University of Tennessee Athletics
Volunteer Efforts
October 26, 2007 | Football
Being a college football player is no easy task.
The hours spent at practice, in the film room, on the road or in the classroom leave little time for anything else. Still, some players find the time to add to their college experience in other ways. It is those young men who often make the biggest difference in their time on campus.
Vladimir Richard is a backup offensive lineman for Tennessee. Josh Briscoe is the team???s third wide receiver. Both of them have stepped into an increased role this year, but both were making an impact on Tennessee athletics well before the 2007 football season.
Both are representatives on Tennessee???s student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC), a group of volunteer representatives from each sport assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience at the University of Tennessee. The committee is an asset to the athletics department and the university administration when it comes to the needs and issues facing Tennessee???s intercollegiate athletes.
???It is a good cause and very beneficial to both the athletes and the athletics department,??? Richard said. ???The athletes get some real leadership experience and the athletic department can use our input to make Tennessee a better place for athletes.???
Richard was approached by Tennessee???s Assistant Director of Student Development, Jacqui Shuman, to serve on the student board. Shuman was impressed with the leadership she had seen from Richard on the field and in Tennessee???s Thornton Center.
Richard was placed on the social committee, which organizes and runs various events for athletes in the community. Last year, the committee planned the inaugural ???Volscars,??? an ESPY-style awards show designed to recognize outstanding contributions on and off the field of play by Volunteer athletes.
Putting together the awards show is an accomplishment that makes Richard very proud.
???Before the Volscars, the men had their awards and the women had theirs,??? Richard said. ???We wanted to get everybody together at the same time for something like this. It took a lot of hard work from a lot of people, but we got it accomplished.
???We didn???t know how it would go over, but it turned out great. We weren???t sure how interested everyone would be, because all the athletes don???t get together very often. People loved it though. We???re working on improving it for this year.???
Richard???s involvement with SAAC got him another opportunity few college athletes ever receive. In the summer of 2006, he submitted an essay and was invited to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. The conference is held annually for student-athletes across the country to come together and discuss issues affecting them, as well as attain leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
???I felt really lucky to get the opportunity,??? Richard said. ???Only four people from each school were asked to submit essays, and I was the one chosen. I had a good time. I learned a lot about different styles of leadership, and how to make our university better.???
One aspect of the trip that proved most beneficial for Richard was seeing what athletes at other schools were experiencing and how they had decided to handle it.
???I didn???t really know what kind of issues athletes at smaller schools face,??? Richard said. ???I felt fortunate to be where I am, but I also gained respect for how they were dealing with problems at their school. It didn???t matter where people were from, we all eventually connected.???
Briscoe has also taken his leadership to another level, serving as the vice president of off-campus affairs for SAAC. He joined the board in January 2005, and was elected Vice President of Off-Campus Affairs in April 2006.
???There are so many advantages to doing this,??? Briscoe said. ???We are making a difference in the experience of athletes here at Tennessee and around the country. We are also helping ourselves by preparing for the real world and getting our name out there beyond football.???
In addition to serving on the community service committee, Briscoe represents Tennessee on issues regarding Southeastern Conference and NCAA regulations. Some of the issues he is working on include allowing athletes to keep textbooks that are relevant to their major or career choice and the regulations that govern athletes working summer camps.
???It is nice to have a voice,??? Briscoe said. ???It can be time-consuming and a lot of work, but we???re representing a lot of people who have futures in something other than their sport. It???s important that they be prepared, and we are focused on making sure they have those opportunities.???
Both Richard and Briscoe cite career preparation and a desire to help others as the main reasons they serve. Both men also say they will continue to serve in some capacity on the student-athlete advisory committee for as long as they are at Tennessee.
???There are different ways for each person to step up and get a point across,??? Richard said. ???Not everyone likes to be that guy, but its something I am comfortable with and it benefits my school. I???m going to do it until I graduate.???
???It???s good to see change,??? Briscoe said. ???A lot of times there is the feeling that nobody is listening when it comes to governing organizations. I can speak from experience that that???s not the case here. When we bring concerns to the administration, if something can be done, it is.???
Tennessee is fortunate that Richard and Briscoe feel this way.
NCAA athletes are often exceptional in what they accomplish on the field. Rarer, though, are the young men and women selfless enough with their time to accomplish so much off the field.
