2 - of College Football Games

The University of Western Ontario is an
internationally respected university that
provides the best student experience in
Canada. The campus is lively and runs
busy with students and staff.
Western is known for its academic
strengths in business, engineering and
science, to name a few. Paired with its
academic accomplishments, Western
has an outstanding athletics department
that attracts top student-athletes. Within
this department, rich with 38 varsity
sports, lies a gem: Western Mustangs
football.
The football program at Western is
laced with pride and enthusiasm, and
those involved come together like family.
The coaches are dedicated to their team
and every aspect of the game. The
players work hard to gain the respect
of fellow teammates, coaches and most
of all, fans. The fans can be described
easily in one word: intense.
Mustang football is a way of life;
it has its own culture.
Within this culture, players face
a stringent schedule involving
regular practices, workout and
training regimes and of course,
keeping up with their studies.
Given the strong reputation of the
university, players are expected
to be dedicated to the successful
completion of their degrees.
The Academic Support
Program consists of a variety
of requirements which must
be adhered to by each and
every player. It was developed
and carried out by the team’s
Academic Coach, Don
Hayden. He is proud of the
accomplishments of the team
year after year.
“The dedicated studentathletes
on our championship
team collectively do better
academically than the general
student population,” said
Academic Feature
Hayden. “Our academic support
program has been put in place to help
ensure that they continue to do as well in
the classroom as they do on the field.”
Freshmen players must attend
mandatory Monday night study sessions
conducted by Hayden and Nick
Whitehead of Oxford Learning. A strong
package of materials has been created
which covers essay writing, use of the
library system, effective note taking,
strategies for exam writing and time
management. The sessions also involve
guest presenters who are experts in
each topic covered. Freshmen players
have responded positively to this weekly
requirement and find each session
very useful in getting to know their new
school and a new way of learning.
Beyond the study sessions, all players
sign an academic contract. Within this
contract, Hayden monitors academic
progress by having each player provide
interim marks for their courses. This
includes marks for mid-terms, essays
and lab reports which may help to
identify any potential problems which
would inhibit a player from adhering
to their academic requirements as a
football player.
“It’s easy to fall behind in school,
especially with the intense football
schedule,” said Mike Van Praet, a
second-year Social Science student
and returning defensive lineman for the
Mustangs. “But the Academic Support
Program is there to make sure all
players are completing their courses to
the best of their abilities.”
Furthermore, players are assigned
Faculty mentors based on their field
of study. The mentors act as an
additional support system for the team
and although they are not academic
counsellors, they will provide academic
support where needed and refer players
to counsellors if necessary. The Faculty
mentors include:
Earl Noble – Kinesiology
Rande Kostal – Professional Schools
Mark Cleveland – Management and
Organizational Studies
Charles Jones – Social Science
Don Cartwright – Social Science
Don Gorassini – King’s College
Don Hayden – Science and
Engineering
Hayden provides many other services
through the Academic Support
Program. The travelling schedule of the
football team can at times conflict with
scheduled mid-terms. In order to keep
players from falling behind, Hayden is
qualified to proctor exams while on the
road. He can also arrange for personal
tutors where necessary and he meets
with each player individually to
further discuss their progress
and any other concerns or
questions the players may
have.
The credibility of the
Academic Support Program
for the Mustangs football team
can be attributed to the results;
Players get more done during
the season because they are
forced to manage their time
more effectively.
Joining the football program
at Western is a tremendous
commitment, one that requires
dedication, hard-work and
sacrifice. The coaches and
mentors involved are there
to help every step of the way,
but ultimately it is up to each
player to meet the demanding
requirements. Those up for
the challenge will prosper in
the football program.
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