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University of Minnesota Athletics
Ekpe Tackles New Opportunity
11/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Scott Ekpe has battled Big Ten offensive linemen for more than four years, but recently he may have met an even bigger challenge: a corporate income statement.
Since September, the redshirt senior has been working at an internship with APi Construction in New Brighton. There, his tackling skills were put to the test beyond opposing team's quarterbacks and running backs.
Upon arriving for work at his internship, Ekpe was tasked by company president Reid "Huck" Finn with helping on a company expense audit, along with creating an internal depreciation schedule.
Overwhelming? Ekpe didn't seem to think so.
"I don't have an accounting background and neither does Scott," Finn said. "It's one of those things he's jumped right into and has gotten a chance to learn how the business works. He's really digging into the operating expenses of a hundred-million-dollar company."
"I would say that being a student-athlete has helped prepare me to work in the real world," Ekpe said of the transition to an office job. "Both of them were pretty difficult at first but the adjustment phase is what it's all about."
The Lewisville, Texas, native describes himself as hard-working, willing to learn, and ready to work every day when he trades in his pads and cleats for the shirt and tie. Finn echoed the sentiment.
"I would describe Scott as eager, engaged, dedicated and hungry to learn. It's really been positive," he said. A former Division I football player at West Point himself, Finn is envious of the opportunity provided to Ekpe.
"I didn't get a chance to go out and work and have an internship like Scott does and I wish I would have," he explained. "He is able to jump in and pick some things up that I didn't have the opportunity to do.
"I think that student-athletes are a huge asset to an organization because they are able to bring the dedication, perseverance, and teamwork to an organization which I don't think our society has enough of. I'm a big fan of college athletes."
So far, Ekpe has enjoyed his time in the business world.
"I didn't know what to expect on the first day, but they welcomed me like I had been there for 30 years," he said. "It's been a great experience so far, and I am happy I made that decision."
Outside of the office, Ekpe takes care of business on the football field. He has played in every game this season, amassing 10 tackles including two for loss, one sack and has recovered two fumbles. His position coach Jeff Phelps credits his ability to balance a tricky trio of academics, athletics and work experience.
"I think he is doing a great job," Phelps said. "He has always done a great job academically. He is a smart young man and has his priorities in line. That gives him some extra time to concentrate on football and it is showing on the field."
Ekpe admits that while he's sitting at his cubicle during the day, his mind will wander over to the gridiron.
"I am not going to lie, sometimes I think about football at work," he explained.
Discussion of Gopher football even makes its way to others inside the company, as Finn describes.
"We don't talk enough football," he laughed. "People always ask him about the game. It's definitely a topic of conversation now that Scott is here. I'm glad he brings that. I love watching number 97 on Saturdays. I used to always watch the ball and now I watch number 97 to see what he's doing."
Ekpe is providing a model example of the value student-athletes can bring to the business world, not just after leaving campus but even while still in school.
"I want to compliment the University for being able to draw somebody like Scott and his brother from Texas and into Minnesota," Finn explained. "I know Scott enjoys Minnesota and I think he's going to stay here. I would like him to stay here and I like that kind of talent, whether he moves on to an NFL career or not, to have that kind of talent in this state and making our state better. I'm referring to the talent of bringing leadership skills to the Minnesota business community. You can never have enough."
On a recent fall afternoon, Ekpe looked around the interior of Rod Wallace Field, then paused and pointed towards the Athletes Village construction going on just beyond the walls.
He was asked to explain how Minnesota has invested in the success of its student-athletes.
"Everything," Ekpe explained. "Food, academic resources, the new facility that they are building outside."
Ekpe arrived at this discussion after mentioning one particular graduate class, Strategic Human Resource Development, as he works toward his masters in that field. He cited it as a way that lessons in the classroom also apply to the football field.
"One thing that stuck with me is about investing in your employees," Ekpe explained. "I felt like Coach Claeys has done a good job with that because when you invest in someone, success will come."
Ekpe has done an excellent job demonstrating how investing in him has paid dividends, on and off the field.
