Rice University Athletics
Rice Memories: Michael Whitehead
3/25/2020 4:15:00 PM | Men's Golf, Blog
The college experience gives everyone lasting memories, mine just happens to encompass about a decade's worth. From matriculation in 2007, graduation in 2011, marriage to a Sid-Rich-erson (we won't hold that against her), and my involvement with the golf team in a coaching role since then (first in a volunteer capacity, now finally as the assistant coach in 2020), Rice not only colors every memory, it facilitates most of them.
That being said, a few stand out above the rest. Firstly, my team. I have lasting relationships with a core group of guys from my time and we still text regularly, particularly about big life events: children, weddings and so on. We used to text about Friday night, now you must make sure and text well before night or else risk no reply till the next morning. Life changes.
Secondly, one of the high water marks every year was our home tournament, the Rice Intercollegiate. Not only did we blow a highly-ranked Auburn out of the water one year (firmly establishing ourselves as a top 30 ranked team at the time) but it also was the only time we were able to have our professors, friends, girlfriends, and most of our families all get to come watch what we loved to do: compete. Golf is truly unique in that 95% of our competitions don't take place at home, but the one home event we had every year was just totally special.
Thirdly, for as much as we longed to not have to do it, the schoolwork remains a vivid and nostalgic memory. I ended up spending far too many hours in the library, reading textbooks on an airplane, and losing hours of sleep, but I look back on my time learning from some of the most knowledgeable people in their fields as a high point in my life. Small class sizes, brilliant co-students, and friendly professors (I still talk to a number of them) made for a truly unique experience that shaped who I am today. I still love learning and Rice helped foster and grow that trait.
I encourage you to think back on the things that Rice has been for you, and ponder ways you can be involved to help create these sorts of memories for the next generations.
That being said, a few stand out above the rest. Firstly, my team. I have lasting relationships with a core group of guys from my time and we still text regularly, particularly about big life events: children, weddings and so on. We used to text about Friday night, now you must make sure and text well before night or else risk no reply till the next morning. Life changes.
Secondly, one of the high water marks every year was our home tournament, the Rice Intercollegiate. Not only did we blow a highly-ranked Auburn out of the water one year (firmly establishing ourselves as a top 30 ranked team at the time) but it also was the only time we were able to have our professors, friends, girlfriends, and most of our families all get to come watch what we loved to do: compete. Golf is truly unique in that 95% of our competitions don't take place at home, but the one home event we had every year was just totally special.
Thirdly, for as much as we longed to not have to do it, the schoolwork remains a vivid and nostalgic memory. I ended up spending far too many hours in the library, reading textbooks on an airplane, and losing hours of sleep, but I look back on my time learning from some of the most knowledgeable people in their fields as a high point in my life. Small class sizes, brilliant co-students, and friendly professors (I still talk to a number of them) made for a truly unique experience that shaped who I am today. I still love learning and Rice helped foster and grow that trait.
I encourage you to think back on the things that Rice has been for you, and ponder ways you can be involved to help create these sorts of memories for the next generations.
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