University of Houston Athletics
Football Feature: First Class Leader
10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
A lot is expected of the young men who put pads on and represent their university on the football field. These athletes are expected to excel on and off the field, which can require much more than most of us realize. Few take the extra effort to be leader and example of what a student-athlete should be. Senior tight end Tyler McCloskey is one of those guys.
Having made the American Athletic Conference All-Academic football team both in 2013 and 2014, Tyler takes just as much pride in exceling off the field as he does on the field. "A lot of sleepless nights, a lot of the nights where you are getting three or four hours of sleep. There may be a time where we had a late practice one night, a finance test the next night. It's either going to be 'am I going to get some sleep or do well on this test?' So you have to sacrifice one or the other. A lot of the times it ends up meaning sacrificing sleep."
When McCloskey wasn't at practice or studying, he was still at work. Throughout the progression of his career, he found himself steadily falling in love with the weight room. "The past year and a half, you can probably count the amount of days I haven't been in there."
Being committed to exceling in the manner McCloskey has can be seriously draining. McCloskey's ability to shrug off the urge to give anything other than 100 percent makes him a captain. McCloskey calls it "faking the juice until you really have."
Tyler's hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. Tight ends coach Corby Meekins, McCloskey's position coach, had nothing but positive words when describing him. "He's a captain for a rea¬son. He brings energy every day and is always well-prepared and gives 100 percent for the team."
One of four captains for the 2016 Houston Football team, McCloskey came to Houston in 2013 as a linebacker from local Memorial High school. Since arriving, he's played linebacker, fullback, and tight end for the Cougars.
McCloskey, one of the more experienced players on team has enjoyed his years with the team. "It's incredible, when I got here I never thought any of this was possible as far as what we've done last year and this year."
A sign of a great captain, McCloskey's teammates learn from his example, and feed off his energy. When fellow tight end Alex Leslie was asked to describe McCloskey as a person, the first word used was a leader. "He's such a good leader because he's so consistent every day. I'm close with him so it's not like he's faking it. I know whenever he's not 100 percent wanting to come out here and give his all, but he does it because he knows it's the standard and knows it has to be done."
Leslie credits McCloskey with helping him transition into the demands of the program. "He was really the one who took me under his wing and showed me what needs to be done."
Through football, McCloskey has formed relationships that will live on past the football field. The bond formed with Coach Meekins, who has only been with McCloskey for two years already extends past the foot¬ball field. "He's somebody that I'll be friends with for life. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does after football. He has some high aspirations and big goals. It's going to be fun keeping up with him and watching him fulfill his dreams."
Unfortunately for Cougar fans and players alike, the NCAA rules prohibit McCloskey from playing forever. Playing in his last year for the Cougars, he enjoys and appreciates every last second of it. "The past couple of weeks, I'll find myself just stopping and reflecting on the times that I've had here, the people that I've met and the things that we've done. It gets kind of sad knowing I'm on the back end of it.
Even though McCloskey's career as a Cougar is months from be¬ing over, it's a safe bet to call it a success. Currently a William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist, not only has he contributed on the field, but he has also contributed off by showing his teammates the way and representing the University of Houston in a first class fashion.
Written by: Brent Williams, Athletics Communications
