Xavier University Athletics
Maurice Clarett Visits Campus as Part of Ongoing Fortune 15 Series
07.16.15 | Men's Basketball
Clarett Visit Photo Gallery | Clarett's Website
CINCINNATI - Former Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett visited campus on Tuesday to give the Musketeers a talk that lasted nearly two hours. The former Buckeye, who is making a name for himself as a no-nonsense motivational speaker, spent time answering questions and dishing out advice.
"I think it was inspiring, all the stuff he's been through. It really makes you see, being on top of the world, how quickly that can go away," said Remy Abell. "And I feel like what he was trying to say was -- do what you have to do now, so you can do what want to do later in life. Basically, take care of your business on-and-off the court because we're getting older and every choice we make results in a consequence -- positive or negative."
Clarett's visit was part of Coach Mack's ongoing Fortune 15 Series, which incorporates many different components all aimed at developing and protecting a personal brand for XU's men's basketball team.
Rest of story from the second edition of Xavier Nation Magazine, which is available online and for purchase.
"YOUR BRAND IS WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM."
The quote, from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is part of a presentation Xavier men's basketball coach Chris Mack gave to his team last July shortly after six new players arrived on campus.
Mack was introducing a new program initiated by the men's basketball program called the Fortune 15 Series--Building and Protecting Your Personal Brand. Components include character development, media training, classroom etiquette, social media training, career development, alumni engagement, community service, and fan interaction.
"I think it's natural for players to think that we're taking more of their time, giving them even more to worry about," Mack says. "What we're trying to do is help them develop as people, help them learn how to take advantage of all these programs, help them build great reputations and personal brands so they are better positioned for success after college."
The program's name combines the branding of Fortune 500 companies and the typical number of players Xavier has on the roster, including walk-ons (15).
Mack talks to his team about the reputation of Fortune 500 companies and their relentless pursuit of success. He wants players to understand that they will be evaluated by the masses each and every day based on their performance in the classroom, their behavior on and off campus, how they treat others, how they project themselves in the media and on social media, whose company they keep, and how they interact with the Xavier--and Cincinnati--community, including fans, faculty, and fellow students.
Many players, some of whom came to Xavier with high profiles, already have a personal brand of some sort. And that will only grow over time with the exposure they receive as Division I student-athletes on a successful team in the BIG EAST Conference.
David West, the Division I National Player of the Year in 2003, may not have been thinking that he was building a personal brand during his four years at Xavier, but he surely was.
West was respectful to coaches, staff, and media from the minute he stepped on campus. He was as friendly and fun off the court as he was intense and competitive on it. His leadership and professionalism were certainly factors in becoming a first-round NBA draft pick, an NBA All-Star, and an acknowledged leader in the locker room of all his NBA teams.
In July 2013, NBA legend and Indiana Pacers General Manager Larry Bird said to an Indianapolis reporter: "I told David, over a year ago, at the end of the season, he's done more for this franchise than he can ever imagine. Coming in here and establishing himself as a great player, not only on the court but in the locker room, and in the city doing special things ... You just don't see it very often in this league. There's special players who come through who are great players, but they don't give their heart and soul on the court or in the locker room to make other players better. We're very much appreciative of that."
It's hard to have a better personal brand than that. West knew what he stood for when he arrived at Xavier and blossomed as a person and a leader throughout his four years as a Musketeer.
"So many players--college and pro--help or hurt themselves all the time because of their positive or negative behavior, their social media interactions, and their community personas," Mack says. "We want our guys to make great choices and to understand they have an incredible opportunity to not just play Division I basketball at a high level and get a tremendous education, but to position themselves for long-term success in basketball or in business."
Xavier's student-athletes have always been involved in community service projects. Mack believes this all-inclusive program is an improved and more comprehensive approach to developing Xavier players as people.
"We had 31 scholarship offers," says Paul Macura, whose son, J.P., was a freshman this past season. "Everyone always wanted to talk about basketball and his development. Sure, we wanted him to play basketball and excel, but we wanted him to grow to be a good character person and a good leader.
"You're talking 18 years of what we've built [as parents] and you're handing it over to a university. You entrust them. Xavier has had a very strong record both on and off the court. There is a pretty good formula there. This was a big part of our expectations. A lot of schools say they do it and don't follow through. This is exactly what I expected."
Last summer, Mack sent a letter to the families of each player. In it, he talked about his staff as great coaches, individual instructors, recruiters, and scouts.
"Beyond all of that, they play a role better than all of those combined -- they are LEADERS OF MEN," he wrote. "We view our responsibility to help all of our guys become the best person they can be as the most important role we play."
"I believe that with all my heart," Mack says. "I want to win games badly. I think people know that I am as competitive as can be. I also know that families are trusting us with their children and believing that they will leave Xavier better than when they arrived -- as players and people. That's a responsibility we take very seriously."
