Penn State is home to tens of thousands of students that go to class each and every day. Even with these insanely large numbers, there are a group of these students which stand above and are more recognizable than the rest. This group is the Penn State football team. With the team’s growing and loyal fan-base many of the players are often looked up to and talked about like they are mythical in a sense. As a freshman new to Penn State, I wanted to get involved watching and taking part in the sport that is so heavily followed here in State College. By random luck I was placed on the floor with the majority of the freshman football team. As I started talking to the players more I had an interest in talking more about the players than what you see on the field, this is the reason I created this blog. I would interview a player for each post and write about them and what they are like on and off the field. The first player I interviewed was Connor Holobinko.
Connor Holobinko is a freshman from Moshannon Valley High School. In high school. Connor played defensive end for the football team and center for the basketball team. Connor’s love of football started at a young age, “I started playing football with my friends in third grade. It was flag football and it was just for fun”.
This young love of playing flag football started a love for real football. As Connor made the transition from flag football to football, Connor found that the game kept him physically active and busy which he loves. He learned to be disciplined from playing the sport, “The sport itself taught me to be disciplined and work hard, and since I was always busy with it, it helped keep me out of troubleā.
Currently, Connor has had to have his athletic career temporarily sidelined with an injury. This injury has postponed his practicing ability with the team and has restricted him from partaking in all of the events. Due to his injury he was not able to stay on the sideline of this past week’s game against Akron. Even though he would have much rather have been on the sideline for the game he still found the game enjoyable, “I was sitting in the student section. It was exciting and intense especially knowing once I recover I will be out there one day.”
Outside of football, Connor likes activities like many other college guys would. He spends time with friends, enjoys playing video games, and playing some pickup basketball (not when he is injured of course). Connor would describe himself as “relaxed and go with the flow”. As for Connor’s plans after college, he is currently planning to get a degree in Communication. “I am currently in the Division of Undergraduate Studies but I want to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. Obviously going to the NFL would be unbelievable but right now I am focused on my education and this unbelievable opportunity that is Penn State”.
Click Here for Connor’s High School Highlights
Hey Nick, I really excited for more of your post about the freshmen football players in our school. You truly make me interest to learn more about not only the football players, but also football in general. I believe that the most important thing in every athletes is the spirit of partnership and courage. Just like Conner, the injury didn’t stop him from doing sports, it is the spirit that moves him and all the other athletes to participate in a team like Penn State.
Besides the stories in their football career, is there a possibility to get a closer view of their experiences? For example, do they ever think about give up their football dream? How do they view themselves as football players? How do they get alone with other football players? As I recall, you mention to have a psychological approach to the people you will be interviewing. Well, you could explain how football players reacts to things differently than us. I am really interested and looking forward to read your post.
-Ruiqi Yin