The upcoming virtual Fall semester is going to be emotional for all students, but Sacramento State’s nearly 500 Student-Athletes are learning to navigate a world where either all or part of sports have been suspended. As of August 13, both the Big West and Big Sky Conferences in which Sac State competes, have voted to postpone all fall sports, with decisions regarding winter and spring athletics still to be determined.
Throughout 2020, Hornet wide receiver Dewey Cotton ‘21, (Criminal Justice) has remained optimistic and focused on building and maintaining connections with the people around him. In June, Cotton’s social media “Race Face Challenge” went viral, garnering rave reviews from his more than 18 thousand social media followers, as well as attention from sports network ESPN.
“Your race face is the face you make when you are trying your hardest to win,” says Cotton. The Race Face Challenge encourages followers, when facing adversity, to put on their race face, do it proudly, and be able to smile when the race is done. For Cotton his videos help him build new connections, reminding himself and other athletes what it is like being outside and to go running on the field with their teammates.
Building connections is central to the strategy for the team in the Student Athlete Resource Center (SARC) this Fall. “Students ask a lot of questions already about how to navigate campus, and now we are asking them to navigate it virtually and interact in a different way. This semester's mix of virtual and asynchronous classes are going to test students' organizational skills like never before,” says SARC Director Paul Edwards.
Pivoting into the Fall, the SARC team has committed to meeting students where they are and leveraging available virtual platforms to form connections. SARC advising sessions have begun to incorporate conversations on professionalism in a virtual classroom, such as the need for dressing appropriately, conduct during classes, and respectful participation. For the first time, SARC has created sport-specific advisors to help reinforce relationships and are continuing their SARC Mentoring Program, connecting more than 100 student-athletes weekly through Zoom meetings with staff mentors to discuss sports, classes, health, and general life concerns.
The SARC staff remain focused on student service, being available whenever questions arise and being the best resource that they can be, be it answering questions or making connections to outside services. “If you have a 20 point lead, you are going to play differently than if you are down 10 points. With everything that is happening around us, we remain ready to react and pivot as necessary,” says Director Paul Edwards.
By Alexander Nichols, Marketing & Communications Specialist
Throughout 2020, Hornet wide receiver Dewey Cotton ‘21, (Criminal Justice) has remained optimistic and focused on building and maintaining connections with the people around him. In June, Cotton’s social media “Race Face Challenge” went viral, garnering rave reviews from his more than 18 thousand social media followers, as well as attention from sports network ESPN.
“Your race face is the face you make when you are trying your hardest to win,” says Cotton. The Race Face Challenge encourages followers, when facing adversity, to put on their race face, do it proudly, and be able to smile when the race is done. For Cotton his videos help him build new connections, reminding himself and other athletes what it is like being outside and to go running on the field with their teammates.
Building connections is central to the strategy for the team in the Student Athlete Resource Center (SARC) this Fall. “Students ask a lot of questions already about how to navigate campus, and now we are asking them to navigate it virtually and interact in a different way. This semester's mix of virtual and asynchronous classes are going to test students' organizational skills like never before,” says SARC Director Paul Edwards.
Pivoting into the Fall, the SARC team has committed to meeting students where they are and leveraging available virtual platforms to form connections. SARC advising sessions have begun to incorporate conversations on professionalism in a virtual classroom, such as the need for dressing appropriately, conduct during classes, and respectful participation. For the first time, SARC has created sport-specific advisors to help reinforce relationships and are continuing their SARC Mentoring Program, connecting more than 100 student-athletes weekly through Zoom meetings with staff mentors to discuss sports, classes, health, and general life concerns.
The SARC staff remain focused on student service, being available whenever questions arise and being the best resource that they can be, be it answering questions or making connections to outside services. “If you have a 20 point lead, you are going to play differently than if you are down 10 points. With everything that is happening around us, we remain ready to react and pivot as necessary,” says Director Paul Edwards.