The Student Athlete Experience

Transcript

Now we’re off to meet scholar athlete, Ryan. Ryan has played for the Bearkat Football Team for three years now, and his team just won the FCS NCAA division one championship title. Ryan is gonna share with us how Bearkat athletics defines the student athlete experience. With 17 teams competing at the NCAA division one level in the Western Athletic Conference, the 13 teen conference provides an amazing opportunity for programming student success while continually raising the profile of SHSU’s athletic teams, including the championship football team. Ryan, I passing it over to you my man.

– Thanks Alex. Hi everyone. I’m Ryan Humphries, a member of the 2020 National Championship Bearkat Football Program. I began my Bearkat football career as a walk on. And after a year of hard work and dedication, I received an athletic scholarship. I’ve learned a lot about the student athlete experience and my appreciation for college athletes has definitely deepened. We were a closely knit the Bearkat family. We practiced together, studied together and worked really hard to cheer on each other’s teams. Rarely will you go to a sporting event and not find other student athletes cheering each other on. Another way I’ve supported my fellow athletes, is serving as the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, which works with faculty and staff and reports to the university president. Our council makes policy recommendations and advocates on behalf of the student athletes. The Bearkats athletic staff is another group that ensures that student athletes are successful. They give us everything we need to be great on the field and in the classroom. I’ve been so lucky to be a part of some incredible moments as a Bearkat football player. I’m throwing the touchdown on my first collegiate snap to playing quarterback in a win against the ninth ranked team in the country. However, my favorite memory came this past season in the FCS semifinals against James Madison University. When trailing down 21 at the half, we rallied back and completing one of the greatest comebacks in FCS playoff history. We then went on to win the national championship in Frisco, Texas against South Dakota State, for the first ever FCS national title in Sam Houston history. It was an unforgettable game to end an amazing undefeated season. Bearkats athletics is near and dear to my heart. Overall, being an athlete at Sam Houston State has been a fun and unique experience. It has taught me that discipline and dedication will take you far and has given me teammates that will be a part of my family for the rest of my life. I’ve bled Bearkat orange for the past three years competing and rooting for this university. And I will do so long after I graduate. Once a Bearkat, always a Bearkat. Back to you, Alex, and eat him up Kats.

– Wow, thanks Ryan. 2020 FCS NCAA division one football champions. What an amazing accomplishment. Sounds like an incredible season and an excellent student athlete support program. Congratulations to you and all Sam Houston State University Bearkat athletes. Thanks again, Ryan, that was great.