As a parent of a recruit you may be faced with difficult decisions while keeping your son’s best interest in mind. Your sending your son away from college and what you really want is reassurance and peace of mind. The good news is you will began to get a sense of this when communicating with coaches. Most college football coaches are parents themselves or have been a college football recruit at one point or another. With that being said that’s what makes my blog so unique. I have actually been through the college football recruiting process. I have been through the official visits, complimentary football games, College Football Questionnaires, contacting and being contacted by football coaches. I can tell you first hand it’s a stressful process from beginning to end. Once your son commits to a school the next step is the planning for their departure.

Parents worried about College Academics

If your son has a 3.0gpa right now you won’t have to worry to much because this is showing that he takes care of his academic work. But do know that most college football programs have mandatory study halls a few times per week. In my own experience we had mandatory study halls but if you had a 3.0 or above you were excused because you were doing good in your classes.

College Football Study

In college football study halls you have a majority of the team in a specified area usually a room in the library. You are closely supervised, attendance is taken and you may go to other areas for additional academic help. From my experience study hall helped me to form a relationship off the field with my teammates. Here’s how the schedule would look out of practice by about 6:30pm and in study hall by 7:30-9:00 or 9:30. Now in study hall you could get help from teammates or give help. Cell phones aren’t permitted so don’t think your son is in study hall texting all night.

Parent relationships with coaching staff

Parents should have a relationship with college football coaches. From my experience I had coaches that after games would just walk by my parents without acknowledging them. Now granted some coaches are in the zone after games, but it’s very welcoming and reassuring if a coach can atleast acknowledge a players parents. Anyhow parents should feel that they can contact coaches whenever they need to. If you have a concern you need to express that to the coaches. The coaches need to know before any bad situations develop. I have spoke with parents that were concerned about playing time and they told me that they told coaches their philosophies were screwed up and yada yada yada. As a coach myself that is the last thing that I want to hear but I will say that those parents should atleast feel good that the coach took the time out to speak with them. Also parents you should network with other parents and you can do this by the following:

Get to games early

Take advantage of tailgating opportunities even if your not cooking, just be there

Introduce yourself to other parents

Go to family day

Be supporting of your son playing college football

I’ll tell you from experience that my parents supported me from day one. I’m going to briefly share an experience of mines.
My first week of football camp I was ready to go home. I saw everything from teammates fighting, on the field the locker room and inside the shower. I saw coaches grabbing face mask and jacking players up and calling players the following: You are a fucking dumbass, cocksucker, pussy and other explicit terms. I also seen a player baracade himself inside of his dorm room refusin to practice. He ended up quiting after his parents came to get him out. But me I said it’s time for me to go.

When I had seen enough, I packed my bags and told my mom and she told me to hang in there. She said if I came home my car was gone and I agreed to it. I just wasn’t happy. I think partly because I was only 18 I’m surrounded by men, not like in high school. I was with mature players and it was like mentally I wasn’t ready. Performance wise no lie I did a great job, and I actually have footage of me playing and practicing as a freshman. But long story short my roommate came in while I finished packing, “Yo what you doing you” with his Yonkers, NY mentallity. And I decided to stay, and after I graduated I was glad that I hung in there. One thing to note is that Your son is going to need someone to vent to so be there to take his calls. And keep in mind that they may only be allowed to call you at specific times. Be encouraging and be supportive.

I gained so much out of my college football experience. It taught me discipline, to be on time, and to appreciate opportunities for education. It taught me networking skills and leadership skills. It made me tough, stronger mentally and physically and it definitely prepared me for the real world.
Train Hard
Coach Lewis

College Football from the Sideline

Most College Football players that love the game, can’t stand watching from the sideline. Whether it be due to injury,
missed block or tackle, ineligibility (bad grades) or disciplinary reasons. It stinks it’s the worst feeling standing there
watching your team especially if your losing.

I got benched for a half of a game because I missed a block. The coaches tried to down play it because we actually were losing that game 21-0 within 2 minutes of that game. It was against the University of New Hampshire the year they began their dynasty. It was pouring rain, the field was flooded, that killed our option game but it didn’t kill their offense for some reason. But it sucked especially because my family mom, dad, brother and niece came in these horrible conditions and watched me get benched. I felt bad, for my team. The coaches didn’t help because they taunted me and the starting center, Steve Moll; the best center I have ever played with hands down. They made comments like “I fired his ass” the coaches were playing in the mud on our sidelines they were really enjoying it. I’m sharing this just to make future college football players aware of the type of condescending treatment that you will definitely experience during your college football career. I’ll admit some schools may have it better or worst. The sad thing is you can’t tell just by going on an official visit.

Anyhow since this post is about life after college football I’ll talk about when I go back to my alma matta to show support. There is one thing that pisses me off the most and that is watching other players that I know should be on the field standing on the sideline, with minimal playing time. Players who have 1 more year of eligibility but are debating playing again because the coach is benching them for reasons beyond my comprehension. I’m not trying to expose anyone but
it is what it is. And if I don’t say anything, you future College Football won’t even have a clue what really goes on behind the scenes of College Football.

