Three former Eagles who used their time in education to shine off the field

NFL: DEC 29 Eagles at Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 29: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) warms up prior to the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 29, 2019 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

School is out for the Summer and for students, it’s a chance to get excited about the Eagles and their upcoming Training Camp, forgetting about the worries that School can bring for as long as possible.

Managing school or college assignments along with sports practice can be tough. Often overshadowed by their athletic success, the educational career of many players is as glorious as their games. 

You may wonder, “I possibly can’t complete these essays and attend the football practice in time.” But what if I tell you, it’s possible! Instead of thinking about how tough it is to do everything by yourself, consider delegating certain tasks. Using a custom essay writing service is an option many players take.

Because “I’ll pay someone to do my assignment” is far better than ” I’ll either not complete my assignments or not attend the football practice.” Continuing your education while trying to excel at sports is possible, it’s just a case of finding the right balance.

Take the example of the players who most have recently played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Carson Wentz

While his tenure in Philadelphia was filled with the highest of highs and lowest of lows, his journey through college academically was nothing but smooth sailing.

His dedication and smart choices brought him the honor of “excellence in the classroom” by the University of North Dakota State. He maintained a GPA score in health and physical education. He also received the title of the NCAA Division I Academic All-American of the Year entitled by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Wentz didn’t only ace his lessons, but in the Wonderlic test too. The former Eagles QB proved his excellence by scoring 40 out of 50 marks. So indeed, the brain behind the AO1 foundation is smart and academically sound, just like his athletic capabilities.

Chris Long

We all know about this philanthropist player who donated an entire season’s wages to help the underprivileged access quality education and universities. A Walter Payton Man Of The Year winner, Long is wise beyond his years and has continued to shine brightly since declaring his retirement.

His philanthropy towards the education sector stems from his fascination for the same. Before inkling towards the game, this former Eagles standout was fond of writing sci-fi and adventure stories. He was so dedicated to his education that his parents speculated that he would end up being an architect in the future.

Chris attained his higher education degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia. After attaining fame in football, he rekindled back his love for lessons in the form of philanthropy. He founded and donated to various education-related programs that would help the needy to obtain their dream degrees.

Emmanuel Acho

While his stint with the Eagles isn’t a particularly memorable one, his actions off the field have created a legacy that will never be tarnished. Emmanuel Acho is now best-known for his role on ‘Speak for yourself’, but his education within the media started all the way back in college, where he graduated with a degree in sports management. He won the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in 2011, given to the student-athlete who best uses his platform to make a difference in his community.

Outside of this, Acho was a keen philanthropist. He and his family took annual trips to Nigeria to treat patients and help out the community.

It’s this intertwining of love for his community and willingness to make a difference, and what he learned in sports management, that led to a path in sports media and his ultimate calling.

He joined the Longhorn network in 2016 in a temporary role as an analyst before being promoted to a full-time analyst at ESPN2 not long after. In the summer of 2020, at the height of protests against racial and social injustice, Acho took his communication skills and knowledge to create an informational YouTube series entitled “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”, with the intent of helping those less informed understand the systemic issues America faces. This led to a book released with the same title later that year.

Acho was able to combine everything he learned during his time at Texas and the person that the School helped him become, to curate a career after his NFL window had passed. In doing so, he helped create change and inspire others to educate themselves on the many issues that plague our world today.

Conclusion

“You don’t need to be good in studies if you’re good at sports.” For years, students have been brainwashed to believe that academics and athletes are mutually exclusive. If you’re a student, you have to choose – either you score goals, or you score marks. 

This misconception has somehow become the unspoken rule of the world. At a very young age, students often discard either of their dreams to pursue one. But like the majority of social stereotypes, this too has no basis. If you’re smart enough and willing to work hard, you can have the best of both.

So delegate Your assignments, work smart, and continue practicing your game. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be listed under the most educated players of your favorite team.

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire