The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Young heads list of 2013 spring football graduates
05.18.2013 | Football
May 18, 2013
Jenna Galloway, Texas Media Relations
This past weekend, over eight thousand University of Texas students completed their academic careers, making the much-anticipated highly significant walk across the stage in front of their peers, professors, and family members. These students officially completed their collegiate journey as they received their diplomas at various venues across campus as part of the University of Texas' 130th Spring Commencement.
For most, this journey included coursework, extra-curricular activities and social events, but for a few individuals, their experience was much different. In addition to completing their academic careers in the classroom, several graduates also finished their careers as student-athletes. This journey included hundreds of hours spent in the gym, on the field, and in the training room along with the activities of a regular student. Graduation marks the transition from performing on the field in front of thousands of fans, to performing in a much different arena in the professional realm. It marks the end of their collegiate career and the beginning of a new chapter of their life as young professionals.
A total of 80 student-athletes, both current and former, are projected to graduate this May or August and many participated in commencement exercises on the Forty Acres this past weekend. The Texas Longhorns football program graduated 10 student-athletes, including Thomas Ashcraft, Nate Boyer, John Chiles, Michael Cruciani, Maurice Gordon, Case McCoy, John Osborn, Matthew Zapata, Mason Walters and Vince Young.
"It's a great day," said Brian Davis, associate athletic director for academic services. "It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, and these kids should be very proud. I know their families are proud. It's also a bittersweet moment. This has been a big part of their lives and we hope most of them enjoyed all of it, but it's time to move on."
"It's definitely something I'm excited to do," said Mason Walters, who will receive his degree in corporate communications in August but took part in this weekend's ceremonies. "When I signed my letter of intent, I knew I was coming to the University of Texas and a big part of that decision was because the academics are so great here. It's what made the decision easy to come here, and now I have a degree from this very prestigious university. It's something to be proud of."
Head football coach Mack Brown supported Walter's stance on academics and stressed the importance of a college degree.
"There are a number of reasons why student-athletes come to Texas to play football," said Brown. "The number one reason is to get their degree. We want them to have a great experience here, and we want them to grow up and learn about life after football. We want them to win all of the games, but then we want to prepare them for the rest of their lives. They can't prepare for the rest of their lives, and especially life after football, until they finish school."
One 2013 graduate, Vince Young, has demonstrated the importance of earning a college degree. Young returned to school to finish his degree after playing in the NFL since 2006.
"I'm so proud of Vince Young for so many different things," said Brown. "We could go back to this game and that game, or what he did here and the charity he gave back to, but this may be the most proud moment from my standpoint for Vince because he said he was going to get his degree. I know this is a great moment for him, but it's a great message for all the other student-athletes out there across the country, student-athletes who may be questioning whether they should [get their degree] or not, and here's a guy that did. He fought a lot of odds to get this done today, and I'm really proud of him."
Young was a member of the Longhorns from 2002 to 2005, leading Texas to a Rose Bowl win at the end of the 2004 season and the next year to the 2005 National Championship with a last-second victory over USC. During the 2005 season, Young was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, honored as the Maxwell Award winner, earned consensus first-team All-America honors, and was a unanimous selection as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, he was also recognized for his charity work by being named to the 11-member American Football Coaches Association Good Works team. He was also the first player in NCAA history to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. Despite his numerous contributions on and off the field, one honor evaded the grasp of the NFL-bound quarterback: his college degree.
As a junior and prior to completing his degree competencies, Young declared for the 2006 NFL Draft and was selected as the third pick in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. In his first season, Young was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also made two trips to the Pro Bowl as a Titan, and since his run with Tennessee he also played one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and was in training camp with the Buffalo Bills in 2012. Regardless of the path of his football career since leaving Texas in 2005, Young sends a much bigger message as he graduates with his degree in applied and learning development from the College of Education this weekend from the University of Texas.
"For Vince to say, `My education is very important,' sends a great message to every other young person out there how important education is," said Brown. "Especially student-athletes and especially college football players."
"A lot of really respectful people in Austin appreciate the example that I'm setting for the next generation, as well as our younger generations," said Young. "The athletes that come through the University of Texas may decide to leave early, but just always remember that sports are not going to last forever and you can always fall back on your degree."
"I don't think people understand how hard it is for people that go into the NFL to take some time away from the off-season to work on school," said Davis. "Vince's efforts have been spectacular."
Young's graduation is a milestone of sorts, as at thirty-years-old, he is the first male member of his family to graduate from college. Many of his family members, including his wife Candice, son Jordan and mother Felicia, were able to attend graduation and witness the significant occasion.
"I am very proud and grateful," said Vince's mother, Felicia. "I never doubted that he would finish. I always believed that he would do so because it was in his heart just as much as it was in mine. He was going to make sure he finished because that was our priority."
"It was a happy moment [to see him walk across the stage]," said Vince's wife, Candice. "It was a rough semester because he had class at night three times a week until about 9:30, taking all the hours to finish the semester and be done. It was definitely a sacrifice on all parts. For him to want to come back and do it and finish it and press through it, it was a happy moment."
Hard work, dedication and drive are a few characteristics that helped Young succeed as a player, but they also characterize him as a student. In his last semester, he was registered in 19 credit hours, in addition to continuing grueling workouts and preparing for his continued career in the NFL, all while supporting his family.
"It was definitely tough because everyday you have a paper or something due," said Young. "You want to make sure you make the deadlines, and being an older guy, knowing that I have a personal life as well, I definitely want to support [my family] and be around my kids."
"He's done everything right," said Brown. "He's worked out with our kids, he's shown great leadership for David Ash and our other players. Now that he's got his degree today, I can't wait for some team to be lucky and smart enough to move through [and sign him]."
"This is a very special day for me," said Young. "This is a long time coming and a lot of hard work. I'm just happy I finished something I started and definitely meant to do. I'm just happy for my family and definitely myself as well."
And so, as the weekend concludes, Vince Young, along with 80 student-athletes and over eight thousand collective students, will officially become alumni of the University of Texas. With their degrees in hand, only time will tell what's in store for the class of 2013 of the University of Texas.
2013 Spring and Summer Football Graduates
| Name | Major |
| Thomas Ashcraft | Corporate Communication |
| Nate Boyer | Physical Culture and Sports |
| John Chiles | Corporate Communication |
| Michael Cruciani | Government |
| Maurice Gordon | Communications |
| Case McCoy | Sport Management |
| John Osborn | Advertising (Master's Degree) |
| Mason Walters | Corporate Communication |
| Vince Young | Applied Learning and Development |
| Matthew Zapata | Economics |
