The E-Gridiron Group has developed a program that is critical to the continued growth and future success of the EMU Football program and its players, both on and off the field—the E-Gridiron Group Mentoring Program. This program is something that sets us apart in our recruiting efforts and will have a significant impact in the lives of our players and the quality of educational experience they receive at Eastern.
The idea of the mentoring program is to match up a former EMU football player or someone who has been very close to the program with members of the team. The role of the mentor is to help guide their mentee through the EMU experience, to be a friendly ear to listen during stressful times, and to provide career advice and guidance, among other things.
With the help of Associate Athletic Director Craig Fink, we have establishing a formalized operating plan for the mentoring program that includes key tools, communications vehicles, and events that will make the job of a mentor easy and rewarding.
If you are a former EMU Football player, or someone who has been close to EMU Football and are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact us.
Mentor Program Co-Chairs
Ron Adams ‘88 Brian Clouse ‘87
E-Gridiron Group Mentoring Program
Mentor Responsibilities
MINIMUM LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS
1. Call or e-mail your mentee(s) to introduce yourself as their mentor as soon as possible.
2. Within one week of meeting or making initial contact with mentee(s), make phone call to mentee(s) to further cultivate relationship and to invite student to call for advice, chat, career counseling, etc.
3. Within three weeks of meeting mentee(s), a letter should be sent to mentee(s), with a cc to the parents, again reaffirming commitment to be available for advice/support/answer questions from both the mentee(s) and parents. (Sample letter will be provided)
4. Maintain regular communication with mentee(s). Make sure at least one personal contact is made every 4 to 6 weeks either by phone, in-person contact or e-mail.
ALL-STAR RESPONSIBILITIES
If you want to go above and beyond the call of duty, you can...
1. Invite student to home for dinner at least once.
(The mentor may provide personal transportation for the student to the mentor’s home and back to campus {must be within a reasonable distance, usually less than 45 minutes from campus}. The mentor may not pay for a student’s dinner off campus at a restaurant, but may join the student for dinner at a campus dining commons.)
2. Attend at least one football game and see your mentee(s) on the field after the game.
3. Call or meet parents of your mentee(s).
Note: Mentees also have a list of responsibilities that was presented to them by Coach English. As part of our management of the Mentoring program, we want mentors to let us know if mentees are not responding to your attempts to make contact. Coach English feels strongly that the players need to play an active role in making this program a success as well.