past as well as demonstrate to recruits that we can produce pro football players. i don't think it would be something that's terribly expensive. maybe the new athletic foundation can finance something like this... That's a good idea!
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Jun 27, 2011 13:49:39 GMT -5
The point I wanted to show was that it is not a white or black player issue for giving back to their athletic programs. For example, Ndamukong Suh donating 2.6 million dollars to the University of Nebraska, Charles Woodson donating 2 million to the University of Michigan and Steve Smith NBA player donated 2.5 million to Michigan State University. These players are in the professional limelight thus the reason we know about their gifts back to their universities. However I am sure there are far more donations back to universities that we do not here about. Now I am not sure about Hayes not treating players well or Fobbs not being friendly but I do know the majority of the players do not make it professionally and that there are many players who are doing well for themselves not in professional sports. The main problem with A&T is when you are done with your last game there is no help transitioning you to the work place profession. This is perception of most of the former student athletes. So, when you sign your athletic scholarship, it is not a four year scholarship. The scholarship has to be renewed yearly by the coaching staffs that evaluate each player performance. There are many ways for your scholarship not to be renewed for the following year. For example, there are summer workouts that are “NON MANDATORY” but it is known that you do not have to show up but you better be there because you risk losing your scholarship. So, players show up for these summer workouts missing valuable experience with summer internships which will help you seek employment post graduation. Recently players who show up to summer workouts are struggling finding employment which is an immense disadvantage compared to the average student who can gain experience during the summer with no consequence of LOSING A SCHOLARSHIP. There are many players who feel that missed out because you had to put their sport first because you are getting schooling paid for. I received my degree from A&T however I chose North Carolina A&T because of athletics. I give yearly contributions and no I have not given back to the athletic department. I love my years at North Carolina A&T however I feel that my years as student athlete were in vain with the reasons in my last post. I would like to see A&T change how they treat players so this cycle of players not wanting to give back can stop. Again players feel that they have do a lot on their own with no help from athletic department that you put so much time in and for. swagga, i think there may be other means of internship other than during the summer. i know in the early 80's when i was a student, i was on track scholarship but i was able to participate in a&t's cooperative education program every other semester. don't know what its called nowadays, but it was a very highly successful program when i was a student. i was able to work in private industry every other semester and still compete in track. as a result, i had a job offer from general electric corporation (which i accepted) before i even officially graduated. i can't speak for the coaching staff, but i think those summer workouts are pretty important for football players because it comes just prior to the start of the season. maybe the football players who want internships can look into internships during the spring semester. yeah, they'd probably miss spring practice, but the summer workouts might just be more important...
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Jun 27, 2011 15:49:18 GMT -5
hollywoodswagga you are on point . I think a lot of people don't under stand what a student athletes in football goes through . You have your summer work outs for example: Say if your a starter and you live out of state you may lose your starting position (ASPECIALLY if you are a lineman) are even instate if you don't live with in the radius of greensboro . Track is a little different you don't have to learn reads and know checks. I know this at WTAM they had kind of like and employment office for all student athletes and you could apply for a summer job so that you could stay near the campus in the summer. You could only live on campus if you were attending summer school so you had to find an apartment . Alot of us worked for the city at that time. A & T must have an community out reach coordinator that helps with the placement of summer jobs not only for athletes but for all students that stay for the summer.
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Jun 28, 2011 6:04:43 GMT -5
Example: R Wilson from NCS need I say more.
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Post by numberonebrave on Jun 28, 2011 9:05:54 GMT -5
[The main problem with A&T is when you are done with your last game there is no help transitioning you to the work place profession. This is perception of most of the former student athletes.]............. are you saying that the coaches should help you transition to a job in business or engineering ? I thought that was what the Placement office, dept chair etc should do...I will agree that f'ball players are disadvantaged regarding summer internships, but I am missing the role of the coach in the process. Athletes with the grades to get internships even fball players that i knew got them. ... players with grades in egneering/business that i know of got internships...I can not address internships in PE or Criminal Justice or Psychology. However, I would suspect that they would be difficult to get for any student in those majors.
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Jun 28, 2011 14:52:45 GMT -5
numberonebrave I must say I agree with you. It is not the coaches responsibility to find you placement in the job force . If an individual has the grades their should be no problem . PE has student teaching , Criminal justice in Texas has and internship that they do at the local jails or prisons near by ,even the Psychology students can do their internships at the local hospitals mental ward All of this is out lined in your field of study so that it is done doing the school year. Now as for summer internships it' about choosing to do your internship and doing some net working so that you will have a job when you complete your degree are stay and do the summer work outs and hope that the NFL comes calling , that is not on the coach that is on the player and placement office(If they have one) . A & T should have a forum for the players by bring back not just the Pros but players that have made the transition to the business world. hollywoodswagga I agree with you also to a point A & T problems are far more reaching then just the athletic department . A Lot of former Aggies have some type of besetment with the school . Why? Who knows but for me my time their was a Blessing.
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