To keep up with our timeline, we got at the crack of dawn on Friday and drove for the most boring 2 1/2 hours ever to Abilene. No joke it was the most boring drive in the world. Nothing to look at, no cell service, and no radio stations. Thank God I had my iPad so we could listen to my wonderful music selection!
College Visit
We left pretty early(shocker I know) and arrived almost an hour before our appointment. The wonderful admissions office altered our schedule for us to maximize our time. So we started out with meeting with admissions which was super quick since Robert has already been accepted. We then moved on to meet with Coach Fello the defensive coordinator. We briefly met with him and arranged to hook back up later that afternoon when we had more time. From there a young graduate assistant (G.A.) gave us a tour of the facilities and showed us their equipment. The locker room is a lot bigger that the previous school and they have a separate weight room just for athletics, however they are not as new. We briefly met with the head coach after that and then it was time to move on.
Robert then went on to anatomy class and we chose not to sit in and headed to the POD ( provisions on demand) to grab a snack and some coffee. After class Robert found his way back to the caf all on his own :) and we had lunch with some players and a different G.A. The G.A.'s are working on a higher level degree and basically interning with the coaching staff at the same time. Lunch was super boring for me and Ash as we were sandwiched between Robert and players and Rob and the coach. Austin had a much better food choice and their pizza was way better!
After lunch we met up with a group of people that were there for Cowboy Friday. Cowboy Friday is held once a month for campus visits. We toured the campus to include the model dorm room and several classrooms. The dorms here are all single sex, no co-ed dorms, and they are smaller and a bit older than at Austin. No fancy smancy apartments of cottages here. However, rumour going around is that new residential halls are being built. Once the tour was over we headed back to the field house to talk football.
Football time
If I wasn't already impressed before, this is where HSU really got my vote. We met with the DB coach who would coach Robert if he chooses to go there. During that time they ( by they I mean coach, Rob, and Robert) discussed X's and O's and Ashleigh and I tried to stay awake! If you know me, you know I love football but when you start drawing plays on the whiteboard you lost me! Anyway for about an hour they discussed football and then the DC came in. Now we have been communicating with Coach Fello for the past few months and his background in coaching is impressive. He has coached in multiple places and even spent some time working for the Big 12 implementing instant replay so his opinion carries a lot of weight to me.
We went thought a video presentation where Coach Fello told us several key things about the HSU way and asked Robert questions to determine if their ways and his ways would mesh. By the end of that hour I felt as if HSU will be a good fit for my bubba and if he chooses to go to school there I know he will be in good hands.
Game Time
We spent the night on Friday in another Hampton Inn and checked out Abuelos and the Mall of Abilene. I'm happy to say that the mall was much better than the one in Sherman! Then on Saturday we were given tickets to see HSU play TLU. Back in May we visited TLU and Robert just received an email notifying him of his acceptance.
Prior to the game, Robert hung out on the field with Coach Fello and saw up close and personal what the DB's do for pre-game workouts. We had great reserved seats in the section with many of the players parents. Going into the game TLU had an undefeated record and HSU has a losing record this season. But, HSU won the game and knocked off undefeated TLU 73-44! It was a great game complete with crazy penalties, an ejection, and even record breaking touchdowns! One cool thing was that prior to the boys coming on field the alumni and parents all made a spirit line for them to walk through before they ran onto the field. After the game we had a chance to chat with the DB coach for a minute and then we headed back to falls town.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a school has to be based on more than just football. The school has to be someplace where my baby will be able to leave and start the next chapter of his life. In his words, " a place that will prepare him for the next phase, as much as his parents have prepared him for college." There are several reasons why I think HSU will do that. The number one reason being the academic program that they offer. Robert can pursue his degree in athletic training and then continue on and complete his doctorate in physical therapy in only 6 1/2 years. That is huge!!!! To be able to complete his bachelors degree and stay at the same school for his doctorate would be great!
Another reason is the emphasis that is put on success. Each football player is given a success manual and the coaching staff uses it to monitor grades, attendance, help with time management, and a ton of other tools. Underclassmen are required to attend tutorials weekly as well. There is also a huge emphasis put on faith at HSU and I think that is extremely important.
HSU just felt very homey to me. Maybe it was because indirectly there were some connections. One of the sweetest girls I met in Louisiana graduated from HSU. Come to find out one of her dear friends is the lady we have been communicating with in the admissions office,who is just as sweet as can be! Even after Rob kept calling her Mr. because he thought her name was Brian not Brynn! Then we found out that one of the head coaches best friends is one of Rob's classmates and a former teammate. Several staff members are alumni which says a great deal to me! These people graduated and chose to work there instead of moving on. Must be a pretty special place.
The last thing was that Coach Fello looked both Rob and I directly in they eyes and told us he would take care of our son and they would not do anything to mess up the hard work we have done so far. I believe they care more about just football there. Don't get me wrong, I think they want to win games, but I believe they want to teach these guys how to be successful both on and off the field as well as how to be great men. I haven't got that feeling from other schools, and for that HSU has Mama's vote!
I'm ready to buy this shirt! Next up, Coe College in Iowa! Stay tuned to see who has bubba's vote as the road to February 2014 continues!!
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