Carolina Panthers to Host April Event at CIAA's Johnson C. Smith University
April 18, 2001
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its football student-athletes have been invited to participate in the NFL/NCAA Life Skills Partnership. The purpose of the partnership is to assist college football administrators and coaches in helping football student-athletes understand the value of developing "life skills" in an effort to improve their chances for success in academics, athletics and life beyond their collegiate experience.
The program is designed to utilize NFL resources and personnel to promote high standards of conduct and off-the-field achievement for college student-athletes. Donnie Shell, former Pittsburgh Steeler great and current Carolina Panthers director of player development, will lead the seminar at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in Charlotte April 26th at 3:00 p.m. The CIAA is the first NCAA Division II conference to ever be invited.
"We're happy to be able to use our resources to come to institutions that have not been a part of the partnership before,"said Guy Troupe, NFL Director of Player Programs. "For those institutions, the message our players give is just as important for them to hear."
The subjects covered by Shell will range from balancing athletics and academics, to life skills for future employment, living under the watchful eye of peers and the press, athletic conduct versus real-world conduct and who athletes associate with. The Panthers will also present the NFL's Financial Education Program.
"It's an excellent program especially when you have professional athletes talking with student-athletes about getting their degree, and the skills they need for employment after football," said Dr. Catherine Wright, athletics director at JCSU. "These student-athletes live in a fish bowl, and I believe this program will emphasize to them that they are role models to a lot of people."
The campus presentations are designed to use the NFL's popularity to help student-athletes focus on the importance of their lives away from the playing field. The NFL and the NCAA recognize that more and more talent is being discovered at smaller schools and conferences and the CIAA has been at the forefront of developing professional talent.
"To be the first Division II conference to be involved in this partnership is an honor," said Jeffrey McLeod, CIAA Assistant to the Commissioner. "The CIAA is grateful to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers for their willingness to bring this program to one of our institutions. We hope our student-athletes take away all that they can from this experience."