Remembering the athlete
The 2017 UCF Knight football team has a case to be considered one of the most historical teams in college football history. The Knights went undefeated in the regular season, before upsetting Auburn in the Chick Fil’ Peach Bowl. Eventually, even crowning themselves National Champions. Most will remember that Knights team, due to the national controversy over the self-titled champs. Who they’ll remember specifically is another story. Some may remember McKenzie Milton. The former Knight captain turned Seminole, was known for his fierce leadership and uncanny athletic ability. Others may remember Shaquem Griffin. Griffin was the defensive motor on that Knights team, and an inspiration throughout college football. The name Brandon Godinez however, many, may have never heard of.
As a player on the 17’ knights’ team, Godinez was an offensive lineman. Although he didn’t see much playing time, his role on the scout team was crucial in preparing his teammates for their opponents’ week to week. “I’ve never been around a team with that much success, (as such) a tight group”, Godinez referred to 17' team's comradery. “It was little things, as simple as every one doing sprints after practice, from the top guy down.” Godinez wasn’t drafted into the NFL, nor did he pursue a career in professional football. Without meaning to Brandon represents millions of student athletes that have come before and after him, the forgotten student athlete.
Finding ones self
Depending on who you ask, they might also be a forgotten athlete. Your teacher, dentist, or sister all may have had excellent athletic careers, before ultimately finding their lifes work. Whether they had a hall of fame or amateur career, when the fans are gone there is only an individual vs the world.
According to the NCAA, collegiate athletes face roughly a 2% chance to make the pros in their respective sport. With that knowledge you would think athletes would find the time to prepare for life after their careers. However, there’s only 24 hours in a day. According to a recent study, collegiate athletes dedicate over 60 hours a week dedicated to just their sport and school. Although the current climate of collegiate athletics allows for athlete to be compensated, money can only do so much. The question becomes, when do these athletes have the time to find themselves outside of their sport?
As a former Division 1 athlete, Keyshawn McLeod understands this difficult time for athletes too well. “I honestly thought football was the say all, be all. Because that was all I knew”. Unlike Godinez, McLeod pursued a professional career in football. Unfortunately, due to the Covid 19 virus, and other complications outside of his control, McLeod couldn’t resume his athletic career. After a self-therapy session, McLeod came to the realizationbthere was more ways to success than the gridiron. “My academic advisor sat me down and said, you’re bigger than football, and helped me think of life after football.”
To others who have been similar positions as McLeod, deciding to retire isn’t always the easiest. “I put timelines on myself for how long I would chase that dream (going pro). If I didn’t make any progress in a years timespan than I would have to move on. I knew I could do other things, I just had to figure out what those other things were that I wanted to do. So that was a challenge”. Davion Belk is a former collegiate athlete at Stetson University. Many former athletes like Belk found the transition from athlete to civilian to be complicated, but adjustable. Although the concern for the unknown was present, Belk used the experiences and life disciplines learned through sports to help find himself away from sports. “Some people don’t understand how athletics carry over, in a leadership perspective. A lot of people don’t get a chance to lead until they get older, but sports create a window where you can lead at an early age and master those skills early". The correlation between sport and life isn’t always the easiest to make, but finding the balance between the two can ultimately be difficult.
Go Pro or Go Home
Finding balance in life is hard as it is, but especially for newly retired athletes. Professional connections, financial literacy, and a consistent social life, are just some of the pillars in society that former athletes must rebuild. One could only imagine the toll it takes in making it pro. Al Edwards lived all young football players dream and made it to the NFL.
