Commitment to Education – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/5/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 5, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – By Andy Fledderjohann
%^$We see it in the headlines all the time.
%^$“Player To Leave School for NFL Draft.” “Athlete Foregoes College for Pros.”
%^$Yet we never see the flip side of this story – athletes returning to school to finish their college education.
%^$While many athletes have departed school early to pursue other goals and careers, several have returned to Ohio State to finish their education thanks to The Outreach Program – a special continuing education program tailored to athletes.
%^$”The Outreach Program is for athletes who have completed their eligibility and want to come back to finish up,” said Director of Football Operations Bill Myles. “We’ve had a lot come back – usually about seven to nine per quarter.”
%^$A whopping thirty-two former Ohio State athletes have earned their degrees through the Outreach Program, with the majority coming from the football, hockey and track and field programs. Former OSU greats Clark Kellogg (men’s basketball) and Ty Tucker (men’s tennis) are among the many former Buckeyes to earn their degrees through this program.
%^$”People are getting degrees from the university, so that’s always a positive,” said Program Coordinator Greg Bouquot, who serves as an academic advisor for Outreach students. “I think it works in a positive manner because a lot of people play in professional leagues and they feel it is important to get their degrees. Obviously you can’t play forever, but that diploma will be with you forever.”
%^$Ohio State was one of the first schools in the nation to create an Outreach Program. After being copied by universities across the country, OSU’s program remains one of the nation’s elite.
%^$”OSU was a pioneer in this area,” said Myles. “The Ohio State University’s program is a model program. I get about two calls a month from people looking for information about it – how do you get it started? How do you get it to work?”
%^$Outreach participants are required to sign a contract agreeing to certain stipulations when they enter the program. They must also work eight to 10 hours per week on campus. If the individual does not complete the work or fulfill the contract’s obligations, he or she will be dropped from the program.
%^$”The Outreach Program shows that our commitment is not just there while they’re playing for us,” said Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Support Services Dr. Kate Riffee. “Our commitment to help them graduate extends beyond their playing years, so they don’t feel like we’re just exploiting them for their athletic ability and then say, ‘OK, there you are. Have a nice life.’ It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate that our commitment goes beyond their playing days.”
%^$While the commitment and sacrifice to return to school to earn a degree is not easy, it still is one that many former athletes are ready to make.
%^$”Bernard Edwards (football) just graduated this summer and he came back all the way from Florida, as did Cedric Saunders (football),” said Myles. “They have to change their lifestyle, close down what they’re doing for a quarter or two quarters and come back. Sometimes they’re married and that’s a sacrifice, but they feel like it’s worth it.”
%^$The transition back to college life is also not an easy one, but the Ohio State staff is there to give the Outreach students the extra support they may need.
%^$”There’s some unsettling transitional feelings that happen with coming back,” said Riffee. “They’re not afraid, but they’re a little apprehensive and they wonder, ‘how long is this going to take me?’ Since they know us, they feel more comfortable with us.”
%^$But in the end, the sacrifices and apprehension have proven to be well worth it. The Outreach Program is producing results and the athletes are truly reaping the benefits of its services.
%^$”We’ve had people who have graduated here and have gotten jobs right away, like Tim Walton (football),” Myles commented. “He’s now coaching at Bowling Green. Jason Simmons (football) has come through here and he’s now working at Worthington Industries. Ty Tucker (tennis) returned to finish his degree and he’s now an assistant tennis coach at Ohio State”
%^$And after all the difficult work has been completed, the commencement ceremonies serve as icing on the cake for all involved.
%^$”It’s quite a thing to see these athletes, both male and female, finish and to see the joy in their parents’ faces,” said Myles. “It’s a great feeling to know that we’ve made a difference in their lives. It’s great to see these people come back and get their degree and know that this will really help them for the rest of their lives.”
