Meet with the parents

Upon realizing the lack of resources, I knew it was imperative to initiate a dialogue with the parents. I discussed this with Coach Sims, and we scheduled a meeting with both coaches and parents. At the meeting, I began by introducing myself, detailing my career accomplishments, and outlining my current objectives for their sons. While I felt that the message was well received, there were a couple of glaring issues that became apparent.

Firstly, only a few parents ac

tually attended the meeting, which was concerning. It signaled a potential lack of engagement or investment in their sons' athletic futures. Additionally, even among those who attended, there were questions about the extent of my assistance, particularly regarding campus visits and extra training. This lack of clarity and enthusiasm from the parents was unexpected and troubling.

This reaction starkly contrasted with my experiences engaging with parents in football. Typically, parents are eager to contribute in some capacity and harbor ambitions of their sons not only attending college but also pursuing careers in the NFL. However, it dawned on me that this disparity in response may be rooted in cultural differences. There may be a prevailing belief among these parents that their sons' paths to success lie outside of collegiate athletics.

This realization reaffirmed my belief in the crucial role of resources in the success of this process. It's becoming increasingly apparent that a pivot in my approach may be necessary once again. I'll need to reassess my strategies and find new ways to engage both the players and their parents in the pursuit of their collegiate aspirations.