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Earning degree an NFL priority
Vikings' Glenn honored for sticking to goal
BY SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
When he left Texas AM in 2001, Jason Glenn was 12 credits short of his life science degree.
A few years later, when he plotted out how to finish his degree, the Vikings veteran linebacker learned a hard lesson.
"They say the longer you stay out, the more credits that are added," Glenn said.
His 12 credits turned into 21.
That, however, didn't stop Glenn from earning his degree.
A seventh-year veteran, Glenn was a sixth-round pick who has started only one of 80 career games and had his 2006 season ended by a knee injury.
So applying his yeoman's approach to his academics, Glenn took three classes at San Jacinto College in Houston during the 2004 offseason. The next offseason, Glenn took three more classes and finished his degree in the spring with a doozy of a class: calculus.
"I made a B, and that was it," Glenn said.
He received his degree last month and graduated with a 3.08 grade-point average. Sunday in Phoenix, the National Association of Academic Advisors presented Glenn and Houston Texans tight end Mark Bruener with the NFL Continuing Education Program Recognition Award.
"I was really impressed by Jason," said Chris Henry, the NFL's director of player development. "We couldn't be more pleased to provide him and Mark with the awards, because those are the guys doing it right. Jason is humble. He's a nice person, and he's a family man.
"It's overwhelming to see a guy like that continue to succeed on and off the field. He
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makes what is sometimes a frustrating job very rewarding."
The graduation rate among athletes is just below 50 percent, Henry said. But every year, 15 to 20 players graduate through the continuing education program, one of four initiatives the NFL is promoting. NFL players are eligible for up to $15,000 a year for tuition reimbursement, including for advanced degrees. They also are offered a chance to take specialized programs related to business and broadcasting at institutions such as Harvard, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and NFL Films. Determined to encourage players to graduate, the NFL is taking a proactive approach: tell the players while they're still in school.
"If they come out early, we want to make sure they're still in the right position to go back," Henry said.
Glenn said his NFL award was one of his most valuable, given the sacrifice he made to get his degree.
"It's very special," he said. "I have a lot of football awards, but I'm going to move this one forward because I want my children to understand the importance of education."
Glenn isn't stopping at a bachelors, by the way.
He wants to earn a master's degree in education administration, with the goal of becoming a high school principal, athletics director or even a player development coordinator in the NFL.
This time, though, Glenn knows exactly how many classes he needs to take, although he's not sure how long it will take to get that advanced degree.
"I need 12 more classes, or 36 hours," he said.
He plans to start earning those hours early. With two children, including a newborn son, he said his credibility was on the line.
"It's not just for me," Glenn said. "It's for my daughter and my son. My kids can see that their daddy wasn't all about football. He also took care of business as far as education.
"It's satisfying knowing that I have options outside of football, because football doesn't last forever."
http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_6173216
Vikings' Glenn honored for sticking to goal
BY SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
When he left Texas AM in 2001, Jason Glenn was 12 credits short of his life science degree.
A few years later, when he plotted out how to finish his degree, the Vikings veteran linebacker learned a hard lesson.
"They say the longer you stay out, the more credits that are added," Glenn said.
His 12 credits turned into 21.
That, however, didn't stop Glenn from earning his degree.
A seventh-year veteran, Glenn was a sixth-round pick who has started only one of 80 career games and had his 2006 season ended by a knee injury.
So applying his yeoman's approach to his academics, Glenn took three classes at San Jacinto College in Houston during the 2004 offseason. The next offseason, Glenn took three more classes and finished his degree in the spring with a doozy of a class: calculus.
"I made a B, and that was it," Glenn said.
He received his degree last month and graduated with a 3.08 grade-point average. Sunday in Phoenix, the National Association of Academic Advisors presented Glenn and Houston Texans tight end Mark Bruener with the NFL Continuing Education Program Recognition Award.
"I was really impressed by Jason," said Chris Henry, the NFL's director of player development. "We couldn't be more pleased to provide him and Mark with the awards, because those are the guys doing it right. Jason is humble. He's a nice person, and he's a family man.
"It's overwhelming to see a guy like that continue to succeed on and off the field. He
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makes what is sometimes a frustrating job very rewarding."
The graduation rate among athletes is just below 50 percent, Henry said. But every year, 15 to 20 players graduate through the continuing education program, one of four initiatives the NFL is promoting. NFL players are eligible for up to $15,000 a year for tuition reimbursement, including for advanced degrees. They also are offered a chance to take specialized programs related to business and broadcasting at institutions such as Harvard, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and NFL Films. Determined to encourage players to graduate, the NFL is taking a proactive approach: tell the players while they're still in school.
"If they come out early, we want to make sure they're still in the right position to go back," Henry said.
Glenn said his NFL award was one of his most valuable, given the sacrifice he made to get his degree.
"It's very special," he said. "I have a lot of football awards, but I'm going to move this one forward because I want my children to understand the importance of education."
Glenn isn't stopping at a bachelors, by the way.
He wants to earn a master's degree in education administration, with the goal of becoming a high school principal, athletics director or even a player development coordinator in the NFL.
This time, though, Glenn knows exactly how many classes he needs to take, although he's not sure how long it will take to get that advanced degree.
"I need 12 more classes, or 36 hours," he said.
He plans to start earning those hours early. With two children, including a newborn son, he said his credibility was on the line.
"It's not just for me," Glenn said. "It's for my daughter and my son. My kids can see that their daddy wasn't all about football. He also took care of business as far as education.
"It's satisfying knowing that I have options outside of football, because football doesn't last forever."
http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_6173216