Former offensive lineman Walker forced to choose between football and career path

[Harry]

Donning a black North Texas Football sweatshirt, broadcast journalism junior Dominick Walker walked into his sports journalism class, towering over everyone with his 6-foot-5 frame. With an immense weight lifted off his shoulders, his heart remained heavy.

Just weeks before, Walker was faced with what he called the most difficult decision of his life: Maintain his football scholarship but abandon his dream of being a sports broadcaster, or quit football and pursue his passion.

He chose the latter.

“Football is something I’ve grown up with that’s helped develop my character and who I am as a person,” Walker said. “But I also know being a journalist is something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

The problem

Walker was forced to make his decision because of a rare combination of conflicts between football practice schedules and required coursework for a broadcast journalism degree. Football practices typically take place in the afternoon Tuesday through Friday during the fall semester, with the spring posing a similar problem.

But a handful of upper level classes required to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism exclusively meet during football practices in both the fall and spring, with no summer options, nor the ability to substitute other courses – something other degree plans offer.

According to Mayborn director of advising Stephanie Garza, the courses in question would have Walker missing full practices multiple days a week, going beyond the reasonable level of flexibility that coaches often have.

“It’s a challenge because a lot of our classes have labs with them,” Garza said. “If you have football practice four days a week right smack-dab in the middle of the afternoon and you’re going to be totally wiped and exhausted, it’s hard to balance everything to where you’ve got that perfect scenario.”

The biggest course in question for Walker is one involving production of a newscast for North Texas Daily Television. According to Garza, the Mayborn School of Journalism only has two professors qualified to teach the course, limiting the number of sections the school can offer.

Walker said he was told he could change his major to print journalism and graduate with no conflict, but with a print degree Walker would lose the opportunity to create a Mayborn-influenced demo reel – a tool many deem necessary to break into the competitive broadcast job market.

“[The class] would give me a feel in front of a camera and how to set up getting interviews, so I’d be better prepared to get a job,” Walker said. “If I’m able to present myself, I feel like it’d be a lot easier to obtain a job rather than just saying, ‘Here, I have a degree.’”

Walker was pragmatic from the moment he knew he would have to drop one of the two things he loved the most. But the emotional rollercoaster remained in full swing.

“I was thinking either I would graduate and have a degree with no purpose, or I’d have to quit football to pursue education, not have a way to finance it and end up losing both,” Walker said. “I didn’t know how to react to it at first. I was angry for a little bit about the whole situation, I was sad because I didn’t know how things were going to turn out and then confused with what I was going to do next.”

read more:  http://ntdaily.com/former-offensive-lineman-walker-forced-to-choose-between-football-and-career-path/

 

 

[UNTLifer]

Honestly, nothing could be done to help accommodate this young man?  I can't believe this hasn't been an issue in the past where class schedules and team commitments conflict.

[DeepGreen]

This young man has his priorities in order.

[EagleMBA]

8 minutes ago, DeepGreen said:

This young man has his priorities in order.

Agree 100%. Also agree that more should have been done to accommodate his academic needs so that he didn't have to make the choice.

[meanJewGreen]

Can't believe our journalism school, which is supposed to be one of the prides and joys of this university, has only two professors qualified to teach a course about newscasts

[GMG_Dallas]

7 hours ago, meanJewGreen said:

Can't believe our journalism school, which is supposed to be one of the prides and joys of this university, has only two professors qualified to teach a course about newscasts

It might be a result of higher standards to qualify. It's a nationally accredited program and, as of a couple years ago, the only such program in Texas. That alone calls for higher standards.

[Aldo]

10 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

It might be a result of higher standards to qualify. It's a nationally accredited program and, as of a couple years ago, the only such program in Texas. That alone calls for higher standards.

 

7 hours ago, meanJewGreen said:

Can't believe our journalism school, which is supposed to be one of the prides and joys of this university, has only two professors qualified to teach a course about newscasts

How many newscasters does (should?) it take?

[Elvis]

Just wondering, do you expect the school of journalism to plan their classes around when one football play can make them? What about basketball players or track athletes that often travel on Thursday and Friday. Should their department not offer classes on those days.

I agree with accommodations but it should be the coaches letting him go to class whenever it is offered. He is supposed to be a Student-athlete not the other way around. This is a recurring issue, especially with grad students who's classes often begin at 5pm, so during normal practice time.

[GMG_Dallas]

2 hours ago, Elvis said:

Just wondering, do you expect the school of journalism to plan their classes around when one football play can make them? What about basketball players or track athletes that often travel on Thursday and Friday. Should their department not offer classes on those days.

I agree with accommodations but it should be the coaches letting him go to class whenever it is offered. He is supposed to be a Student-athlete not the other way around. This is a recurring issue, especially with grad students who's classes often begin at 5pm, so during normal practice time.

Agree completely. We're focusing on the wrong issue.

[El Paso Eagle]

7 hours ago, Elvis said:

Just wondering, do you expect the school of journalism to plan their classes around when one football play can make them? What about basketball players or track athletes that often travel on Thursday and Friday. Should their department not offer classes on those days.

I agree with accommodations but it should be the coaches letting him go to class whenever it is offered. He is supposed to be a Student-athlete not the other way around. This is a recurring issue, especially with grad students who's classes often begin at 5pm, so during normal practice time.

I believe there are exceptions made in many cases, but if I read correctly this young man was going to have to miss most days of practice. While I am in 100% agreement with the Student part being first, he is also participating in athletics (and was on a scholarship paid to play football) and to do so there also has to be some compromises on his side. I hope this works out for him, but this seems like one of the very rare cases where no middle ground could be reached.

[UNTLifer]

29 minutes ago, El Paso Eagle said:

I believe there are exceptions made in many cases, but if I read correctly this young man was going to have to miss most days of practice. While I am in 100% agreement with the Student part being first, he is also participating in athletics (and was on a scholarship paid to play football) and to do so there also has to be some compromises on his side. I hope this works out for him, but this seems like one of the very rare cases where no middle ground could be reached.

This.