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University of Minnesota Athletics
The Magnificent Seven
9/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Over the years, it seems as though collegiate football has become more focused on the athletic aspect of the players' lives than the educational. But these players are still student-athletes, coming to an institution for a degree as well as time on the gridiron. Maybe that's what makes these seven Gophers so special - their success and drive on and off the field. "I think graduating means everything," tight end Ben Utecht said. "That is what Coach Mason talks about all the time and that is why we are here. We are here to get a degree and prepare ourselves for the future because it is a slim or nothing chance to make it to the next level."
"It was my first goal coming to Minnesota to get my degree and I'm very happy that I got it," quarterback Benji Kamrath remarked, with defensive tackle Dan Kwapinski echoing, "It's why I was here in the first place, so it's a feeling of accomplishment. It's a real good feeling to get that done. I worked a lot of hard years for it."
The reasoning to get a college degree is simple, it is difficult to get anywhere today without one. But the drive to obtain a degree can come from all different aspects. For these seven, it was mostly about reaching a personal goal and proving themselves to their parents and coaches. "I always told myself that I couldn't leave empty handed," running back Thomas Tapeh said. "Sticking through it, persevering, and with my coaches and family behind me I knew I could make it."
"My parents instilled [getting a degree] in me before coming to school. I knew I had to get it done, and I always have been the type of person who got things done," offensive guard Joe Quinn commented.
"My parents were my driving force. I really wanted to show them that I could do this. A lot of it was for them," linebacker Ben West agreed.
"I made a commitment to this team, to myself, to my family to fully take on academics," Utecht said. "I wanted to prepare myself if football doesn't work out. So I can go out and get a job and support a family in the future."
The road to actually getting the degree is tough for any student. It takes organization of time, focus, the ability to maintain a workload and juggling demands from several areas at once. But that's just for the average student. Then you add football practices, games, travel, team meetings, rehabbing, off-season workouts, lifting. The four-year degree for a football player is looking even more impressive now, and the key all seven pointed to was balance.
"First and foremost, you have to take care of your grades and your education. If you want to be on the field you have to maintain a certain GPA. I've always taken pride in getting good grades and trying to set the tone for everybody else to see that, `hey if you can do it, I can do it,'" Kamrath said.
"I think it is all about finding a groove for yourself. I tried to balance everything," Utecht added. "I tried to have a social life. I spent a lot of time with friends, but I also balanced that with studying. The key is finding the balance. And when you find a good groove for yourself, you are going to be okay and be able to handle the load."
"Some days you have to study early in the morning if you have late night practice and just figure your schedule out ahead of time," Quinn remarked. "It was difficult, but I think it helped me out a lot. The structure of school and football and having my counselors always making sure everything is going well really was beneficial."
"It's tougher during the season. I always take a lighter [class] load during the season and then a heavier load in the spring to kind of balance it out. And then you just have to make sure to use your free time for the classes that you need help in. Some classes will be easier, you spend your time with the classes that might be harder. Make use of al the academic people here - they do a great job helping us with getting tutors and helping us during study time, stuff like that," Kwapinski commented.
The seven will still have to maintain their balancing skills as they all are continuing to take classes, with four, Isom, Kwapinski, Utecht and Kamrath, attending grad school.
While balancing is seen as the key to success, the seniors also had advice to their teammates still looking to complete their degrees. It includes finding someone to lean on and appreciating the opportunity that has been given to them as a member of the Minnesota football team. "I think too many people take life for granted. I would tell them to stay focused on their goals and not to take school lightly because it is going to pay off in the long run," Utecht said, with Tapeh adding, "Time flies by. Make the best of every chance you can get. Don't take anything for granted."
"I would tell the guys to just grind it out and it all will work out in the long run," cornerback Justin Isom remarked.
"Make use of all the academic services," Kwapinski commented. "All the computers, the tutors, academic advisors - they know what they're doing. Make use of them as much as you can. And try not to go out the night before tests."
"I tell them to find someone on the team that can be your brother," West said. "Get someone on the team that can be that for you. Help keep you in line, when you start slipping you have someone there to kick you back on the right track."
