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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Student-Athletes Balance Military, Athletic Requirements :: McNair, Ledford prepare for Big 12 cross country championships amid ROTC responsibilities.
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Senior Jenny Ledford balances commitments as an OU student-athlete and Naval ROTC Midshipman. |
Oct. 25, 2001
NORMAN, Okla. -
Being a successful student-athlete requires a balance of academic and athletic dedication that is hard to find among college students. Add a military commitment and you have a juggling act that sets two University of Oklahoma's cross country team members apart from other Sooner student-athletes.
That balancing act has become a greater challenge as the pair prepares for Saturday's Big 12 Cross Country Championship which OU is hosting. Joey McNair will run in the men's 8,000-meter race that begins at 10 a.m. at the Jimmie Austin/OU Golf Course; Jenny Ledford is entered in the women's 6,000-meter event which starts at 11 a.m.
For McNair, being a member of the Army ROTC helps keep him motivated as he looks to his future in the military after he graduates.
"Cross country is very important to me right now, but in three or four years the military will be my main focus," McNair explained. "The ROTC motivates me toward this goal."
"I believe life for our student-athletes at OU should be more than books and running," said Sooner head cross country coach Todd Maycumber. "If they can fill those extra hours with worthwhile activities like involvement in the ROTC, I will do everything I can to make it work. I can work around their schedules, especially since cross country is an individual sport in a team setting."
"Student-athletes have the same traits we look for in a successful military cadet," explained Major Kathryn Schramm, OU Professor of Military Science. "To be successful student-athletes, they have already developed habits like goal setting, discipline and the ability to be a team player. They also have developed some leadership traits and all of those carry over to military service."
McNair, a sophomore history major from Bartlesville, Okla., knew during high school that he wanted to eventually join the Army. He applied and was accepted to West Point but decided that OU provided an opportunity for him to experience college life as both a student-athlete and a cadet.
"I knew that if I came to OU I would have the chance to compete in a major conference and have a better balance between academics, athletics and the military," McNair said. "At West Point, the focus would have been all military."
"We are willing to work with any of our cadets who have other responsibilities. After all, they are students first. As long as they pass their PT tests each semester and fulfill their ROTC commitments, we are willing to work with them. These cadets, whether they are student-athletes, nursing students who have classes in Oklahoma City or married cadets with families, make a commitment to the ROTC that they will be here as much as they can be and that they will meet the requirements of our program. They accept the responsibility of fulfilling those promises," added Major Schramm.
"In fact, that is one of the advantages of the ROTC over the service academies. The ROTC focuses on the whole person. As a result, we get a number of people who have a wealth of experience in many areas."
While McNair is happy with the way his multiple responsibilities have worked out thus far, he admits there have been some accommodations on both ends. On Thursdays, he must miss cross country practice in order to attend a mandatory ROTC leadership lab. He misses three 6 a.m. ROTC physical training sessions per week so he can run in the mornings with the cross country team.
"Right now there haven't been any major problems due to the schedule conflicts. I know the ROTC understands my situation because I am still running and maintaining my fitness through cross country. Coach Maycumber has been willing to work with me as well," McNair said.
If accepted, McNair will attend jump school this summer. After he graduates he would like to go into the infantry branch of the Army.
For Ledford, a senior from Rose Hill, Kan., graduation is right around the corner. The aviation major is a member of the Naval ROTC and is pursuing the Marine option. For Ledford, the combination of academics, athletics and the military has worked well.
"The Marines require a high level of physical fitness, so that has helped me with cross country. The summer training with ROTC gives me more confidence when I come back to run for OU," Ledford said.
While she is not required to attend all the Naval ROTC drills because of her cross country practice schedule, Ledford must still fulfill all the other obligations.
"I still work at the football and basketball games as an usher and meet all of the other requirements," Ledford said.
Captain Susan Jenkins, Marine Officer Instructor and Ledford's military adviser, concurs. "We really have quite a bit of flexibility as long as two things are understood by the midshipmen. They must keep up with what is happening in the battalion and there are events that they must attend. Second, they must communicate with us about their schedules.
"It is up to Midshipman Ledford to keep up with what happens in her battalion during Naval Science labs which run each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon when her practices are scheduled. The midshipmen who have other commitments must learn to juggle their responsibilities. Collegiate student-athletes have an advantage in that regard because they have to be able juggle priorities and responsibilities to survive in the collegiate environment. You can't learn to juggle priorities until you find yourself in a situation that requires that. Student-athletes, with the demands of academics, practice and competition, are already skilled at planning ahead.
"The time management skills of student-athletes are among the traits that make them ideal candidates for the ROTC. Student-athletes are already meeting the challenge of balancing academics and athletics. They are extremely dedicated and disciplined and they understand the importance of teamwork. The things that make student-athletes successful at this level are exactly what we look for in officers in the Marine Corps."
As a freshman, Ledford knew she wanted to join the military. She changed her major to aviation her sophomore year at OU and decided to join the Naval ROTC and follow the Marine Corps' track.
"Sometimes it is a struggle, but I have learned to manage my time well," Ledford said. "The ROTC has been supportive since they encourage participation in varsity athletics."
After graduation from OU in May, Ledford will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. She will then head to Quantico, Va., to receive more training before traveling to Pensacola, Fla., for flight school. She already has a flight contract and will complete her training after approximately 18 months of flight school.
Both athletes agree that keeping a balance among the commitments can be challenging, but it has also proven to be beneficial. Ledford explained it as an even tradeoff.
"Running cross country has kept me fit for the physical training with ROTC," she said. "On the other hand, the ROTC gives me self-assurance that translates into confidence during competition."
"It's our philosophy to recruit well-rounded student-athletes and I am more than willing to work with our student-athletes who pursue other worthwhile interests," Maycumber added. "I have the utmost respect for the military and the ROTC. They are the ones who make sure our world goes around and that we are able to live in the world we do."
While balancing the schedule demands is a daily task, this weekend will belong to cross country for Ledford and McNair. Competing in one of the toughest conference meets in the country will take all the pair has, physically, mentally and emotionally. They will be prepared to meet that challenge because of the promises they keep.
