With the amount of talent Ohio State exported to the greatest football league in the world in the form of the NFL Draft, one could expect the program doesn't put the same type of effort into an event like the job fair held Wednesday afternoon at Ohio Stadium.
Not even close.
"Does a degree guarantee a job in that real world out there? No. You’ll get a degree, but we're taking it a step further, we're teaching you how to be able to provide, have a nice life, have something so when the football stops, the cheering stops, you can handle yourself," Urban Meyer shouted at his football team before it overtook the Huntington Club. "If you cannot take advantage of that, that’s on you and your coach."
Meyer is the owner of three national championship rings and responsible in large part for the 12 players from last year's team selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. That group set all kinds of records in Chicago, living the dream Meyer painted for many of them during the recruiting process.
Not everyone can make money playing the game of football, however, so Meyer does his best to ensure the players that make their way through is program have a second option in mind.
"We’re setting the table tonight so you’ll know somebody," Meyer said. "Use it."
Wednesday's fair saw Ohio State football players mingle and network with representatives from roughly 60 different corporations. Players exchanged business cards and email addresses, asked questions, jotted down notes and took a step at preparing for life after football — all while wearing shirts and ties.
There isn't anyone questioning how proud Meyer is with the way he turned the Ohio State football program into a premier NFL talent factory. But along with Director of Player Development Ryan Stamper, the coach is just as enamored with getting his guys in position to be successful when the end of their football career smacks them in the face.
"He preaches about it even during the season," middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan said. "He always talks about life after football, because at any moment, it can be done. It can be a wrap."
“Anything can happen, football doesn't last forever. This is your life now. This is what you need to do to go out and get a job and be able to function in society.”– Pat Elflein
"After the season, after winter conditioning is over, almost all his focus is on this," center Pat Elflein added. "Stamper, he's a huge part of our program, all of our focus is on this. We have to have a working résumé, internships, and shadow people."
Half of Meyer's current roster wasn't part of the program in 2014 when it won the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship. Such an achievement is sure to open doors for those who were on the team then, but Wednesday was about getting a foot in them. Even true freshmen, some of which have only been on campus for two weeks, were expected to leave with contacts made.
"I remember my freshman year when we came into this, the first time I was like 'What is going on? Who are all these companies?' It's crazy how fast it goes," Elflein said. "Anything can happen, football doesn't last forever. This is your life now. This is what you need to do to go out and get a job and be able to function in society."
Meyer is one of the most successful college football coaches in the country. His 50-4 record through four seasons at Ohio State is representative of the development both he and his staff do with their players from an on-field standpoint. But pushing for better graduation rates and consistency outside the classroom is just as high on the totem pole, making days like Wednesday essential.
"He talks about this being somebody's game day," quarterback J.T. Barrett said. "People that don't have that career after college football, with that being their game day. This is how you're going to get a job.
"You have to approach it as a game and with that, you win or lose a game. Did you come in there, did you get better, did you try to start a network and build relationships with people? Or did you just let the opportunity slide by?"
Non-athletes have more time for internships and job shadowing than those who play a varsity sport. Job fairs and networking hopes to bridge the gap between that time, especially for those players who won't make it to the pro ranks in their respective sports.
"The time will come where you have to put up your cleats and have to put your helmet up," McMillan said. "So getting ready for it right now before it does come to an end and not have to worry about getting ready for it when it's finally over."
