Cornerbacks, by definition, thwart any and all attempts by others to receive. The most talented are seemingly driven by an innate repulsion at the sight of another's gain-or a reception. It is like each ball caught is a premeditated objection to their rightful existence on Earth.
There may not be an \I"" in cornerback, but the position is about the individual. They are out for anything incomplete, intercepted or impeded. But the most important ""I"" is the article meaning ""me,""-which, when focused upon, hints at a disregard for others.
Former Badger and five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and free safety Troy Vincent gave a lot in his career, considering he became successful because he knew how to take away. A cornerback's inherent impetus to keep others down never followed Vincent further than the sidelines; given his means as a NFL player, he saw helping people as a responsibility rather than a choice.
Vincent is a busy man outside football. His intellectual gifts cater toward entrepreneurial success, while the emotional aspect of his personality drives him to set, and eventually reach, humanitarian goals. He learned to merge these two desires. The result: a series of business projects culminating in a thriving and socially-conscious financial services business which provides planning and relief for low-income families.
While this company-Eltekon Financial Services-along with his self-titled foundation and latest community development corporation named ""Love Thy Neighbor"" compose some crowning achievements, he finds time to give back to the university where it began.
Since college, former Badger teammate Mark Mangum has been by Vincent's side. But ""by his side"" is not meant literally, since Mangum never played in the secondary for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles or Buffalo Bills.
""You know those NCAA commercials these days? The ones that say, 'There are 360,000 student-athletes and we all go pro in something else?' Yeah, I'm one of those,"" Mangum explains.
""Preparing for the Game of Life""
Mangum has been the Robin to Vincent's Batman in their four business ventures, handling the legal and financial aspects. Vincent spent much of his career helping those in need.He and Mark dedicated time to UW-Madison student-athletes. The program they started is called ""Preparing for the Game of Life."" They hold a seminar every summer, guiding their listeners-telling them how to take skills that lead to excellence in athletics, and later using them to excel post-athletics.
""It's about teaching life skills and easing the transition after graduation. Not all athletes are going pro-in fact, very few are,"" Vincent told The Daily Cardinal. ""But even being a professional athlete doesn't define you as a person ... It doesn't define who you are as a male or female, athlete or non-athlete at the collegiate level or in the real world.""
Enter Mangum: He focused on success in life after athletic competition. In the spirit of sports metaphors such as ""preparing for the game of life"" Mangum sees a parallel between he and Vincent's respective careers-sharing it during their seminar.
""When Troy goes off to Miami as a first round pick, I ended up being a 'first round pick' with this financial planning firm,"" Mangum explains. ""We showed the parallel where Troy is signing multiple contracts and making Pro Bowls and doing these great things on the field at the same time I am excelling in the professional world as a financial planner.""
He is a bit uncomfortable that people look up to him.
""It's not to toot necessarily my horn or his horn,"" Mangum says. ""It's just to show that if we can do it, and we were in those people's chairs 13 years ago, then they can certainly do the same thing.""
Vincent agrees.
""I don't want students to walk into a stack of bricks after graduation,"" Vincent says. ""You have to be prepared.""
The ""Game of Life"" is based upon giving student-athletes who may lack proper perspective some fair warning so they are ready for what the world has to offer.
""All most athletes know is they get positive reinforcement for playing ball. It's human nature to keep doing what we get positive reinforcement for,"" Mangum says.
For him, it is encouraging that after Vincent and Mangum finished their presentation at this summer's program-which involved some background and highlights of Troy's career, a Power Point presentation and 30 minute question and answer segment with the students-only half of the people that stayed afterwards approached Vincent, while the other half approached no-name-'til-now Mangum who clearly reached as many people as his predictably popular cohort.
Badger athletic department
Vincent and Mangum are not alone in their attempt to prepare UW student-athletes however, as the university's athletic program recognized the potential benefit to such a focus two years ago and started the CHAMPS/Life Skills program which stresses basic points that ""Game of Life"" does. The university also mandates seminars on topics such as sex and alcohol and provides community service opportunities, career fairs and resume workshops. Though UW-Madison shows care for its athletes' future, Vincent and Mangum might have sparked more interest. According to Vincent and Mangum's former Badger teammate Tom Browne, an advisor in the athletic department, the program found its place in the department and may be as helpful as advertised.
""What was great that Troy and Mark really did was they said, 'This is something you all need to be thinking about' and the life skills program is a vehicle for them to explore their career options,"" Browne says. ""Troy is such a great resource; his role as a player representative, his years in the league, the success he has had as a businessman. It also helps that he is part of a company that could actually employ people if they are interested.""
Head coach Barry Alvarez, who coached Vincent and Mangum, thinks the program is on the right track.
""It's our responsibility to help prepare them for when their playing days are over whether it's when they finish playing for us or when they finish playing at the next level. The best way to do that is have someone who has experienced it,"" Alvarez says. ""The point comes across much clearer than a coach talking to you or even a parent doing the same thing.""
The ""Game of Life"" program is a result of looking back-and giving back??-to the school where Vincent and Mangum forged a friendship and a partnership, leading to the completion of their common dream: to re-invest in the next generation and provide people with the opportunities they are each grateful to have received. This very principle is the basis for the program and their business.
Mangum says, ""Troy is excellent at getting to know people and what's important to them-then helping them prepare for one aspect of reaching their goal.""
That is where Mangum comes in-he brings a calculator, Vincent comes with compassion. He added, ""He's not licensed to transact a trade on an account ,but he is a great ambassador for the firm in terms of relationship development.""
Saying Vincent is good at relationship development is like saying Michelangelo was artistic. Perhaps then, Vincent's Sistine Chapel is his relationship with Mangum. Their friendship led to success, the most rewarding being the ability to help those at UW in need of advice.
Vincent and Mangum had a positive impact on the lives of-and receive undying gratitude from-friends and family members as well as clients and fans as a result of their work.
Someday, the two hope to add Badger student-athletes to the list.
