Being a student-athlete in college isn’t easy in the first place. Now being a famous student-athlete must be down right crazy. Even if you wanted to focus on your school work, the constant distractions from groupies, friends, and wannabe friends would be too much. Jameis Winston explains via The MMQB:
“In college, I was up under this microscope everywhere I went. I couldn’t go to class without somebody stalking me or asking me for something, an autograph or a picture. In the NFL, not only am I the face of a community, but people know my face. People are looking up to me basically as a springboard for the Tampa Bay community. Every time I go out and I have chance to make a difference or make someone smile, I try to do that to the best of my abilities. In college, I could try to do that, and no matter what, it would mean something, but everyone just wanted something from me. Give me that, Jameis, gimme, gimme, gimme. In the NFL, I can be myself, and everyone doesn’t have their hand out. In the NFL, I wasn’t the best player in the league. I just do what I do.”
Hearing the change in the way Jameis in thinking after his first season in the league is amazing. He was impressive in his play on the field and now it appears he has a great foundation to build on. His offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was promoted to head coach this offseason, which is great for Winston who raves about him. Here is some of what Koetter has taught him. From The MMQB:
“It seems so cliché saying this, but do the simple things and you’ll be OK. Don’t overdo. It just sounds like, OK, it’s like reading the Bible. The Bible tells you from right and wrong and you do that and you will have a good life. But it’s really that easy: Make the simple decision. If you don’t get too over-hyped, if you just make smart decisions and do the right thing, the sky is the limit.”
With all of that in mind, it will be interesting to see what we get out Jameis in his sophomore season. QB’s have been known to have slumps in their second year, but Jameis appears to have all the pieces in place to succeed.