Many MU football players choose CAFNR

Derrick Ming, Corner Post staff

Dec. 3, 2002 - Approximately 40 MU football players are majoring in agriculture programs through the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Many of these players are from big cities and grew up without any experience in the field of agriculture.

Why are so many players majoring in agriculture?

Bryan Maggard is the director of MU's Total Person Program, which provides academic resources for student athletes. He is in charge of placing incoming scholarship players who are academically undecided into a college on campus as he sees fit.

Maggard said he feels that the Ag school is best for most players.

"Students come in undecided, and I place them in the school which I feel has the best advising," Maggard said.

Some students have the choice to return to that college or branch off into another. Some stay and some don't.

"The College of Agriculture, now known as CAFNR, has the number one return rate of any other college on campus," Maggard said.

"I feel that the Ag school is helping me out a lot," freshman linebacker Emmet Morris said. "Making the transition from high school to college has been good."

Thirteen Tiger football players made the Big 12 Academic Team this semester.

"Most people think that the Ag school is a piece of cake, [but] if that was the case then we would have 40 students on the Big 12 Academic Team," Maggard said. "Students have to earn their grade just like everyone else on campus, and those that do get rewarded with academic honors."

Football players T.J. Leon, A.J. Ricker, Marcus James, Brock Harvey and Terrell Mills all started their college careers in CAFNR and said the college opened doors for their success in the classroom.

"I feel that the Ag school taught me a lot about the problems I would face in school and how to handle them," Mills said.
Leon, James and Mills have all branched off into different majors, where they continue to be successful.

"The Ag school allows you to take classes from all the other colleges, such as Arts and Science, and Journalism," Maggard said. "That's what makes it so great."

"The ag school is a good beginning for students," Maggard said. "It helps them build positive relationships and gives them a chance to be successful. The school often helps students get jobs after graduation."


Story posted 12/9/02

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