Now everyone knows about the stereotypical "college athletes are dumb, and have low GPA's". Which in some cases might be true but, let's take a closer look at Division III athletes for example. Torin J. Prentice, a football player for Christopher Newport University, states "its nothing of a walk in the park, you have to keep your grades up to play". Division III athletes get paid little to no scholarship money to play and still continue out there dream as being a collegiate athlete. Prentice states that the hardest part about being a student-athlete is balancing practice, classes, workouts, a social life, and finding study times during the Fall semesters. He states that even during the Spring semester the workout times determine when and sometimes what classes you are able to take. Being at such a small school options are limited and its hard planning classes around workout times. Life revolves around the sport and it's all about being organized.
I asked, from his perspective, what advice he had for incoming freshman football players in particular. He states; "it takes grit, patience, and a whole lot of hard work". School work really does come first and if the grades aren't there, you are less likely to even touch the field let alone be at practice. If your GPA is below a certain level you are required to be in a study hall in order to stay on top of your studies. Prentice also states that on top of school work, no position is safe. Each practice is a fight to either stay on the field or to get on the field. He also states that it's hard coming in as the number one player from your high school and realizing quickly that everyone else on your new team was the number one in their own high school. It's all about what you can manage and how you handle having your hardest classes during the season.
Prentice: "Be prepared for full body workouts, and be prepared to be uncomfortable with what coaches sometimes ask of you during practice"
After finding out he has been playing football for 8 years going on 9, I asked what made him stick with it for so long and why, if there sometimes may not even be a reward at the end.
Prentice: "It's the love for the sport and love for your teammates that carries you through. You have to believe in the team as a whole for it to be successful and knowing that your hard work is going to pay off. You have to believe in the program, the team, coaches, and be willing to put in the extra time. Waking up at 5 am every morning is no joke, but then beating your rival on a Saturday night game makes it all worth it."
So whether you're playing football, basketball or some other Division III sport, here's your shout out. You all don't get enough love or attention but all your hard work does not go unnoticed. Not only are you expected to keep the grades up, build a resume with social activities, you're also expected to put your heart and soul into your sport on and off the field. It takes a special kind of love for something to keep at something, despite the tribulations.
Last but not least, Go Captains!