My opinion is why have a full scholarship player, on the sidelines. Especially if your losing by 30 points, put these guys in put those seniors in. Those seniors who have paid their dues and been loyal and committed to the program from day one. I don’t even know if this post will shed enough light on how it feels to watch a game and not be allowed to contribute to it. But I will say this be encouraged and don’t give up. Some of you should try to use this as a motivator especially seniors. Get in the best shape of your life and go impress one of these professional football coaches at a pro day or
combine.

When I’m watching College Football
When I’m watching a game I usually have the best seats in the house. Anywhere from the 3rd -6th row at Renscheler stadium or a sideline pass at Renscheler field or Meade Stadium. I’m not gone lie it is easy for me to get good treatment at Uconn and that was a rival school for me. I support them now, they always give me free tickets. However the University of Rhode Island on the other hand, here I am team captain class of 2006 and I have to struggle to get a sideline pass. Are you kidding me.

I went to homecoming and I had one free ticket that I gave to my girlfriend. I went to get my sideline pass from the guy that always gives me one and he said he didn’t have any tickets yet, but he did let me into the vip parking lot. I thank him, shout outs to Gary. Anyhow so I went to the backup who would usually give me one and he said he didn’t have tickets. Then finally I asked the assistant equipment manager and he told me the same thing. So I’m thinking wtf…My girlfriend is confused she’s like how come you can get all this stuff at Uconn but you have a hard time getting free tickets at your own school you were captain of? It confused the you know what out of me. But it’s ok no hard feelings. I got in free still I just told the guys at the gate as well as the girl that escorted me to get the free ticket for my girl, that “I was captain here in 2006, there is no way I am paying for a ticket.” Well I jus thought I’d bring that up since I’m addressing how your
treated as an ex player. One thing that doesn’t change however is the respect from the team and their parents. They love to see you, even though for the most part very few keep in touch but when you show up they embrace the opportunity to speak to you and seek words of encouragement. But before I close I will say on a positive note my head coach Tim Stowers has kept in touch with me since I have left the school, he even sent me on a job interview. Not that I need it RMCFE.com does fine!

I have been on the sideline at Renscheler field, East Hartford, CT 2 times. Once as a player and the other time as a spectator. And by the way if you love the game of college football like I do and you don’t play anymore no seat beats standing on the sideline with a sideline pass. That’s VIP and that my friends is RMCFE.
Train Hard
Coach Lewis

Life after College Football

Right now there are seniors pondering what they will do after their final college football game. A small percentage will play again, a larger percentage will stay in college and an even larger percentage will work and have families. Right now I am in that larger percentages I am in graduate school, I am working like crazy and taking care of my family. It’s really just starting to set in whether or not my football career is completely over.

Before I get deep into this post I want to say and advice every football player at every level to play every play like it’s your last play in the world. You never know when your career is going to be over. You could have an injury, your eligibility could run out, or something else outside of football may prevent you from playing. So when you do play I ask that you give it 100% and do it for those that can’t play anymore.

As far as myself, I do coach football and I will say I am tempted everyday to give it 1 last shot, I mean I’m only 25 and I have definitely survived serious adversity on and off the field. I’m mean I went from being 14 and told I’d never run again, to seperating my shoulder the week before playing Cincinnati Bearcats, to spraining my ankle in two places at one being on cruthes to present day tearing my hip. The best thing I got going for me is graduate school and RMCFE.com

Immediately following your final game, you will definitely feel a difference and a sense of seperation. You will notice it more when the team has meetings and you don’t. The team will still accept you, and those young players will always respect you as an upper-classman, especially if you were team captain like me.

End of Football Career Experience

My personal experience after football started before my season ended. When I was sidelined on cructhes in 2006 after playing in a nationally televised game at University of Massechusetts (Umass Amherst). Well the week I was on cructhes I went from being an individual to being a thought. They kept thinking about if I would return but they weren’t calling me and checking on me to see how I felt. I’d come to practice on crutches and I was like not even there. Then I got off crutches Monday before our Saturday game at Hofstra…I practiced all week, then I got banged up on Thursday. Came out Saturday game day and was told that I’m not cleared to play after driving 4 hours to Hofstra the day before the game. Of course I played and I’m glad we did, not only did I play, I started and that was the last game that we won for my college career. We beat Hofstra at their house for the 1st time in 50 years. And my ankle was killing me but I sucked it up.

I want to let my readers know I am writing this post because this season I am seeing how senior players are getting treated at universities across the country. It’s like your on your way out we are letting our future players get reps now because they will be playing when you leave. Part 2 of this post will be up tomorrow. Keep reading. Thank you all for your support.
Train Hard
Coach Lewis