NAIA Player Podcasts Sheds Light on the Inner Workings of a College Athlete

What started out as some emails back and forth between administrative staff with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has turned out some pretty compelling and interesting ventures. 

As a former NAIA player with York College in Nebraska, my heart will always be with the school that gave me the opportunity to become a starter during my four years. The NAIA provided me an opportunity to live my dream while becoming a better person in the process. 

Nearly a decade after my college career came to an end, my ties with the NAIA still continue. 

I was approached by the NAIA about speaking on my experiences during my time with York, why I chose to play in the NAIA and how it shaped me as a person. I was thrilled to be able contribute to their site with a retrospective called NAIA Student-Athlete Rewind: Devon Teeple, York College. 

It received some very good reviews, and I was extremely pleased with how it turned out. 

A couple of months went by, and yet another opportunity with the NAIA presented itself when I participated in the first ever NAIA Podcast. It was a chance to speak to past, present and future NAIA students about my college experiences, what I like most about college sports, what I liked most about my college teammates/college team and other opinions on the college game. 

This has led to multiple Podcasts featuring numerous athletes from a variety of sports. The PLAYNAIA Blog where this is featured is a platform that allows the student athletes to speak candidly with the sports organization that has allowed them to fulfill a lifelong dream.

It is of particular interest to me because it is a personal touch that you may not find at comparable outlets.

The blog's 'about' section contains its mission statement, which states, “The PlayNAIA Blog is dedicated to sharing the student-athlete experience with our readers. NAIA student-athletes past, present and future all have a story to tell, and we wanted to provide them a fun place to do just that! Join us as we explore the inside scoop on the NAIA!”

For those interested in the NAIA, which stresses not only sports as a career but one that will prepare you for life after the cheers have stopped, I highly recommend checking out the PLAYNAIA Blog and taking in a podcast during your visit.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective

Devon is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals& Gateway Grizzlies, and is now an independent scout.