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This is how mostly everybody who’s in poor circumstances — this is how they make their way to getting into school and getting a free education. It’s by working hard in the sport they love to play. – BYU running back Jamaal Williams
Editor's note: This is the second of a three-part series re-examining the field of college athletics in the state of Utah as the landscape across the country has vastly changed within the past year.
CEDAR CITY — A loud roar erupted from the couple thousand fans huddled inside the Centrum Arena as Brittney Jensen’s score swirled around near the vault apparatus where she had just completed her routine on a cold February night: It read 9.925.
The Southern Utah University gymnast had just matched her personal-best on the event. Swarmed by teammates, she cracked an immense smile, brighter than the lights illuminating from the ceiling overhead. It's a moment she will cherish for years to come.
But behind that smile she was enervated, and this was her catharsis from one of the busiest days of her life.
Jensen began Feb. 27 in cold, snow-covered Salt Lake City, interviewing for a spot in a graduate program at the University of Utah. She had flown there the night before after completing one last practice before the upcoming meet. After completing the interview, which ended just before noon, she took the long trip down to Cedar City with her family — making it just in time to compete for the Thunderbirds, who wound up earning their second-highest score in program history. She added a 9.875 on the floor exercise to complete a long but rewarding day.
“It just felt good,” she said. “I mean I was busy all week; I was stressed out for my interview because that’s determining my future. It just never ended until I finally got back for the meet. Once I got there, I wasn’t stressed anymore. I was just there to have fun. … I was just happy to survive the week.”
Those types of days weren't anything new to her. Travel during the season, and even home meets, take a toll. As a four-year competitor, Jensen became accustomed to the difficulties that come from balancing athletics with school. In fact, she would be the first to admit she became best friends with SUU’s library — a place where it’s not uncommon to find students like her feverishly working on classwork late into the night. In addition to school, practice and working as a youth gymnastics coach, she served as president of the school’s student-athlete advisory committee.
However, her view of college athletics is a little different than most. Since her career began, the now-graduated senior from Layton experienced both ends of the college athletic spectrum. She started at SUU as a walk-on, before earning a scholarship after her freshman season. She began coaching as a way to ease the burden of paying for college on her own by helping out her former summer camp coach.
Though she earned a scholarship after her freshman season, she continued to coach because she had a passion for it. She also found ways to maintain a 3.87 GPA, graduating with a degree in exercise science in May, despite the rigorous schedule to balance.
“Once I got that scholarship, it was a big relief,” she said, with a sense of alleviation still dangling in her voice. “I didn’t have to coach in the gym anymore. I didn’t have to do all these extra little things or, over the summer, do as much.”
For her and many other student-athletes, the long days — and nights — can be taxing, but as Jensen puts it, it beats the alternative.
Where would Jamaal Williams be?
That’s a thought that sends the jovial running back into a brief standstill as he sips a glass of orange juice during BYU's football media day on a warm June morning.
“I’d probably be,” he said, peering down at his cup as he contemplates the question. “I don’t even want to think about it. That’s just a scary sight to think about.”
The senior, who hails from Fontana, California, has made the most of his opportunity on the gridiron. He enters the season with a shot at breaking BYU’s all-time rushing record. His accomplishments on the field, however, are in some ways moot when compared to the opportunity to obtain a college education. Williams says he’s seen plenty of those in around him back in California struggle to further their education. Athletic scholarships, though, give student-athletes in even the poorest neighborhoods a shot at a college degree.
For many, the alternative is racking up student loan debt, or not getting an opportunity at a four-year education after high school.
“A lot of people where I’m from, all they need is a free education,” Williams said. “This is like our gateway in getting one, by playing sports. This is how mostly everybody who’s in poor circumstances — this is how they make their way to getting into school and getting a free education. It’s by working hard in the sport they love to play.”
Despite the long hours devoted to practic and travel, and the stress of maintaining a full semester’s workload, a study completed for the Pac-12 yielded another common thread among student-athletes: They are satisfied with their collegiate experience.
According to the report, 93 percent of the 409 student-athletes in the study considered their college experiences either very or somewhat satisfying. That doesn’t just translate to the Pac-12.
The results in the examination back up a 2011 NCAA study that found 94 percent of student-athletes were satisfied with their overall college experiences.
Looking back
Jensen summarizes her collegiate career as one in which lifelong bonds were created while receiving an education to boot. It makes the long nights and sacrifices over the previous four years all the more rewarding.
Now, instead of finally taking a summer off and enjoying life as a postgraduate, Jensen enrolled at Touro University in Henderson, Nevada, where she is a graduate student in the occupational therapy program. She hopes one day to help individuals with crippling injuries learn to become independent again.
“Athletics has definitely driven a lot of my strive for excellence because, especially as a gymnast, we’re striving for perfection in everything that we do,” she said. “I think that transfers in a lot of aspects in my life — academics being a major one. I think it’s because of gymnastics, but I’ve always had the desire to do the best that I can.”
Even the student-athletes that strive to push the current athletic model are quick to defend most of the experiences.
“My experience was great,” said former Ute football player Westlee Tonga. He contends changes should be made and more resources should be given to student-athletes, but also has no regrets regarding his college football career.
“I loved my experience, especially here at Utah," he said. "It was an absolute blessing, so I don’t want to sound bitter about anything because I loved my time here.”
Why is the satisfaction rate so high among college student-athletes with demands as daunting as they are?
“I think as a student-athlete, it’s important to prioritize your life and kind of remember what you’re really doing your schooling for,” Jensen said. “I think some athletes forget that, but some don’t. It’s definitely good to be passionate about your sport and whatnot, but they’re investing a lot of time, money and effort into you with your education. It’s benefitted me a lot — just being involved in athletics and gymnastics and the people I’ve met through that have gone a long ways for me.”