Student Spotlight Football, Education, and Inspiration

Football, Education, and Inspiration

Student Spotlight: Jose Sandoval De Leon

Jose Sandoval De Leon

Jose

’ s love for sports is what drew him to athletic training (AT). He was a three-sport athlete in high school in Los Angeles: playing football, long jump and triple jump on the track team and wrestling. Even at that time the human body was of interest to him. During his undergraduate career at the University of Oregon he took some AT courses and fell in love with it. “It’ s a profession where you are always learning, always helping others. Seeing an athlete get back on the field after an injury is hugely rewarding. He came to the University of Utah to continue his athletic training education in the masters of Athletic Training program within the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. It was here he was drawn to some of the more unique portions of the curriculum such as ethics, the psychosocial aspect of an athlete, and care of Paralympic athletes. He felt there were many more learning opportunities here than at other schools. One of the most exciting of which was to apply for a student internship with the Denver Broncos in the NFL.

Jose representing the U while on his internship

In the few hours he had between being a master ’ s level student and working a parttime job, Jose submitted a resume, a list of references, and a cover letter to all 32 NFL teams explaining why he should be picked as their student intern. Within a week four teams had called to schedule an interview. After the interview process the Broncos offered him a spot and, growing up a Broncos fan, Jose accepted the position and prepared himself to spend two months in Denver during the professional football training camp and preseason. The only thing Jose needed to bring with him was a business suit, casual clothing for down time, and toiletries. Everything else was taken care of by the team: housing, food, clothing, and transportation. The NFL also awarded him a minority scholarship to help offset any additional costs the team was not covering.

The morning he left, he was packing up to 20 minutes before he was due to leave, he even had to run back into his apartment from the parking lot because he realized he las left his dress pants behind. Upon arrival to Denver, he was picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel for which he would stay for the next two months.

The days were long, 12-15 hours a day, making 200 water bottles, facilitating proper hydration, treating the players, packing trunks for away games as well as having the opportunity for inservices. Every day of training camp there was a new in-service training the students on evaluation techniques, different modalities, how to talk to coaches and other staff members, research, concussions, and a review of anatomy. He learned new hip proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques and blood flow restriction. Everyone was instantly welcoming and he felt part of the team. Athletes and staff trusted him from the beginning, having confidence that if he was good enough to have earned the internship, he must be knowledgeable and skilled. Jose got to help at three pre-season games, one at home against the Los Angeles Rams and two away games at Minnesota and Seattle. Denver won all three

games.

Reflecting back on his experience, Jose feels his time in Denver was the hardest thing he has ever done. There were times he fell asleep sitting up with his evening meal in his lap and would not wake up until his alarm went off the next morning.

Leaving Denver to return to Salt Lake City to continue his clinical immersion year with University of Utah football, Jose was told to “lead by voice as well as by example. ” He took this to heart by being in charge of education for the undergraduate student aides, presenting them in-services, modeling the education experience he had with the Broncos. As well as educating other students, Jose has had the opportunity to perform evaluations, create and implement rehab for acute, chronic and surgical injuries, along with taping and game preparation.

After completing his time in Denver and football with the U, Jose hopes to pass his board exam and graduate with his master ' s in Athletic Training. He has already applied for a year-long internship with the NFL with the hope it will lead to a permanent position in the future. Jose ’ s ultimate goal is to be a role model for others, no matter who it is, and to advocate for people of color and his profession. Both his former middle school and high school have reached out to him to come and speak to the current students about going to college. Jose ’ s parents did not graduate from high school. They always stressed to Jose and his two younger sisters how important education was. Jose saw college as a way to better himself. Being a person of color and being a first-generation college student was a challenge. There were not many resources available to him and people doubted him along the way, but Jose kept his goal in mind: realizing his success was not just for him; it was for his parents, his sisters, and other underrepresented minorities. He wanted to shoot for the stars and see where he landed.

Looking back, when starting his journey in LA there was no path for him to follow. Jose now hopes he can educate his community, be an inspiration to others and continue work as an athletic trainer – to help build a pathway for people of all colors to look at him and say, “If he could do it maybe I can too. ”

Jose at Vikings Stadium