Explaining the ‘Just Do It’ generation

Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News American Athletic Institute President and Founder John Underwood addresses a small crowd about the dangers of alcohol and drug use by student athletes in the Cadillac High School Auditorium. The purpose of his presentation is to shed light on social drug use as it pertains to high school athletes.

CADILLAC — John Underwood simply got angry.

When the New York native found out what high school student athletes were doing when it came to drugs and alcohol and how many were doing it, he decided something needed to be done. As the president and founder of the American Athletic Institute, Underwood has dedicated many years to the education of athletes on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. What he told the more than 30 students, parents, coaches and administrators in attendance was what he found in New York is not isolated and, in fact, is widespread across the nation.

“We need to look at the area of student athletes and social drug use. It’s bigger than steroids,” he said.

Although he gave the presentation to the 30-plus people in the Cadillac High School Auditorium, he also gave a presentation during the day at Baker College in Cadillac to area coaches and administrators. The message was the same.

One audience member was Cadillac football coach Jim Webb. Webb also attended the Underwood’s second presentation with his son.

“His organization (AAI) has been influential in the State of New York bringing athletic code, policy and expectations on one page,” Webb said. “That is very instrumental in trying to curb undesired habits and achieve everyone’s goals and maximizing every athletes’ performance.”

One thing that stuck with Webb from the presentations was making sure that as a coach or a parent the student athletes are held accountable for their actions. He also said in his opinion a lot of people would rather “stick their heads in the sand” than face the truth.

“The toughest things we can do as parents or as a coach is to look for it, address it and make sure our athletes or sons and daughters are held accountable,” he said. “Really that is pretty point blank.”

Underwood is a former NCAA All-American, International-level distance runner and World Masters Champion.

He has coached more than two-dozen Olympians. The American Athletic Institute has begun a nationwide initiative to take a harder look at increasing the severity of sanctions and consequences against high school student athletes, who are involved as the ringleaders in underage drinking.

For more information about AAI log on to www.americanathleticinstitute.org.

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