We as college sports fans often overlook all the qualities that our favorite teams and players possess. We don’t allow ourselves to see the whole picture as we are often too blinded by the glory and fame.
However, there is a whole other world of existence that we ourselves live and don’t acknowledge athletes living as well.
To be a successful athlete, one must be successful in the classroom first. While we tend to not acknowledge this statement, with Rebecca Kates, it rings true.
According to Mississippi State senior forward Kates, it takes a certain will to be successful off the court as well as on.
“I think you do have to have a positive attitude and outlook on the situation, because we [as basketball players] put in 20 hours a week just in basketball alone,” Kates said. “That is equal to more hours than a full-time student. I think what a lot of people don’t understand, they say ‘Oh yeah, you’re a women’s basketball player’ and they never see what goes on behind closed doors.”
Kates said that most people don’t see how busy athletes days are, with conditioning, study hall and practice mixed with classes.
“We go to class from 8:00-12:00, then we have practice, weights, tape, and study hall until 8:00 that evening,” Kates said. “While people see the games and the actual glory side of it, they never really see the actual work.”
While schoolwork is the epitome of most college students, including athletes, it’s not the only thing that one’s schedule contains. There are also friends, family and extracurricular events.
“I am in M-Club, SBA, and am on the SAAC [Student Athletic Advisory Committee],” Kates said. I also do have my own television show [One on One with Rebecca Kates].”
With all this time and energy being excreted, most would find it too monumental a task to handle. With the amount of work put into being a successful student-athlete, most would be dismayed or easily stressed at the wrong times for the wrong reasons.
These are things that, according to Kates, can not be allowed to transpire onto the court.
“There are going to be days when you might get a bad grade on a test, or you break up with your boyfriend,” Kates said. “Every day you step onto the court you need to realize it’s over. Whatever happened outside of practice is done. We’ve got three hours to practice and get better. So for three hours you just have to forget it and move on.”
Playing like the best means training to be the best on and off the court. Whether an athlete goes on to play professional sports or not, they must train themselves to be successful outside of their sport, because who knows how long the glory will last.
When it is all said and done, the achievements you leave off the court will always be there to support you through anything. While they may not be as lasting in the memories of the fans, they are the memories that will guide you through life.