May 11, 2009

Football: 2009 Spring Commencement

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Seven members of the 2008 Spartan football team participated in spring commencement ceremonies, conducted last weekend (May 8-10) on the Michigan State University campus: center Mike Bacon (construction management), placekicker Todd Boleski (interdisciplinary studies in social science - human resources), defensive end Dwayne Holmes (sociology), fullback Jeff McPherson (economics), linebacker Kyle Smith (supply chain management), linebacker Marcus Webb (communication) and wide receiver Blair White (human biology). Webb and White still have a year of eligibility remaining, so both student-athletes will be listed on the 2009 active roster.

In just two years under head coach Mark Dantonio, 27 Spartans have earned their undergraduate degrees. Two other members of the 2008 team - wide receiver Deon Curry (hospitality business) and quarterback Brian Hoyer (interdisciplinary studies in social science - community relations) - graduated last December.

"It's crazy looking back at how quickly the last five years have passed," McPherson said. "I changed positions (from linebacker to fullback) on the field and I changed academic majors (from marketing to economics), so I had some ups and downs along the way but the entire experience has been a lot of fun. This has been a great opportunity for me, and the emotion I'm feeling now as a college graduate rivals any of the highlights during my playing career.

"The fact that 27 football players have graduated in the last two years says a lot about Coach Dantonio because he cares about us not only as athletes but as people too. Coach D wants what's best for us and that's why he emphasizes getting an education and preparing ourselves for life after football."

"The countless hours of study and all of the sacrifices made have really paid big dividends," Smith said. "The ultimate goal when I came to Michigan State was to earn a degree and playing football was a bonus. I loved every minute of my football experience here, but I never lost focus of the fact that I was here to get an education and I couldn't be more proud of turning that goal into a reality.

"I personally want to thank the academic support staff here in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center. All of the necessary resources are here, the tutors are outstanding and the academic support staff takes a personal interest in each student-athlete. The academic support staff provided critical assistance for me, especially in terms of teaching me how to manage all of the demands on my time."

"Mark Dantonio and his coaching staff have made a commitment to graduating student-athletes," director of academic services Todd Edwards said. "That commitment begins from the first minute of recruiting contact and it continues throughout the student-athlete's playing career and beyond. He rarely conducts a team meeting where that commitment to education isn't emphasized or reinforced. Coach Dantonio and his coaching staff don't pay lip service to academic success; they're truly committed to it. The student-athletes are held accountable for their work in the academic arena, and the staff provides positive reinforcement by recognizing guys for a job well done.

"This is a satisfying and gratifying weekend indeed as these student-athletes achieve an important milestone in life."

"Graduation is something that these guys have dreamt about for the last four or five years, and these guys are realizing their dream because they mastered the balancing act of managing their time as football players with investing the time and effort to succeed in the classroom," Dantonio said. "This degree is going to have the greatest impact in their lives. This is why they came to college. All of their hard work has really paid off, and we're so happy for these student-athletes and their families.

"We tell prospects that we will support them in their efforts to pursue excellence, both in the classroom and on the playing field. We also want to build relationships that will last well past their playing careers. So when these graduates and their families return to campus in the future, it counts just like another win in Spartan Stadium. We strive to establish life-long relationships, not simply ones that last four or five years."