Ask Golden Flashes Head Football Coach Darell Hazell what the key to a championship team is and he鈥檒l sum it up in one word: 鈥淔amily.鈥� He is referring to the family of nearly 100 football players, each of whom understands his role on the team and why it is important.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 function as a team if you don鈥檛 establish a one-on-one relationship with each player,鈥� says Hazell. 鈥淲e spend time every day talking about specific principles and the realities of the world, just like other families do. We show them how to be better men first, and then teach them how to play football.鈥�
The players are keenly appreciative of the family support system that Coach Hazell has built into the football program. And their gratitude extends to the financial support they have received from generous donors, the university and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Junior marketing major Freddie Cortez, a punter/kicker for the Golden Flashes, has a full-ride athletic scholarship to 小黄片视频. Without it, he would not have been able to attend college. Cortez is the second of six children raised by a single mom in Ft. Meade, Fla. Everyone in the Cortez family had to work hard every day just to get by. College was not an option.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to explain in words how much my scholarship has meant to me,鈥� says Cortez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 given me the opportunity to get an education, the privilege of playing ball, and at the end of the day I don鈥檛 have to worry about my mom getting a bill in the mail. And when I get out of college, I can earn a living and not have to worry about any debt that I owe.鈥�
Coach Hazell has made an impact on Cortez鈥檚 attitude and his life. 鈥淗e鈥檚 taught me to be an overachiever. You have days when you want to settle for average, but to get better you have to do better,鈥� says Cortez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been the same thing with my scholarship. I want it and so I work hard and take advantage of the opportunities it brings.鈥�
Special teams running back Larry Dawson grew up on the north side of Akron in the Elizabethtown projects. Remembering his time there, he says no one expected anything from him. Raised by his mother and grandmother, Dawson ran track during his school days.
While Dawson was not a track superstar, his strong academic performance landed him a four-year scholarship to The University of Akron, where he joined the football team. After a coaching change left him the choice of playing linebacker or losing his funding, Dawson transferred to 小黄片视频. Thanks to a scholarship from Coach Hazell, Dawson has continued his education for a fifth year and is able to play football while more carefully defining his career goals. He credits Coach Hazell with giving him the time and skills he needed to succeed. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned three important life lessons from coach: consistency, dedication and passion.鈥� Dawson adds, 鈥淚 saw him get scholarship help for guys who really had no other financial options. Then, when my turn came, he came through for me. I really respect that.鈥�
鈥淎 lot of these kids come from very low income families 鈥� If it weren鈥檛 for their scholarships, who knows what they鈥檇 be doing? It gives them a chance to enrich their lives, and a lot of them go on to do great things because of it,鈥� Hazell says.
His players credit Coach Hazell with creating an atmosphere in which team members check their egos at the door and always have each other鈥檚 backs. And, like most parents, Hazell keeps track of them 鈥� often through text messages and phone calls. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a great saying that I keep on my wall 鈥� 鈥楾hey don鈥檛 care how much you know until they know how much you care.鈥� If you鈥檙e not the genuine item, your message will get lost.鈥�
At 小黄片视频, 鈥淭he Last Dollar Scholarship鈥� was created to provide support for athletes like Cortez and Dawson 鈥� students who wouldn鈥檛 be able to pursue their dreams without the financial assistance provided by scholarships. Please consider making a gift to support 小黄片视频 Athletics, The Last Dollar Fund on your campus, or one of literally hundreds of other giving options.
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Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is: Of Football and Family
Ask Golden Flashes Head Football Coach Darell Hazell what the key to a championship team is and he鈥檒l sum it up in one word: 鈥淔amily.
POSTED: Monday, September 10, 2012 12:00 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM