Michael Strahan: How Texas Southern University Cultivated an NFL Superstar
Michael Strahan: How Texas Southern University Cultivated...
By Jason Bolton August 05, 2024 04:32
Michael Strahan's journey from a young boy in Houston to an NFL legend and a beloved media personality is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, hard work, and the right educational environment. It's a narrative rich with ambition, resilience, and the unwavering drive to surpass the bounds of possibility. Central to this story is Texas Southern University (TSU), one of over 100 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the nation, which played a crucial role in shaping Strahan's future both on and off the football field. This article aims to delve into Strahan's early life, his pivotal college years at TSU, and how these experiences paved the way for him to conquer the challenges of the NFL and triumph in the media world.
Early Life and Texas Southern University
Michael Strahan was born to a family where athleticism and competitive spirit were part of the daily fabric. Under the guidance of his parents, Louise, a basketball coach, and Gene Willie Strahan, a retired Army Major and boxer, Michael was imbued with a competitive nature from a young age. However, it was his enrollment at Texas Southern University that would prove instrumental in honing his raw talent and laying down the foundations for a stellar career in football.
Strahan's football career started in amends when he returned to the U.S. to stay with his uncle, Arthur Strahan, a former NFL player, before entering his senior year of high school. That move was key in him getting to play high school football at Westbury High School (Texas) and becoming an instant star. That performance then got the attention of college scouts and a scholarship offer from Texas Southern University. The three-time Pro Bowler picked TSU because of its football program and the school's dedication to fostering young Black athletes in a welcoming environment.
College Football Career at Texas Southern University
Strahan was also a star on the gridiron and academically at Texas Southern University. He was a powerful DE for the TSU Tigers, showing more than just raw talent as his work ethic came to light. Strahan thrived on the football field with coaching. In college, he put up record numbers, including setting a school record with 41.5 sacks in his career, which still stands today.
Strahan had a last senior part where he recorded 19 quarterback sacks and was the Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year. His play in these games also helped him earn a selection to the First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and increase his stock as an NFL prospect. The TSU coaching staff also played a major role in his development, giving him the structure and technical sense needed for his game to translate to the next level. Coaches frequently cited the "Strahan Rules," a remarkable game-planning around defending Strahan from double-teams and aides in opponent offenses.
Environment and Culture at Texas Southern University
While Texas Southern University offered Strahan the opportunity to perform on an athletic stage, it was also a nurturing environment that helped him grow. It was a culture of community and an emotion that Strahan desperately needed, but he didn't know where to find it until he found it in the idea of peace. Surrounded by others who looked like him and aspired to the same things, it was a sense of camaraderie - in addition to growing confidence and resolve.
Strahan's view of the world was also heavily influenced by his education at TSU. He majored in communications, which would come to his aid later for a new career after football.
The Impact of HBCUs
Going to an HBCU like Texas Southern University greatly impacted how Strahan viewed outcomes and life. By their nature, HBCUs are rooted in Black students' uplift and pride. Strahan says his time at TSU reminded him of the need to help others reach levels such as his own while also making sure that he and other Black entrepreneurs were visible in sports and media.
Strahan was shaped by the challenges confronting athletes at HBCUs, where resources are more meager than they often were at larger universities. He learned to overcome adversity and work harder for the things he wanted, two traits that would take him far in a league as cutthroat as football. Strahan regularly touches on the value of perseverance and his education at TSU, noting that these experiences gave him a foundation for what he would later face in the NFL.
Texas Southern University Provides a Platform
The narrative of Michael Strahan going from Texas Southern University to the highest levels of the NFL is a powerful story about resilience and hard work that underscores what an impact having such a supportive educational environment can have for someone. His success during his collegiate days at TSU helped him develop the skills, attitude, and opportunities that enabled him to flourish as a professional football player. Together, with outstanding coaches, incredible schooling, and a supportive group of people, it assured that Strahan was all set to conquer the NFL and life in external sports.
Being an HBCU advocate and proud alumnus of Texas Southern University, Strahan also wants to spread the word about higher education amongst his peers. His journey is a lesson to budding athletes who want to follow in his footsteps. If you have the determination and support network, success can be yours. The legacy of Michael Strahan stretches far beyond the football field and instead lives in his dedication to lifting those who have struggled while championing the ideals handed down during his time at Texas Southern University.
SHOP Mystery Signed Memorabilia
-
Mystery Signed Football 8x10 Photo
- Regular price
- $29.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $29.99
- Unit price
- per
-
Mystery Signed Baseball Jersey
- Regular price
- $69.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $69.99
- Unit price
- per
-
Mystery Signed Football Jersey
- Regular price
- $69.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $69.99
- Unit price
- per
-
Mystery Signed Baseball 8x10 Photo
- Regular price
- $29.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $29.99
- Unit price
- per
LATEST
- NEWS
- |
- ARTICLES
- |
- VIDEOS
FAN ARCH PODCAST NETWORK