Possibly one of the most rewarding things about graduating in four years is the way the seven have become academic role models for their teammates, no matter what level. It is encouragement for freshmen to work hard and get off on the right foot, as well as a push for the upperclassmen to maintain their level of diligence because they can see first hand that all the time and effort invested will be rewarded with a degree will lead to future success. The following is the seven graduated seniors' thoughts on their accomplishments:
Thomas Tapeh (family social science and youth studies): "Graduating is something the rest of the guys on the team can look up to. I keep telling them, you are here to pay your dues. Don't leave empty handed. If I can do it, you can do it. It is not easy, but it can be done."
Justin Isom (sports management): "I think graduating gave me that added respect, because I already had respect from being a senior and a starter. I think those guys see that we can do it then they believe they can do it too. I am one of them. We all joke around together and they realize that they have the same potential."
Joe Quinn (political science): "I think a lot of the guys on the team look up to us that have graduated."
Ben West (architecture): "At first I didn't really think it was that big of a deal. My freshman and sophomore year, guys on the team graduated and it was like `Whoop-de-do. Everyone graduates.' But the longer you stay here you realize not everyone graduates. Doing that and playing football, it is a big deal. Hopefully the younger guys see that and do look at us as a role model."
Benji Kamrath (elementary education): "I think for us seven guys, they see it's possible to get it done in four years. It can happen. As long as you stick with the plan and follow the plan that everyone sets forth for you, you can do it."
Ben Utecht (communication studies): "I think it is not a vocal leadership skill. I think it is leading by example. When you have seven guys that have already graduated in the senior class and are still playing one more year, a lot of guys can look up to that and look forward to what they can do if they put in the hard work."
Dan Kwapinski (biology): "It's the reason everyone should be here. Football is an important part, but getting a college education is also very important. You show the other guys, the younger guys, that it can be done in four years or five years, however long it takes. Right away it feels like a tough mountain to climb because it's so many classes, so much harder than high school. But if they see someone that has done it then they think maybe they can do it too."
This article was written by Media Relations student assistants Courtney Walerius and Jessica Fleischmann. They welcome comments at gophers@umn.edu. Their degrees are in political science, family social science and youth studies, communication studies, sports management, biology, elementary education and architecture. Yes, these are Golden Gopher football players. Yes, these are University of Minnesota students. Yes, they obtained their degree in four years while playing for the Maroon and Gold. Yes, they have enjoyed tremendous success on the playing field, reaching bowl games in three of the last four seasons, but what has already been achieved by these seven seniors, Joe Quinn, Thomas Tapeh, Ben Utecht, Justin Isom, Dan Kwapinski, Benji Kamrath and Ben West, is a special accomplishment within itself.
Over the years, it seems as though collegiate football has become more focused on the athletic aspect of the players' lives than the educational. But these players are still student-athletes, coming to an institution for a degree as well as time on the gridiron. Maybe that's what makes these seven Gophers so special - their success and drive on and off the field. "I think graduating means everything," tight end Ben Utecht said. "That is what Coach Mason talks about all the time and that is why we are here. We are here to get a degree and prepare ourselves for the future because it is a slim or nothing chance to make it to the next level."
"It was my first goal coming to Minnesota to get my degree and I'm very happy that I got it," quarterback Benji Kamrath remarked, with defensive tackle Dan Kwapinski echoing, "It's why I was here in the first place, so it's a feeling of accomplishment. It's a real good feeling to get that done. I worked a lot of hard years for it."
The reasoning to get a college degree is simple, it is difficult to get anywhere today without one. But the drive to obtain a degree can come from all different aspects. For these seven, it was mostly about reaching a personal goal and proving themselves to their parents and coaches. "I always told myself that I couldn't leave empty handed," running back Thomas Tapeh said. "Sticking through it, persevering, and with my coaches and family behind me I knew I could make it."
"My parents instilled [getting a degree] in me before coming to school. I knew I had to get it done, and I always have been the type of person who got things done," offensive guard Joe Quinn commented.
"My parents were my driving force. I really wanted to show them that I could do this. A lot of it was for them," linebacker Ben West agreed.
"I made a commitment to this team, to myself, to my family to fully take on academics," Utecht said. "I wanted to prepare myself if football doesn't work out. So I can go out and get a job and support a family in the future."
The road to actually getting the degree is tough for any student. It takes organization of time, focus, the ability to maintain a workload and juggling demands from several areas at once. But that's just for the average student. Then you add football practices, games, travel, team meetings, rehabbing, off-season workouts, lifting. The four-year degree for a football player is looking even more impressive now, and the key all seven pointed to was balance.
