AU Athletics -- By the Book: Multi-Tasking No Problem for Buzzard
April 8, 2005

By Andrea Adame, AU Sports Information

There is nothing typical about being a student-athlete. Every day is filled with hard lessons and hard workouts. You are expected to give it all in the classroom and on the playing field every day. Sometimes this is too much for young college students and sometimes others decide to throw some more onto an already full plate. Ashland University football player Mike Buzzard (Ashland, OH) is a fine example.

Buzzard gives his all to his studies as a physical education major and as a member of the football team. But he is not your average college student. On top of these responsibilities Buzzard is married with two young children. He is a family man with many obligations calling to him at home and from the playing field.

“It’s tough sometimes when you are up with the baby in the middle of the night and you know you’ll have a tough practice the next day,” said Buzzard, a linebacker. “Time management is important when you have class all day, lifting, practice and your family. I usually only get four to five hours of sleep a night.”

Mike Buzzard is a member of the AU football team and physical education major. Married and with two children, he must balance time spent on academics, sports, and family.

Getting to AU to play football was not an easy ride for Buzzard. After graduating from Ashland High School in 1999 he took some time off from school and worked at a factory while helping to coach at Crestview High School. He then decided to attend The Ohio State University branch in Mansfield, OH, for a year to get his grades up so he could apply at AU.

“I knew I wanted to play football so I figured I would walk on to the team and try to earn some money,” said Buzzard. “I also knew AU had one of the best education programs in the state and I wanted to be involved in that.”

Football demands a lot of time and attention from those who make the commitment to play. After walking onto the team a year ago, Buzzard has shown the coaches that he is committed to the sport and earned himself a scholarship this season.

“It can be difficult to balance your studies with being a Division II athlete,” said head coach Lee Owens. “Add to that being a father and a husband and you really have to be someone special in order to do all that.”

Having your priorities in line is extremely important if you want to succeed academically, as a football player, as a husband and as a father. This past season Buzzard had the opportunity to make sure that his priorities were properly in order. On Nov. 6, the Eagles were scheduled to play their final game of the season at Indianapolis. But it was on this day that Buzzard had to stay behind in Ohio and welcome his second child into the family.

“The baby came three months premature and when my wife went into labor, I talked to coach and he was understanding. I knew where I had to be and that was with my family. It was rough missing the last game, but family is the most important thing in my life, then my education and then football,” said Buzzard.

“Mike brings a lot of maturity to our young team. He has his priorities in line and has had to overcome a lot of adversity to get where he is today,” said Owens.

Buzzard is kept busy with his nonstop schedule at school, but he tries to find as much time as possible to be involved in his young daughters’ lives.

“I miss a lot during the fall when my daughter is playing soccer and I’m busy with football, but this summer I’m coaching her softball team. I just try to make it to as many events of her’s as possible,” said Buzzard.

Living in the Ashland area where he grew up is a plus for Buzzard whenever he needs help from his family.

“My wife is a licensed nurse and her hours vary a lot so it is nice to have my extended family around to babysit the kids while I’m at school and my wife’s at work,” said Buzzard.

On top of his already vigorous schedule Buzzard likes being involved with the community.

“I enjoy helping out with the team’s community involvement through various fundraisers at Dale-Roy,” said Buzzard.

“Mike is a vital part of our team as a leader,” said Owens. “He has helped lead the direction of our team with community involvement at Dale-Roy through our liftathon last year and by our team supporting their new playground. He is a real leader for this team.”

With the 2005 season approaching and spring practices in full swing, Buzzard is working hard to make sure he will be putting in lots of minutes on the gridiron next season. But with all the hard work he is putting in on the playing field, you can be sure to double that when it comes to all he does for his family.

“Mike has an important role as a father and his family comes first, then school and if there is time left to be on our team then football and that’s a real success story,” said Owens.

This season his hard work in the classroom was recognized as Buzzard was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic team. He’s a physical education major with a 3.44 grade point average.

“I’m pretty excited about being GLIAC All-Academic. I think that my teammates can look at the facts that I’m married with two kids and can still make good grades,” said Buzzard. “I have a real good work ethic and I’m passionate about the game of football. If I can do it, they could do it to.”