{"id":54,"date":"2012-11-29T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=54"},"modified":"2026-08-28T08:56:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:56:04","slug":"beavers-football-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/beavers-football-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecampus flexibility helps OSU football players stay on track"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cummings, Gwacham thrive in Oregon State’s online courses, making them better able to focus on a storybook season<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Obum<\/div>\n

Obum Gwacham is an Oregon State sophomore with a newfound reputation as one of the best students among Pac-12 Conference football players. (Photo by Jesse Skoubo \/ Corvallis Gazette-Times)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Life is uniquely demanding when you play for one of America\u2019s best college football teams. Practices become more intense. Games take on a higher level of importance. The ESPN spotlight shines brighter. \u201cFriends\u201d ask for more tickets.<\/p>\n

And, lest we forget, there\u2019s that little thing called classwork.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the most important aspect of the college equation, obviously, and when Oregon State wide receivers Kevin Cummings<\/a> and Obum Gwacham<\/a> and their teammates aren\u2019t writing the next chapter of OSU\u2019s storied football season, they\u2019re buried in their studies.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s often easier said than done. Being a college athlete is equal to having a full-time job, what with practices, games, travel, workouts, film sessions and so on. It\u2019s helpful, then, when the academic component can evolve to help prevent players from falling behind in the classroom.<\/p>\n

Nothing has spurred the evolution of higher education quite like online learning, and Gwacham and Cummings \u2013 with ringing endorsements from other Beavers players \u2013 quickly realized the benefits of taking online classes with Oregon State Ecampus while pursuing degrees in campus-based programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talked to other guys on the team who are business majors like me, and they told me it can be hard to fit (traditional) classes into your schedule,\u201d said Gwacham, a sophomore and native of Nigeria. \u201cThe alternative was to take online classes, so I took an anthropology class to get a feel for things and really liked it. After that I determined it was something I should keep doing, especially during football season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mix-and-match method is working perfectly for him. He\u2019s in three Ecampus courses this fall and one on-campus class,\u00a0and in mid-November he was named to the Pac-12 Conference\u2019s Football All-Academic Team<\/a> as an honorable mention.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Kevin<\/div>\n

Junior Kevin Cummings is one of the Beavers’ primary receiving targets, having caught 26 passes for 313 yards the past two seasons. (Photo by Andy Cripe \/ Corvallis Gazette-Times)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

You\u2019d have a hard time convincing diehard OSU fans that Gwacham\u2019s honor was more impressive than the Beavers beating two nationally ranked opponents this season, but Cummings says coach Mike Riley stresses academic success just as much as the on-field variety.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the first thing he talked about when my family met him. Obviously he brought me here to play football, but he wants us to come out of college with a degree that means something,\u201d said Cummings, a junior from Culver City, Calif.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe talked to me about the business program specifically and how going to school at OSU was a really smart move for the future and the opportunities it will provide. The online classes are a big part of that for me now.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the popularity and quality of online education soars, it\u2019s likely that student-athletes at Oregon State \u2013 and nationwide \u2013 will take advantage of the benefits it provides.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome student athletes take Ecampus courses because of the amount of time committed to their sports.\u00a0Sometimes a class may be offered at one time only, and it is in the middle of practice,\u201d said Megan O\u2019Quin, an academic counselor within OSU\u2019s athletic department. \u201cWhen there is an online option, it can give the student an opportunity to keep moving forward in his or her degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cummings and Gwacham, who have each played in all 12 games for the 13th-ranked Beavers (9-3) this year, are on track to graduate. And they were able to transfer the same dedication they showed in the classroom to the practice field this summer.<\/p>\n

The goal was simple: Erase the memories of a 2011 season that resulted in a 3-9 record. Even Gwacham is a little surprised at how well it\u2019s paid off.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected huge things from us this year, but I didn\u2019t think we would, at any time, be ranked one of the top 10 teams in the nation,\u201d he said, referring to OSU\u2019s season-high ranking of No. 7 on Oct. 21. \u201cThis summer was huge for us because a lot of us hung around. \u2026 We worked out every day, and we were able to build that bond.\u201d<\/p>\n

OSU is fresh off a 77-3 victory over Nicholls State on Dec. 1, a game in which Gwacham and Cummings each caught a touchdown pass. One game remains on the schedule \u2013 a Dec. 29 date with No. 23 Texas in the Alamo Bowl, and that leaves open the possibility that the Beavers can claim just the third 10-win season in team history.<\/p>\n

Coupled with their academic success, that makes this season\u00a0\u2013 one that put the program back on track after recent pitfalls\u00a0\u2013 all the more enjoyable for the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year sucked\u00a0\u2013 losing all those games and the stress involved with all the losing,\u201d said Cummings, \u201cbut this year is so much better because everyone became serious about winning. We all brought a new level of intensity, so I\u2019m not surprised with how well we\u2019re doing. It\u2019s been a great year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Cummings, Gwacham thrive in Oregon State’s online courses, making them better able to focus on a storybook season Obum Gwacham is an Oregon State sophomore with a newfound reputation as one of the best students among Pac-12 Conference football players. (Photo by Jesse Skoubo \/ Corvallis Gazette-Times) Life is uniquely demanding when you play for … Ecampus flexibility helps OSU football players stay on track<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[673],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-S","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1594,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/cfl-players-association\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":0},"title":"Canadian Football League Players’ Association taps Oregon State as its exclusive U.S. provider of online education","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"November 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University and the Canadian Football League Players\u2019 Association have announced a collaboration that provides CFLPA members access to the university\u2019s top-ranked online education with support from a tuition benefit program. The agreement gives hundreds of active CFL players the opportunity to advance their education in one of more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A black football helmet and a white football helmet, each bearing the logo for the Canadian Football League Players' Association, rest on a table. The CFLPA and Oregon State formed a collaboration to help professional football players earn their degrees online.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/cflpa-online-learning.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/cflpa-online-learning.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/cflpa-online-learning.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/cflpa-online-learning.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1703,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/jacquizz-rodgers-osu\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":1},"title":"Life comes full circle for OSU football legend, graduate Jacquizz Rodgers","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"March 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Jacquizz Rodgers is one of the most beloved and accomplished sports figures in Oregon State history. Since he arrived on OSU\u2019s Corvallis campus in 2008, he has piled up the accolades: NCAA All-American, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, workhorse NFL running back. And now? College graduate.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jacquizz-rodgers-main.jpg?fit=744%2C495&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jacquizz-rodgers-main.jpg?fit=744%2C495&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jacquizz-rodgers-main.jpg?fit=744%2C495&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jacquizz-rodgers-main.jpg?fit=744%2C495&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":339,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/tom-casey\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":2},"title":"Home is where the heart is","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"October 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A former football coach, Tom Casey has worked in the student success business for more than two decades at various colleges and universities across the U.S., helping students on and off the field.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tom Casey partially sits on a table in the Oregon State University Valley Library with his hands folded in his lap.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/tom-casey-desk.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/tom-casey-desk.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/tom-casey-desk.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1973,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/steven-jackson-dei-fund\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":3},"title":"Former NFL standout Steven Jackson creates greater diversity for a stronger OSU","author":"Cathleen Hockman-Wert","date":"February 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Former Oregon State and NFL running back Steven Jackson \u2014 who now serves as an OSU Foundation Trustee and on the advisory board for OSU\u2019s director of athletics \u2014 made a gift to create the Jackson Family Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund. It aims to help Oregon State pilot a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/steven-jackson-OSUF.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/steven-jackson-OSUF.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/steven-jackson-OSUF.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/steven-jackson-OSUF.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1298,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-master-of-public-health-student\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":4},"title":"Online Master of Public Health program helps health systems administrator advance his career","author":"Becky Barrett","date":"December 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Zach Harris can see himself working in the executive-level management of a healthcare system. He\u2019s an administrator in charge of ambulatory services at Queen\u2019s Health Systems in Honolulu, Hawaii. To make it to the C-suite, Harris is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree online from Oregon State University \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Zachary Harris, Master of Public Health student with Oregon State Ecampus, stands in front of the Queen\u2019s Physicians Office Building II in Honolulu, Hawaii.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/zachary-harris-master-public-health.jpg?fit=744%2C483&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/zachary-harris-master-public-health.jpg?fit=744%2C483&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/zachary-harris-master-public-health.jpg?fit=744%2C483&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/zachary-harris-master-public-health.jpg?fit=744%2C483&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1213,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/oregon-state-phpa-collaboration\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":5},"title":"Oregon State becomes exclusive provider of online education for professional hockey association","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University and the Professional Hockey Players\u2019 Association announced today a collaboration that provides players and their family members access to the university\u2019s top-ranked online degree programs with support from a tuition reimbursement plan. The alliance makes OSU Ecampus the exclusive provider of online education in the U.S. for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hockey players face off with a puck on the ice between their sticks.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/hockey-players-news-main.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/hockey-players-news-main.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/hockey-players-news-main.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/hockey-players-news-main.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}