"First and foremost, you have to take care of your grades and your education. If you want to be on the field you have to maintain a certain GPA. I've always taken pride in getting good grades and trying to set the tone for everybody else to see that, `hey if you can do it, I can do it,'" Kamrath said.
"I think it is all about finding a groove for yourself. I tried to balance everything," Utecht added. "I tried to have a social life. I spent a lot of time with friends, but I also balanced that with studying. The key is finding the balance. And when you find a good groove for yourself, you are going to be okay and be able to handle the load."
"Some days you have to study early in the morning if you have late night practice and just figure your schedule out ahead of time," Quinn remarked. "It was difficult, but I think it helped me out a lot. The structure of school and football and having my counselors always making sure everything is going well really was beneficial."
"It's tougher during the season. I always take a lighter [class] load during the season and then a heavier load in the spring to kind of balance it out. And then you just have to make sure to use your free time for the classes that you need help in. Some classes will be easier, you spend your time with the classes that might be harder. Make use of al the academic people here - they do a great job helping us with getting tutors and helping us during study time, stuff like that," Kwapinski commented.
The seven will still have to maintain their balancing skills as they all are continuing to take classes, with four, Isom, Kwapinski, Utecht and Kamrath, attending grad school.
While balancing is seen as the key to success, the seniors also had advice to their teammates still looking to complete their degrees. It includes finding someone to lean on and appreciating the opportunity that has been given to them as a member of the Minnesota football team. "I think too many people take life for granted. I would tell them to stay focused on their goals and not to take school lightly because it is going to pay off in the long run," Utecht said, with Tapeh adding, "Time flies by. Make the best of every chance you can get. Don't take anything for granted."
"I would tell the guys to just grind it out and it all will work out in the long run," cornerback Justin Isom remarked.
"Make use of all the academic services," Kwapinski commented. "All the computers, the tutors, academic advisors - they know what they're doing. Make use of them as much as you can. And try not to go out the night before tests."
"I tell them to find someone on the team that can be your brother," West said. "Get someone on the team that can be that for you. Help keep you in line, when you start slipping you have someone there to kick you back on the right track."
Possibly one of the most rewarding things about graduating in four years is the way the seven have become academic role models for their teammates, no matter what level. It is encouragement for freshmen to work hard and get off on the right foot, as well as a push for the upperclassmen to maintain their level of diligence because they can see first hand that all the time and effort invested will be rewarded with a degree will lead to future success. The following is the seven graduated seniors' thoughts on their accomplishments:
Thomas Tapeh (family social science and youth studies): "Graduating is something the rest of the guys on the team can look up to. I keep telling them, you are here to pay your dues. Don't leave empty handed. If I can do it, you can do it. It is not easy, but it can be done."
Justin Isom (sports management): "I think graduating gave me that added respect, because I already had respect from being a senior and a starter. I think those guys see that we can do it then they believe they can do it too. I am one of them. We all joke around together and they realize that they have the same potential."
Joe Quinn (political science): "I think a lot of the guys on the team look up to us that have graduated."
Ben West (architecture): "At first I didn't really think it was that big of a deal. My freshman and sophomore year, guys on the team graduated and it was like `Whoop-de-do. Everyone graduates.' But the longer you stay here you realize not everyone graduates. Doing that and playing football, it is a big deal. Hopefully the younger guys see that and do look at us as a role model."
Benji Kamrath (elementary education): "I think for us seven guys, they see it's possible to get it done in four years. It can happen. As long as you stick with the plan and follow the plan that everyone sets forth for you, you can do it."
Ben Utecht (communication studies): "I think it is not a vocal leadership skill. I think it is leading by example. When you have seven guys that have already graduated in the senior class and are still playing one more year, a lot of guys can look up to that and look forward to what they can do if they put in the hard work."
Dan Kwapinski (biology): "It's the reason everyone should be here. Football is an important part, but getting a college education is also very important. You show the other guys, the younger guys, that it can be done in four years or five years, however long it takes. Right away it feels like a tough mountain to climb because it's so many classes, so much harder than high school. But if they see someone that has done it then they think maybe they can do it too."
This article was written by Media Relations student assistants Courtney Walerius and Jessica Fleischmann. They welcome comments at gophers@umn.edu.
