Grad School Quartet - Higher Learning
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | Football
By: Kate Manly, UF Communications
The 2008 senior class of University of Florida football players have shared many experiences in the Orange and Blue that most student-athletes would never have the chance to go through. In 2006, they were able to capture a Southeastern Conference title and dominate over Ohio State in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, 41-14. The national championship title allowed the team to visit the White House and meet President George H. Bush. They were able to watch their leader, quarterback Tim Tebow, become the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007.
But for four members of the class of 2008, they will leave Florida with one additional highlight to their experience at UF: a master's degree. Kicker Jonathan Phillips, long snapper James Smith and offensive linemen Javier Estopinan and Phil Trautwein are all pursuing graduate degrees at Florida during their final season.
The balance between academics and athletics is difficult for any student-athlete at such a renowned institution as Florida, but the ability to balance the heavy workload of graduate school and the demanding schedule of football takes a dedicated person.
“One challenge for a graduate student-athlete is that there is not as much flexibility with class scheduling,” said Jason Storch, Assistant Director for Academic Support. “Also, graduate school has more intimate classes, which requires the student-athletes to participate in more class discussions, class presentations and more contact with the professors are necessary than for an undergraduate program.”
Because of the demanding schedule that a graduate program requires, not many student-athletes participate in athletics while earning a master's degree. According to Storch, only one to two football players earn a graduate degree while still participating for the Orange and Blue each year. Besides the sheer number of football players that are accomplishing that feat this year, the character of the four players doing so makes it that much more special.
Estopinan was a highly-touted recruit from South Miami High School for which the Gators' coaching staff had high hopes for. Injuries plagued the Miami-native for the majority of his playing career at Florida, tallying three torn anterior cruciate ligaments in four years. Although he has experienced many highs and many lows on the gridiron, his performance in the classroom has remained consistent.
Estopinan became the first member of his family to graduate from college after receiving a bachelor's degree in geography in May of 2008. With one more year of eligibility left, he decided to remain at Florida and pursue a graduate degree in building construction.
Aside from spending his time at Florida on the football field and in the classroom, Estopinan dedicates much of his free time to bettering the community through service projects. He is an active member of CAMP Gator, a mentor program with students from the local elementary school, P.K. Younge. His dedication to the Florida football program, his academics and the community was apparent to all around him, including his teammates, who have twice chosen him as a member of the Leadership Committee.
Thus far in 2008, Phillips has become a crucial member of the Gators' special teams, currently a perfect nine-for-nine in field goal attempts and 28-of-29 in point-after tries. But many fans in The Gator Nation may not know how close they were to losing the kicker to a school 300 miles south of Gainesville. The Wellington, Fla. native graduated with a degree in finance in three years and set his hopes on attending law school. He was accepted to the University of Miami School Of Law, but his services at Florida were still greatly needed.
He decided to pass on Miami, enroll in graduate school at Florida so that he could continue to don Orange and Blue for one more season and re-apply in the winter. Don't expect Phillips to travel very far after the season is over, as he cites the University of Florida's Levin School of Law as his first choice. If his playing career with the Gators is any indication, Phillips will succeed at anything he puts his mind to.
The phrase “work hard, play hard” epitomizes the three-time Academic All-SEC Honor Roll recipient Smith. Not many athletes can make the evolution from a walk-on, back-up long snapper to a crucial member of special teams, not to mention team captain and scholarship player. Smith truly has climbed the ladder of success at the University of Florida, all while maintaining high academic standing. In August of 2008, he graduated with a 3.5 grade point average and a degree in exercise physiology and kinesiology. He quickly enrolled at UF's Hough Graduate School of Business to pursue a master's degree in entrepreneurship. As an undergraduate, Smith was named to the College of Health and Human Performance's Dean's List an outstanding five times.
Smith is not the only Gator to earn SEC recognition for academics, as Trautwein has been honored every year from 2005-07. A contributing member of the Gators' offensive line since he was a freshman, Trautwein was sidelined his senior season due to a stress fracture in his right foot. He received a medical redshirt and was granted an additional year of eligibility. With his undergraduate degree in family, youth and community services almost wrapped up, Trautwein decided to extend his studies and pursue a master's degree in educational leadership. Leadership is nothing knew for the Voorhees, N.J. native, who is a leader not only on the O-line, but for the entire Gator squad.
Whether they pursue careers in the National Football League or the professional world,
Estopinan, Phillips, Smith and Trautwein have proven that they will be successful in whatever arena they pursue. The quartet take the term “student-athlete” to a whole new level.