Edwards had a 3-year stint with the Buffalo Bills from 1990-1993. Before his career concluded Edwards appeared in 3 Super Bowls, and played alongside Hall of Famers such as, Jim Kelly and Andre Reed. Although Edwards reached the “top” he’ll be the first one to tell you, not everything that glitters is gold. “They (Buffalo Bills) offered me the league minimum, but I let that little minor discrepancy boot me out of the league. I told them I’m not playing for that amount of money, and they called the next guy”. According to ESPN, the average NFL career lasts just over 3 years. Even authors such as, Sophie Knights, of La Trobe University discuss ways in which professional athletes can have a smooth transition into retirement. This indicates even in multi-billion-dollar leagues such as the NFL, employees can’t get comfortable. “A lot of people don’t realize when you’re playing at that level (professionally), while you’re there you want to make sure you leave with no regrets. I didn’t do that”.
Time isn’t the only sacrifice these athletes give up for their respective sports. Authors like Helen Hadiyan would suggest retired athletes struggle with maintaining their athletic identity. Ultimately affecting their overall health as well. The physical, emotional, physiological toll athletes face isn’t discussed enough. Authors such as Carolyn Plateau even discuss learning about the liberation women athlete feel over eating a full meal after they retire. Only 10% of all college athletes with known mental health conditions seek care from a mental health professional. One must wonder, is it all worth it?
Dwight Lawrence is now a former collegiate athlete, who is looking for the next opportunity to continue his career. Lawrence, like Belk, previously played his collegiate ball at Stetson as well. Currently the 23-year-old, Eatonville native is training close to home, in Orlando, Fl. Although extremely gifted, Lawrence understands the odds he’s facing in playing any level of professional football. According to the IPS, only 1.6 percent of football players go on to be drafted into major professional leagues. For basketball players, it’s even lower, with just 1.2 percent of men and 0.9 percent of women going pro. “(I’m) just leaving it in God’s hands. I’m not one of those highly favored guys coming out (of draft), so I must keep working”.
Leagues such as the CFL and XFL offer different routes to a professional career opposed to the NFL. However, when it’s comes to professional sports there’s always a "what if". “I’m very confident that no matter what I do, I’d be successful at it. Just because of my fear of failure.”
Running your own plays
These former collegiate athletes may not have heard their names called during the NFL Draft. Neither have they had an Hall of Fame career. What they do have, is their own defined success. McLeod was recently engaged and is currently a security consultant at Accenture. “I see myself staying with this company for a long time. They’re big on can you work on a team, and that’s the same characteristics we’ve been doing our whole lives playing football.”
Former NFL wideout, Al Edwards is now an architect in his home state of Louisiana. His new Super Bowl is building schools for underdeveloped communities. “I used to follow my grandfather around he did carpentry work, and it embodied me I love it. I just found my niche; I love what I do, and I don’t see myself doing anything else”.
Davion Belk is the Deputy Chief of staff and Student Success Advocate at his alumni. He also continues to help athletes in the fog of finding themselves. “Talk to people. It’s a period of self-reflection, and sometimes can form an identity crisis, like who am I?”.
Dwight Lawrence continues to chase his professional football dreams, with a few teams interested. When he chooses to retire, he can do so with a clear conscious knowing he tried. “The worst thing that I could think of is having a passion for something so strong, and not even give myself a chance. I just gotta keep goin”.
As for Godinez, he continues his role as a teammate to his fellow coworkers at Milwaukee Tools. “Having those established building blocks from sports has put me into a good position going into the workforce. It’s not football, but there’s a lot of things I can say I’ve learned about myself from this job.”
So, is it all worth it? The time, the sacrifice, the dream. Only current or former collegiate athletes can really answer that question. They’ve put the blood, sweat, and tears into their respective sport to decide. Regardless of the cons, chasing your dreams may be the only pro collegiate athletes need. Whether in sports or not, there is no blueprint to success. Former collegiate athletes should use these examples to show the ways in which athletes can be successful after the conclusion of their careers. Follow your own gameplan.
If you come in contact or find yourself to be a former collegiate athlete, who is struggling to find their next path, be sure to view Routes to Success below. This Twitter list highlights different outlets that can assist former athletes in society such as; finding jobs in sports, mental health, and more.
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