SU Football Engages Outside the Lines

The term ‘student-athlete’ is familiar to those who follow intercollegiate athletics. What is not as easily defined is the ability to balance all of the demands in living the life of a student-athlete. Participation as a student-athlete challenges individuals in balancing the vigorous demands of the sport with academic achievement. At Syracuse University, an institution that places a strong emphasis on the need for community engagement, the student-athlete experience extends well beyond the campus lines in the ‘Cuse Cares program.

     During the course of the 2007-08 academic year, the Syracuse football team spent more than 700 hours in the surrounding community, almost one third of the Syracuse athletics department’s 2,400 community engagement hours. The football team focuses its community engagement efforts in five categories, including mentoring in juvenile outreach and youth awareness programs, servicing the poor, connecting with the elderly and engaging with patients and families in children’s hospitals.

     The youth awareness programs, which earned the most attention from the football student-athletes, occurred at Elmcrest Children Center, Pine Grove Elementary School, Chestnut Hill Middle School, Stonehedge Elementary School and the Salvation Army.

     “The kids really looked forward to their visit and enjoyed it,” said Jeanne Bartel, who coordinates the program for the Elmcrest Children Center. “The professionalism of the football players was great. They just jumped right in with the kids and were completely appropriate. They really wanted to get to know the kids—they drew them in and gave them a lot of attention, which is of course what they need.”

     The student-athletes spent time sharing with the kids about how they have come to this point in their lives, including lessons learned from making choices and the ability to overcome obstacles, which made a lasting impression on many of children.

“Now we have kids who are talking about going to college because the football players are going to college,” Bartel said. “One of the student-athletes was also a foster child. He lived the experience these kids are going through, so he was able to talk to them about it. It really had an effect on the boys.”

Jackie Denero, of the Hillbrook Detetion Center, expressed great appreciation for the time the Orange student-athletes and staff spent with the youth residents, answering questions and sharing personal stories. Other juvenile outreach centers the Orange attended included Levy Jr. High Men’s Program, the Boys and Girls Club and the Justice Center.

“They graciously shared with us their personal experiences and encouraged our residents to set goals for themselves academically,” Denero said. “The maturity, grace, concern and poise of the student-athletes were noted by all who attended. The young men of the Syracuse University football team fostered hope, encouraged hard work and discipline and promoted self-discovery and independent thinking. It was a motivating and engaging presentation.”

Sergeant Tom McDowell, from the Onondaga County Justice Center, said the impact the football student-athletes had on the minor males, ages 16-18, is very evident.

“Some of these players, not all of them, have backgrounds that might be similar to that of the incarcerated youths,” McDowell said. “And because of the similarities, the minors can look at the adult players and say, ‘He’s in school. He had a similar road to mine and he’s making changes.’ It gives them positive feedback. After the student-athletes leave, you tend to hear the minors telling stories about the football players, ‘He’s doing this, maybe I can do that.’ It gives them the idea that they do have choices. I think it’s a terrific program.”

While the Syracuse football team has made a tremendous impact on juvenile and youth awareness programs, it has also contributed to the community by connecting with the elderly, poor and ill children at local hospitals, such as Van Duyn, Crouse, Community General and Golosano Children’s hospital, along with the Salvation Army, IDA Benderson senior center, Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of Central New York.

“If you can even change one person’s mind —maybe what one of the football players says is enough for that person that day to say, ‘I’m going to make a difference and change my path,’ — then it’s worth it,” Sergeant McDowell said.

The 'Cuse Cares Program, supported by Citizens Bank - New York, is the community outreach program for student-athletes at Syracuse University. SU's student-athletes have been recognized with SU's Chancellor's Award for Public Service and Community Engagement in each of the past 11 years for their volunteer efforts in the community. Citizens Bank invests in and is a leader in the communities it serves.

Syracuse University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos