3 minute read
SOONERS HELPING SOONERS
Cecilia McEwen & Jerry Pettibone
Organization provides a bridge of support for Sooner athletes after college
The road to success after college can be daunting, but Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. helps to further educate and assist student athletes as they build their futures. The 501-3-C non-profit corporation’s mission is simple. The organization strives to “positively impact the lives of former student athletes by providing opportunities for personal development, education and rewarding career paths.”
“We want to help any former athlete that’s looking for employment. It doesn’t matter what sport, gender, whether they graduated, or had a scholarship or not,” shared Jerry Pettibone, president of Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. “If they made the decision to come to OU and need our help, we’ll do everything we can to help them.”
Pettibone was Barry Switzer’s recruiting coordinator for seven years and played for the Sooners under Bud Wilkinson.
The organization teaches student-athletes what to expect in the job-hunting process. They go over everything from background checks and building a resume to preparing for interviews and making first impressions. In the event that students are uncertain of their future career, they work with OU’s career center to aid students in identifying their strengths and weaknesses to help in determining employment goals and career paths.
“We help them figure out what employment is best for them,” Pettibone explained. “Whether they already know what they want to do or not, we help them get ready for their interviews to give them their best chance for the job.”
Although they have had many success stories, Pettibone shared about a memorable example in particular. Quentin Griffin, an all-American running back from Houston that played on the 2000 National Championship team and scored the winning touchdown, was drafted into the NFL before graduating. With one game short of qualifying for the NFL retirement program, he broke his leg.
His dream was to eventually coach college football, but without a college degree he was out of luck. That’s when founder Jakie Sandefer and Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. stepped in and helped.
Jerry made contact with the head coach at Houston Baptist. A plan was made that allowed Quentin to volunteer for the football program in exchange for an administrative scholarship so that he could attend Houston Baptist and take classes that would allow him to transfer to OU. After a year and a half and with the help of board member Teresa Turner in selecting transferable classes, Quentin was able to transfer back to OU and complete his degree. He now works as a running back coach in Blinn Community College in Brenham, TX.
Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. is interested in making connections with employers that have positions available and are searching for former athletes.
The organization is funded by donations and fundraisers. They recently held an event at Billy Bobs Texas in Fort Worth for an Evening with Barry Switzer & Friends. Their next fundraising event will be a golf tournament, the Barry Switzer Classic, held on Oct. 5 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course at OU.
Jakie Sandefer, an OU running back from Breckenridge, TX, began the movement part-time as he helped athletes on his own and assisted them with their career paths. As the need grew and as the interview process became more complicated over the years, he knew it was time to make it a formal organization with full-time help. Together with help from teammate Jay O’Neal and Jerry Pettibone, Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. was created.
For seven years now, Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. has continued to work with athletes, form partnerships with interested companies, and raise financial support.
The organization is often mistaken for a different group on campus called Sooners Helping Sooners, without the Inc. That group helps current OU students in need or in a financial crisis.
Check out Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc.’s website at soonershelpingsooners.com to learn more about their mission, previous athletes they’ve worked with, future events, and to donate. You can also call their office in the Riverside building off Highway 9 and 24th street in Norman at 405-236-1636. – BSM
Sooners Helping Sooners Vice President Jay O’Neal at an Evening with Barry Switzer & Friends fundraiser.
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