Wednesday, March 7, started off like any other day at Stony Brook. Students milled around the SAC lobby gossiping, grabbing a bite, or rushing off to class. But the energy quickly changed around 3 PM when hundreds of students, parents and little children all dressed in matching jerseys and caps packed the SAC lobby in a line that spanned several yards out the doors. There was a rush of excitement in the air as the people on the line chattered away about meeting their idol. Suddenly, there were shouts from the line. Someone yelled, “Look there he is. He’s here!” Students bent over to see who it was and the little children started jumping up and down to catch a glimpse.
In strolled into the SAC was recently retired NFL running back for the New York Giants, Tiki Barber, flanked by several policemen. People broke free of the line and charged towards him hoping for a picture with him and a chance to get their Barber jerseys signed. He obliged, smiling charismatically, before making his way upstairs for a quick press conference. The lucky individuals who had gotten their jerseys signed made their way back to the line, having had their dreams come true. Soon thereafter, people on the line were let into the auditorium to grab a seat for Tiki Barber’s lecture. The auditorium was packed and people waited anxiously for the program to start. It didn’t come fast enough.
When Tiki Barber was introduced, the audience clapped and clapped for several minutes and flashes from cameras went off in every direction. He smiled and waited patiently for the excitement to die down. He thanked the audience for their gesture and started speaking. His speech centered on how to become a better person, student, and leader – and what it means to inspire others. He drew references to his own life, explaining his commitment to education as he attended the University of Virginia and also his commitment to football as one of the team players on the Giants.
Barber spoke about excellence, “It starts inside every one of us. It means dedicating your life to continuous improvement,” he said. He added, “You will make mistakes. Those don’t matter. What matters is how you respond to them.” Barber went on to speak about the four major doctrines of success and what it meant to weave those into your life. Those dogmas included perseverance, hard work, sacrifice and dedication. He spoke of the importance of education and mentioned that it was of his mother that he excelled at football and school because he wasn’t allowed to play football until he finished his homework.
He gave advice to members of his audience to become the best person that they can become and added that in order to be successful, you must be prepared for it. He spoke on his life after football and his dreams to become a broadcaster. That dream is already in the works, he will be starting on the “Today” show on NBC in April. He ended with letting his audience know that he’s done with football but now has a new goal in life. He wants to find out about the world and expand his knowledge, find fulfillment and passion.
After his lecture, a question and answer session ensued where the audience asked him questions. Barber answered them graciously, doling out advice whenever he could. At the end of his lecture, he thanked the audience graciously and received a standing ovation. Soon after, an auction was held and items including a signed football and pennant auctioned off for almost $300. SBU certainly welcomed Barber with open arms.
