Just Another Week

Fall Academic All-Big 12 Selections

Helen Ajufo, Junior, Soccer

Shana All, Senior, Soccer

Lacy Barnes, Junior, Volleyball

Sam Bradford, R-Fr., Football

Katie Corbitt, Junior, Soccer

Traci Dickenson, Junior, Soccer

Francie Ekwerekwu, R-Fr., Volleyball

Jessica Eldridge, Senior, Cross Country

Russell English, R-Fr., Football

Ashley Farrand, Soph., Soccer

Jacob Gutierrez, Senior, Football

Colleen Keester, Senior, Soccer

Allyson Kucera, Senior, Soccer

Bridget Laplante, Soph., Volleyball

Kate Leyendecker, Soph., Soccer

Sherrone Moore, Senior, Football

DeMarco Murray, R-Fr., Football

Jennifer Nichols, Senior, Soccer

Catherine Odell, Senior, Cross Country

Hannah Sharp, Senior, Volleyball

Rob Sorrell, Soph., Cross Country

Anna Stadel, Senior, Volleyball

Chris Sweeney, Soph., Cross Country

Adrian Taylor, R-Fr., Football

Adron Tennell, Soph., Football

Dane Zaslaw, Senior, Football

NORMAN, Okla. -- It's finals week, likely the most dreaded time of year for a vast majority of college students. Undoubtedly a stressful time with so many crucial tests crammed into one week, most students often can be found "cramming" at the last minute trying to absorb as much information as possible.

For student-athletes, this is not anything unusual. No matter which sport they play, student-athletes are tested every week. Each opponent they face is it's own exam, and they often have only a few days to prepare.

There is one significant difference, however. On the field of competition, a win is an "A" whereas a loss is an "F". There is no in-between.

Coupled with also having to perform consistently at a high level in the classroom, the pressure to excel in both areas can be overwhelming.

Because of their awesome talents and tremendous accomplishments on the field of competition, the student aspect of these young people's lives is often forgotten. But the fact of the matter is: the standard of excellence for student-athletes at Oklahoma is extremely high both on and off the field.

Thus, we would like to take this opportunity to applaude them for their achievements in the classroom.

This semester, 26 Sooner student-athletes who participate in fall sports were recognized on the Academic All-Big 12 teams. The list includes nine soccer players, eight football players, five volleyball players and four cross country runners. In addition, three soccer players and three volleyball players have collected Academic All-District honors.

The demands of being a Division I student-athlete are enormous, having to balance a rigorous class schedule with competing on the highest stage, making these accomplishments even more admirable.

With finals week upon us, OU's student-athletes are given a break from competition and granted a lighter practice schedule in order to devote their entire focus to academics.

And while there is not much happening in terms of events, don't think these students are not hard at work preparing for their next exam.

And though they would likely rather be on the field of competition than in the classroom, for them it's just another test in another week.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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