Written by Grace DeWitt, USC blog contributor
This week we've highlighted the ways our athletes enjoy a complete collegiate experience as part of the Pac-12's Complete 12 Student Awareness Week. While the conference-wide celebration may only last a week, prioritizing a well-rounded experience lasts all year at USC.
Prior to the start of the 2015-2016 school year, Athletic Director Pat Haden offered a five-year review of Trojan Athletics, clearly illustrating the ideals celebrated this week that have and will continue to be core to the USC athletic department.
"For the short time they are here, USC and USC Athletics are the stewards of these young men and women of Troy, responsible for not only harnessing their athletic talent, but inspiring them to explore all that curiosity a college experience provides," said Haden. "I echo President Nikias' words in believing that the 'true value of a USC education must always be rooted in our ability to provide the foundation for lifelong learning, and to create complete human beings.'"
As a USC sports information intern and a featured Complete 12 student-athlete, Robby Kolanz knows firsthand the richness of the Trojan athletic experience. "It's not just words," said Kolanz of Haden's mission. "He really means it. I think it goes back to when he went here - he got everything out of his experience. He was involved in a lot of stuff, so he wants to make sure that all the student-athletes here on campus make the most of their experience."
While scholarship offers from east coast schools and the allure of the Ivy League tempted Kolanz as a high school senior, he enters his final year at USC wholly satisfied with his experience here. "I just think that the school really encompasses all three of the general aspects of college, as in academics, athletics and social life," said Kolanz. "It's really fulfilled all of my expectations for all three of those and I think I just didn't feel the fit at any other place."
With support from coaches and staff, Kolanz is able to be an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, the USC Students Against Sexual Assault club, the Trojan Athletic Senate, Annenberg TV News, and he volunteers with the campus Catholic Center in addition to playing as a wide receiver for the football team. He also was one of the 2014 Chick Hearn Award recipients and was presented the award at halftime of a Lakers game last fall.
"It all just goes back to the priorities we're given from the day we step on the field or step on this campus from our coaches and Pat [Haden]: that football isn't everything, our athletics aren't everything. We are stressed to get involved in as many things as we possibly can," Kolanz said. "I think it really makes for a cool dynamic on campus, where there really isn't a divide between the student-athletes and the students."
Kolanz shared the Complete 12 spotlight this week with teammates QB Cody Kessler, ILB Cameron Smith, S Leon McQuay III, PK Alex Wood, OT Chuma Edoga, and OLB Scott Felix. The way Kolanz sees it, investing time in passions outside of football is more than just a personal interest for his teammates; it's an expectation.
"As USC football players, we have a lot of responsibility at the school to hold up a good name and be a good representation for all the fans and all the people that have put their time into this program. With that comes trying to make the biggest impact we can on this campus, whether that be on the field or off the field," said Kolanz. "We have so much ability and opportunity at our fingertips, and I think that everybody really does make it a priority to get involved in other things."
This notion of responsibility is made clear the moment a player is recruited to join the Trojan Family. Under the leadership of head coach Steve Sarkisian, the football coaching staff has not allowed Haden's vision of a well-rounded student-athlete to get lost in the many hours of practices, meetings, and workouts.
"At the end of the day, they're trying to make us the best men, not just the best football players. That's their priority, and they all make sure we know that," Kolanz said. "They're not here just to coach us and teach us X's and O's, they're here to make us better men so that we can go on in the world and make an impact on people. From the top with Pat [Haden], all the way to the bottom, I think it's absolutely an emphasis and it's something really fun to be a part of."
