Frank, feted<\/header>\nLast January, Monmouth\u2019s Student Athlete Advisory Committee organized a fundraiser for cerebral palsy\u2014which they tabbed Frank Strong\u2014to recognize and celebrate their peer. During a men\u2019s basketball game, Delaney was called out to center court, where he was joined by the entire Hawks football team and given a rousing, standing ovation by the OceanFirst Bank Center crowd.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n
Now in his fourth and final season with the Hawks football program, Delaney walked onto campus his first year as a student living with cerebral palsy who strived to continue performing managerial duties for a football team. Next spring, he will leave campus as a friend to many, an invaluable team member, and a college graduate. Above all, he\u2019ll depart more determined than ever to pave the road to his future and become an asset to a new team in the professional workforce.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy every day to the fullest because I know that I may never work at another job like this one,\u201d says Delaney, a communications studies major. \u201cI am nervous about getting hired after I graduate, but I\u2019m confident in my skill set and what I have to offer. I have learned a lot from my professors and experience with the football team, and feel I\u2019m ready for more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delaney attended nearby Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, where he began serving as that football team\u2019s manager as a sophomore. Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan and assistant Brian Gabriel learned about Delaney from the Rumson staff and welcomed him to the Hawks football family his freshman year.<\/p>\n
Working for a Division I football program is by no means a relaxed gig. Practices are intense and meticulously planned to the minute. Reliability is shared by each member of the crew to keep the vessel moving forward. That dependence spawned a heightened sense of independence for Delaney. He took ownership of his responsibilities and developed essential skills in time management and working in a group environment. Most important, the experience strengthened his self-confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was overjoyed that he was welcomed so heartily by the football program,\u201d says Anne Delaney, Frank\u2019s mother. \u201cHe has experienced tremendous growth at Monmouth and his involvement with the football program played a huge part. Coach Callahan holds student-athletes to a high standard, and Frank became even more motivated by those standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over time, Delaney became a familiar face and staple figure in the Hawks\u2019 program. Incoming players and newly hired student managers look to Delaney to find their way. Returning players see him as \u201cone of the guys,\u201d and several have taken inspiration from his resolve and fortitude.<\/p>\n
Like every college senior, Delaney entered his final year at Monmouth with great anticipation tempered by shades of anxiousness. The uncertainty of where his feet will comfortably touch down to stride forward is sometimes consuming. His objective, however, is clear and concise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want a full-time job with a salary and benefits,\u201d said Delaney. \u201cMy goal when I came to Monmouth was to graduate in four years and have a grade point average over a 3.0. I\u2019m on track to do both. I can\u2019t control what people might think of me, but I am confident in my abilities and work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dream job for Delaney would be to work in communications or marketing for the NFL. For now, he is happy to provide messaging to those in need, free of charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was scared going into college because I didn\u2019t know what to expect,\u201d says Delaney. \u201cSo, my best advice to anyone entering college would be to take chances and get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, just give it a shot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Student football manager Frank Delaney is ready to tackle whatever challenges life throws at him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"image_focus":"{\"x\":51,\"y\":30}","hide_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[94,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletics","category-play"],"thumbnail":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2018\/10\/Frank-DeLaney-ANTHONY-DEPRIMO-200x300.jpg\")
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