蜜芽TV

by Cecil Harris

Nine years ago, Kevin Mawae, M.S. ’06, seemed to have it all: fame and fortune as an All-Pro center for the , a loving wife, two adorable kids and a degree in general studies from Louisiana State University.

But Mr. Mawae wanted to do more to prepare for life after professional football鈥攁 furious sport in which an athlete鈥檚 next play could be his last.

Kevin Mawae with (from right to left) his wife Tracy, daughter Abigail and son Kirkland

鈥淚 come from a family that stressed education, so it made sense to me to pursue a master鈥檚 degree while playing football,鈥� said Mr. Mawae, a military brat from Savannah, Ga.

The Jets trained at Hofstra University, but Mr. Mawae lived in Garden City, near the campus. After careful consideration, Mr. Mawae enrolled in the program in Adelphi鈥檚 in 2004.

鈥淚 looked at the course offerings and knew that I would get a good education at Adelphi,鈥� Mr. Mawae said. 鈥淚 also liked the diversity of classes. A lot of sport management programs lean toward the financial side. Others lean toward the compliance side. Adelphi鈥檚 curriculum was diversified enough to make it very appealing.鈥�

Mr. Mawae took graduate courses with students a decade younger, but said he never felt out of place. Turns out, Mr. Mawae had already signed autographs for many of his classmates after Jets鈥� practices at Hofstra. Yet the star recalls one professor who didn鈥檛 know him at all.

鈥淚 took a course on Monday nights, and the professor said anyone who missed two classes would get a failing grade,鈥� Mr. Mawae said. 鈥淎fter class, I told him I would have to miss two classes because of work. He asked me, 鈥榃hat kind of work do you do?鈥� I told him I play for the Jets and we have two games on Monday Night Football.鈥�

Mr. Mawae earned an M.S. in 2006 and received the Jack Foley Award as the most accomplished student in sport management.

鈥淗aving Kevin in class was an absolute privilege,鈥� said Daniel Bedard, Ph.D., who was Mr. Mawae鈥檚 academic adviser. 鈥淪tudents enjoyed his intelligent and entertaining answers from real-life situations in the world of sports. His everyday view came from an athlete who cared about his sport and the players involved.鈥�

Mr. Mawae, 42, spent eight of his 16 NFL seasons with the Jets. As a center, he did much more than snap a football between his legs. He excelled as a blocker and chose the team鈥檚 blocking assignments on every play. Eight times his peers voted him All-Pro鈥攖he best in the league at his position. Enshrinement in the is likely when he鈥檚 eligible in 2015.

The opportunity to lead by example convinced Mr. Mawae to pursue a major role within the . After serving as the Jets鈥� player representative for six years, he was elected NFLPA president鈥攖he voice for nearly 1,700 players鈥攊n 2008 and re-elected in 2010.

NFL team owners locked out the players before the 2011 season in a dispute over how to distribute the league鈥檚 annual revenue of $9 billion. Under the leadership of Mr. Mawae and executive director DeMaurice Smith, the NFLPA decertified鈥攁 tactic that allowed players to sue the NFL, something the union could not do. Faced with a potential onslaught of lawsuits, the NFL settled with the players. The NFLPA then re-certified.

Reflecting on the benefit of his Adelphi education during those intense NFL negotiations, Mr. Mawae said, 鈥淢y master鈥檚 degree gave me credibility. When I stood in front of the microphones and talked, guys would say, 鈥楬e鈥檚 not a dumb jock. He鈥檚 very educated.鈥� I think that helped me set a good example for younger players.鈥�

Mr. Mawae retired from football after the 2009 season. A sought-after public speaker, he lives in Baton Rouge, La., with his wife, Tracy, son Kirkland, 16, and daughter Abigail, 13. He has his health as well as firsthand knowledge that an advanced degree is obtainable for any pro football player.

The NFL pays up to $15,000 a year in tuition for a player to continue his education, provided he maintains a C average. Tuition is paid for three years after a player鈥檚 career ends.

鈥淧layers used to joke that the NFL offers to pay so much because they know we won鈥檛 take advantage of it,鈥� Mr. Mawae said, laughing. 鈥淲hen my teammates found out I had gone back to school, they asked me, 鈥楬ow do you find the time?鈥� But in the off-season, you work until 12:00 noon on conditioning and then you鈥檙e off for the rest of the day. There鈥檚 time.鈥