Football Student-Athlete Spotlight: Ike Iwunnah
10/26/2023 6:44:00 PM | Football
Balancing life as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan is no easy task. In this series, U-M football players who are getting their business done on the field and in the classroom are spotlighted as a credit to their work ethic and organization. Get to know them better as students by learning what subjects, experiences, teachers, professors, and lessons have impacted them most during their academic careers in this Student-Athlete Spotlight Series.
By Maeve Everett
Q. As you consider your time remaining as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan, what do you want your legacy to be off the field and on?
Ike Iwunnah: I want my legacy to be for everyone to know that I came here and made a positive impact. I want people to know that I accomplished and succeeded in my goals -- dominating on and off the field, in classes, and in the games. That's what my goals are. I haven't completed them yet, but I will by the time I leave, and I hope for everyone to remember me that way.
Q. Outside of your athletic achievements, what are you most proud of during your time at the University?
II: I'm most proud of competing against all different types of players from around the world. Everybody on this team is top-notch and super diverse in their skills, so I'm proud to go against them each and every day. It's this adversity that helps me and my teammates get better.
Q. What has been the important skill that you have developed in your time at Michigan and in achieving your academic goals?
II: The most important skill that I have developed is to always have a calm mind. I've learned just how crucial it is to think through everything you do since each of your actions can not only affect your own life but also others. It's the same on the field. You must know what you're doing and have a clear mind, so you won't do anything irrational. Off the field, in class, you must be extremely focused and lock in when your teachers are talking. It's important to understand what lessons they're teaching so you can be the best student-athlete. I learned this over time and through individuals such as Claiborne Green, Kevin (Lubrano), and Shea (Seitz). All of them combined have taught me to think through my actions and decisions.
Q. What is your biggest goal for the academic year?
II: My main goal is to continue to get good grades and be eligible to play on the field. I also want to get my second consecutive Academic All-Big Ten award.
Q. What is some advice you would give an incoming freshman, or someone interested in attending the University of Michigan?
II: Always get tutoring; it's key. There will be times when you don't understand a lesson or get confused in class. Doing everything by yourself isn't reasonable at times, so you will need others to help you. Use the resources available at the University of Michigan because they're special to have and can help you do whatever it is you want to do. If you think about it, our coaching staff is a resource that we always take advantage of, so it's important to do the same on the academic side with our tutors. To be honest, I used to think I could do it all on my own. But I realized that if you don't want to fail, you need tutoring. It's OK to ask for support; it allows you to be successful in the classroom. Don't be afraid to ask for help because it will only benefit your academics. It's important to take advantage of the resources that are available at the university.
Q. What was the best school field trip you ever went on?
II: The best field trip that I've ever gone on was the team's spring trip last year. We went to Washington, Ohio, Gettysburg and New York. Before that trip, I had never been out of Texas except to visit Nigeria, but that was a long time ago. Washington, D.C., was a cool experience, especially seeing all the monuments and the Capitol. It was impactful to be right there, taking in all the history and learning about all the leaders who helped shape this nation. I also really liked seeing the Statue of Liberty; that was awesome. I'm not going to lie, there were a lot of birds. The seagulls were scary; I thought they were going to drop down on us or something. Looking back on the trip, it was a really unique and impactful experience that I will remember for a while.
Q. What is your favorite memory for elementary or middle school?
II: My favorite memory from middle school must be the first time I put on pads. My dad signed me up for football because he got sick and tired of me lying on the couch. When we first got our pads, I put on everything -- the headgear, helmet, jersey and tape. I remember having to run laps around the football field for one reason or another. In the middle of that, I stopped completely and fell to my knees. My dad and the coach at the time had to come over to me and physically pick me back up. After practice, I got in the car with my dad, and he asked me if I liked football. I told him, "I love it." From that point on, football has been my life. I love the feeling of working hard and playing on the field. That feeling has kept on rolling since that day.
Iwunnah
Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular clubs or leadership activities?
II: I'm not involved in too much outside of football because of the time commitment. However, I have participated in the VICTORS program. The program was established for student-athletes to better themselves through professional development and community service. Through VICTORS, I have had the opportunity to take courses on financial literacy and sleep recovery, as well as get involved in community service efforts around Ann Arbor. The financial literacy course was particularly cool. I enjoyed learning about what a 401(K) is and how to respect the money that I have. The workshop has allowed me to have a lot more knowledge and control over my spending habits. I wish I could do more, but football takes up most of my time. It's hard to find a balance between my academics, the sport, and my extracurriculars. However, people like Kevin and Shea really motivate me to make the best use of my time. They encourage me to go to the academic center and focus for certain periods of time. I feel pretty confident that I have been able to find a healthy balance across all of my commitments.
Q. In addition to your professors, who have been the most influential people in your academic career?
II: As I've mentioned before, individuals such as Kevin, Shea, and Claiborne have continued to help me lock in on my academics and not fall behind. I appreciate all the help they've given me over the years.
Q. What has been your most memorable academic experience?
II: My most memorable academic experience has been getting good grades and appreciating how my academics can play a huge role in my eligibility on the field. I'm also very proud to have received the Academic All-Big Ten award. It felt good to be recognized for my accomplishments beyond football. It gives me lots of motivation to know that if I can perform well off the field, I can also perform well on the field. It's all about finding a healthy balance between the two.
Q. What has been your favorite class or two and why? What professor has had the greatest impact?
II: The most influential professor I've had is Ronald Woods. He's a great and funny guy with a lot of good stories. The course he taught was AAS 250: Law, Race, and the Historical Process. The specific parts of history that Professor Woods chose to teach were super impactful and vividly outlined the sacrifices that had to be made for us to get to where we are today. You could tell how passionate he was about the subject and just how much he wanted us to feel the same.
Q. What is your favorite book and podcast?
II: My favorite book is Hoop Dreams by Ben Joravsky. It's a book about the Fab Five and covers all parts of the journey they went on to achieve their goals. I've also watched the documentary. Both did a great job capturing the moment and showing how the team was able to make an impact on the entire university.
