Sometimes the best way to start a story is by thanking the people who made it happen. In this case, a visit to Springfield Middle School by members of the University of Toledo football team would not have been possible without eighth grade math teacher Maggie Christie (Team Velocity) taking the lead. Visiting SMS recently were Mr. Terry Swanson, director of player development and student athletes Jerjuan Newton (1), Micah Kelly (3), Lavel Dumont (74), Jamal Hines (91) and Javon Ringer, assistant director of football operations.
Each a role model on their own, they comprised a “Dream Team” and talked to our students about putting in the work in the classroom and what that means.
They told the students that putting in the work includes asking for help, staying after and focusing in class.
Each talked about how football has to come second. That is why they are called student athletes not athlete students.
For our curious students, they shared what the schedule is like for a college football player and how time management should be learned and practiced now to be successful later.
They gave insight on how crucial it is to contribute to the effort to become a real team on and off the field, lifting each other up– always.
Our new friends from UToledo explained that colleges look at the whole person; admissions professionals and college coaches ask the teachers and coaches of prospective players how recruits treat others and deal with setbacks.
They also made it a point to share that when a student represents a school–when anyone puts on a jersey, they must represent it well on the field, in the classroom and especially when posting photos and text on social media.
Oh, and they even showed our student athletes the right way to get into the two-point stance.
