Charles Mann Receives College Degree
All-Time Redskins great Charles Mann spent 12 years in the NFL terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, along the way winning three Super Bowl rings. Mann left the University of Nevada early before graduating so that he could take advantage of his chance to be drafted in the NFL. The Redskins drafted him in the third round of the 1983 draft and never once regretted it.
A member of the Redskins “Ring of Fame”, and the “80 Greatest Redskins”, Mann went on to play 10 seasons in Washington, 4 of which he went to the Pro Bowl. In 177 games in the NFL, he recorded 83 sacks.
A few years back Mann started to regret not finishing his degree even though his life was full of success.
In an interview with the Post’s Dan Steinberg, Mann said, “he never thought about taking classes during his NFL career after that first attempt at George Mason. As time went by and he started racking up Pro Bowl appearances and sponsorship deals, a college degree seemed less important. But he began considering it again six or seven years ago, when he started wondering if he might have a future in politics, and if that would even be possible without a degree.”
Seeing Camille graduate in 2010 pushed him over the edge.
“As happy as I was for her that day, I was sad for me,” Mann said. “I said, ‘Wow, she completed something that her dad never completed.’ And it just stuck in my craw, and I wanted to do something about it.”
“I’ll be right there, cheering him on,” his youngest daughter Casey said. “My dad never starts something and doesn’t finish it. There was no doubt he was going to finish. I didn’t know when, but I knew there was going to be a graduation for sure.”
Mann found some contacts associated with Strayer University and saw he still needed 24 credits for a degree. That led to three years of night school, a time in which Mann says he only received a couple of B’s, mostly A’s. Saturday, at the Verizon Center, he was the keynote commencement speaker earning his degree 32 years after first leaving school, graduating cum laude.
Congrats Mr. Mann!
Below is a collection of Twitter posts from Saturday:
Football pro & SU grad @CMannVentures ready to take the stage w/ SU Pres @BriWeJo & Dr. Plater at DC’s Commencement pic.twitter.com/kFitPshXf0
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
Always a good time for a #StrayerSuccess selfie with @CMannVentures and @BriWeJo! #StrayerSuccess @verizoncenter_ pic.twitter.com/hwO3r092Il
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures shares that our #grads are warriors who overcame obstacles. RT to celebrate their #StrayerSuccess! pic.twitter.com/D8nYBShbH6
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures– Tip #1: Words from Steve Jobs: Don’t let the noise of other opinions drown yours out. #strayersuccess #strayergrad
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures : Tip #2- Live in the moment. #StrayerSuccess #strayergrad — Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures :Tip #3 Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal. #Strayersuccess — Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures : Tip #4- Listen to hear and not to speak. #strayersuccess
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures : Tip 5 – If you accept failure as an opportunity to learn, it will change your perspective. #strayersuccess
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures: Tip 6 – Do more than what is required. #strayersuccess — Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures : Tip 7: Have the dedication of a soldier, the discipline of an athlete and the diligence of a farmer. #strayersuccess — Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015
.@CMannVentures: And Finally Tip 8 -Live from the grave out. Live the way you want to be remembered. #strayersuccess pic.twitter.com/hIYWVDx7nk
— Strayer University (@StrayerU) June 27, 2015