Football season is approaching, and the Jacksonville State University football team is busily preparing for their upcoming games.
Even throughout the summer, JSU football players have a rigorous schedule. The majority of players take classes during the summer, because although they are required to be full time students during football season, they must leave room in their schedule to meet all the football requirements. Players also participate in voluntary workouts in the early hours of morning and in the evenings. They can also regularly be found in study hall, or in their weekly character building class. JSU football players are busy year-round, yet they still manage to find time for things other than class and practice.
Jamie Strange, an employee of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, works with the football team in the area of player development.
Strange’s job is to focus on the development of the player as a complete person and not just as an athlete.
On Thursday afternoons, Strange assists as the players come together for a weekly character leadership class. The unique class is based on a four year curriculum.
Each year has a different theme and is designed to help the players sharpen their character and leadership skills. Strange says the class is a great way to challenge and encourage the players to be well-rounded individuals. (Strange is able to work with all JSU sports teams through the generosity of private donations.)
Strange also assists the players as they voluntarily perform various acts of community service. One of the programs that the players have become involved with is called Boys to Men. The football players have participated by mentoring children in the community.
Fred Smith is the Director of JSU Wellness-Anniston Program. Smith helped the players become involved with the children of Anniston as they traveled to local schools for educational and testimonial sessions.
The players were able to speak to the children about their own experiences and life lessons they have learned.
Smith says the mentoring that the athletes do is important because “there may be a young child in the audience that has a similar story.”
Smith also says that having the football players come and speak with the kids helps them to realize that “many of the dreams they have are not out of reach and are attainable through hard work.”
“It provides inspiration for them to continue to dream and to try to be more,” he says. “It has been a pleasure working with Jamie Strange and the JSU football team.”
The football team has also participated in other various acts of service and community involvement, such as joining special needs children in a fishing rodeo, working with habitat for humanity, and hosting a forum for local children to talk with the players and ask them questions.
“I think it’s my responsibility, my calling, to do stuff like this,” says Justin Kirby, a senior who plays tight end.
Kirby, who is studying Physical Education, says he believes reaching out to the community is important because he wants the community to understand that the people who make up the team are not merely football players.
“We want to make a good impact on people,” he says. “We aren’t just football players. We try to be good citizens too.”
Kirby, like most of the football team, stays busy with school, football, and a job, but says that he enjoys taking time out to help others.
“When you go and serve, and you see that you motivated someone, or you see a smile on someone’s face, that makes it worth it to me.”
Kirby also says he’s learned a lot from serving.
“It has really humbled me and made me thankful for what I’ve got,” he says.
Strange agrees, stating that the players are the true beneficiaries when they perform service.
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