Vince Young has always had a way of keeping his promises.
After defeating the University of Michigan in the Rose Bowl in 2005, Young, aware that the National Championship game would be played at the same venue in a year's time, proclaimed "We'll be back!"
You know the rest of the story. Texas indeed returned to that very same site and defeated USC to win its first national championship in 35 years.
Recently, Vince Young upheld another promise, except this one has nothing to do with football. Upon leaving school early to play in the NFL, Vince promised his mother that he would one day return to UT to earn his degree. Sure enough, nothing - not a fat $58 million contract, not the pressure of being an NFL franchise quarterback and not the aches and pains from enduring several zone blitzes in the fall - has caused Young to renege on his promise. According to the Office of the Registrar, Young is enrolled as a full-time student at UT for this spring semester.
And no, he's not allowed to use his final year of athletic eligibility (unfortunately).
Young's schedule is set up so that he can attend classes four days a week and thus be available the other three days to fly to Tennessee and serve his duties as an NFL superstar. The Tennessee Titans recently hired a new offensive coordinator, which means Young will have to memorize a new NFL offense this spring while taking 15 hours at UT.
I'm starting to feel a little guilty for complaining incessantly about having to wake up early for my 8 a.m. classes.
Young is enrolled as a liberal arts major, but according to Young's marketing manager, he is considering a switch to education and early child development.
Also on campus is fellow Tennessee Titan Michael Griffin, who is also enrolled full-time at UT this spring.
Most students seek a college degree with an instrumental good in mind, that is, they aim to use their degree to propel them forward to something better. I doubt many business students would worry about completing their degree if Goldman Sachs were to offer them an executive position in their firm prior to graduation.
I know I'd be content sitting on a yacht lighting cigars with $100 bills for the rest of my life if I was worth $58 million. Young has already achieved the pinnacle of his career, and it is thus remarkable that he's able to find the motivation to return to school and receive a degree that he'll never have to use in the workforce.
Texas football has not had all that much to celebrate over the past year. Fans have endured the Longhorns' key losses to rivals, embarrassing arrests and even a fall NCAA report that ranked Texas' team last in the Big 12 in terms of graduation rate (42 percent). By returning to the University to fulfill degree requirements, Young and other students who are ex-players are setting a great example of Longhorn athletes should strive for.
While Young may have some trouble balancing his life as a student and a superstar come finals week, I am confident he will succeed. As you may recall, he kind of has a knack for coming through in the clutch.
If you happen to see Vince around campus, don't hound him for autographs. Instead, congratulate him on keeping his promise once again.
Treadway is a radio-television-film sophomore.
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