Grenfell is a sophomore public relations and management double major and can be contacted at [email protected]
I can’t deny that I often wonder what it would be like to only be a college student. With basketball out of the equation, I try and imagine what I could possibly do with that extra free time.
Be more involved on campus? Study more? Have more of a social life? I guess it’s a question that I will never know the answer to. The best I can do is place myself in your shoes. Do students ever wonder what it’s like to be a student-athlete? If so, I’m here to help. I compiled a list of questions that I suspect students may want to know the answers to. Funny, serious or sarcastic — take them as you will.
1. Do you guys wear the same thing every day?
You may not have the guts to ask, but I bet it has crossed your mind. Generally speaking, the answer is yes. The typical athlete’s wardrobe consists of sweatpants and a sweatshirt, or shorts and a T-shirt. Coming from workouts, it’s the easiest thing to slip on before rushing to class. Most of us could probably count on one hand how many times we have worn jeans this year. But if you do spot an athlete wearing them, just know that it truly is a big day for us.
2. What’s with the ice bags?
On behalf of the student-athlete population at Drake, I’d like to informally apologize for any disruption ice bags may have caused. When the 20 minutes is up, we have no choice but to unwrap them in class. An ice bag typically doesn’t mean a very serious injury. It’s more a remedy for sore knees, backs, ankles or muscles in general.
3. Do you have free time?
Yes we do, although much less than someone that does not play a sport. Time management is something we must really latch on to in the world of college athletics. Along with time management, it also comes down to prioritizing. In all honesty, if you want a social life, you can have a social life. That may mean sacrificing a few test grades here and there, but at the end of the day we find a way to make it work. After all, the college experience is only what you choose to make of it.
4. Is it true you eat at Hubbell three whole times a day?
For the women’s basketball team, absolutely. We work with what we’ve got. After an hour of weight lifting or a three-hour practice, Hubbell certainly gets the job done. Let’s face it; everything tastes good when you’ve practically burned your body weight in calories.
5. Why do you do it?
I do it because I love it. I don’t know a better way to say it than that. I think to play a college sport, at any level, it has to be your passion. We have an entire non-scholarship football team working their butts off year-round. You can’t tell me they don’t love what they do. Going along with that, you have to be in it for the right reasons. The fact that my education is paid for is without a doubt humbling and incredible, and the list goes on. But if that’s the only incentive to play a college sport, it’s going to be a long four years.
6. How do you do it?
One day at a time. Hard work and reaping the benefits is an absolute thrill to me. No one ever said it was going to be easy. It’s frustrating at times, I want to give up at times and it’s emotionally draining at times; but that is something that every athlete undergoes. If you take it with a grain of salt, it’s that much easier to look ahead at what is to come.
7. When is the first game?
This is partly my decision to self-promote Drake women’s basketball, and our first game is Nov. 2. We kick off our season against Upper Iowa at 7:05 pm. at the Knapp Center. Come support your Bulldogs.
