1. Extreme partying. Kids come into college and get this freedom to do whatever they want, and many abuse that freedom. The more you party, the greater the chances are of alcohol consumption and doing other detrimental things. Partying makes success a little harder to achieve.
2. Acting like other students. Student-athletes are not normal students. We spend about 10 hours a week training, and when competing, it may jump to 20. Manage your time like an athlete and not a normal student.
3. Eating like other students. Athletes can't eat like normal students because athletes expend more calories than a normal person. If your friends want to go out for burgers and beers, you are dropping down to their level, and you're smart to avoid that except on rare occasion. Unless you're smart, you may miss out on veggies and other important nutrients that you need.
4. Pursuing girls/guys. Chasing after girls/guys on Water Street shows a lack of focus on the things that need to be done like training, sleeping, eating right, getting homework done. Worse yet, most of the hours of the night spend chasing are hours when you already should be sleeping. If you chase, at least do it in a way that won't detract from being a great student-athlete. I had a teammate who only lasted one semester because he was out most nights looking for his next conquest. It destroyed his academic and athletic endeavors.
5. Doing nothing right and complaining about results. Can't begin to tell you how many athletes in our program do the exact same each year and wonder why they don't improve. You need to change the way you do things if you want a better result. College kids love to stick to their ways and refuse to change. They want to do little work but perform well. Doesn't work. Were you athletic this summer or a bum? Are you back to regular training now or waiting until you feel like it -- or until team practice begins? Athletes become better when no one is watching or making them train.
6. Living in the past. You may have been good last year, but if you're still talking about that, it's because you haven't done anything lately. Don't undermine your future by living in the past.
7. Being close minded. Things change. What was good enough before may not be good enough anymore. What got you an A before might not get you one next time. You just have to accept it. The training you did last year might not get you to the next level. You may need to try something else or do it in a different way by adding more intensity, more strength or something else.
8. Getting tough. It doesn't take long to see that you are in a highly competitive environment. Everyone in college is trying to be a success in every way possible so if you can’t keep up, no one cares, and no one may be there to help you. Start working hard and getting tough. No one will give you anything. You need to earn it.
9. Settling. Too many students and athletes are satisfied with being "good enough." They settle for what they are -- instead of working to be all they can. Everyone can be better than they are. Don't settle for less. Not a happy time thinking about what could have been.
