The Voice of Reason
October 03, 2001 | Football
Jim Sorgi has a busy voice.
On autumn Saturdays, the Fraser, Mich., native is busy barking out audibles above 80,000 screaming fans as one of the Badgers' two quarterbacks. Every other day of the week, Sorgi exercises a different kind of voice - one that represents the best interests of student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin.
'He has involved himself in more than just football, ' former UW Athletic Board chair David McDonald said. 'He's assumed for himself the role of spokesperson for student-athletes' interests. '
Appointed to the Student Athletic Advisory Board by head coach Barry Alvarez, Sorgi became the football team's representative last year. According to their mission statement, the SAAB is a group of student-athletes addressing issues confronting UW student-athletes, including legislative, administrative, and team-related concerns.
As a member of the SAAB, Sorgi exhibited strong leadership and voiced his opinion well. Sorgi's efforts earned him the respect of his peers and he was nominated as the SAAB's vice-president last spring. A seat on the UW Athletic Board is reserved for the two SAAB vice-presidents and it offers a chance for student-athletes to bring their thoughts and concerns to the members of the athletic board.
In Sorgi's first athletic board meeting last spring, the determined SAAB vice-president voiced his opinion on the state of the advisory board. Sorgi 's sense of duty and responsibility was more than evident in his vision to make the SAAB more organized and to bring more student-athlete concerns in front of athletic board. It will be a challenging task on a campus that receives less than four percent of the student body vote for its own government [the Associated Students of Madison].
'It's very hard to find a lot of people who are willing to make the time commitment that is necessary to do the type of research that you need to be a successful advocate for student interest or student-athlete interest, ' McDonald said.
It is even tougher for student-athletes who are already crunched for time with classes, practice schedules, competitions and travel. McDonald added that there are many people who want to do the right thing, but get caught up in their respective competitive seasons.
A pre-business major with all the time constraints of football, Sorgi acknowledges that the combination of classes, practice and meetings on his calendar can be rough at times. But Sorgi denies that he has placed too much on his plate.
'It's something I want to do, or otherwise I wouldn 't do it," Sorgi said. 'Just because you're in a sport doesn 't mean that you can't take on an extra activity, especially a meaningful one.'
Clearly one who has mastered his own time-management skills, Sorgi is frustrated at times by low turnouts at SAAB meetings. Sorgi noted that SAAB meetings offer student-athletes the opportunity to voice their opinions and rally for change.
'I want the student-athletes to have it as good as they possibly can,' Sorgi said. 'But if we don't get good showings at the meetings, we don't know what other athletes want.'
As Sorgi discusses his appointment to the SAAB and his new duties as its vice-president, his words are steeped in purpose and insight. It is clear that his voice for the student-athletes on campus is respected and just as important as his voice on the football field.
'How he identifies with the student-athlete rubric; he has taken that seriously,' McDonald said. 'He does show a vision and has spoken out about mobilizing SAAB.'
'He's a guy that you want representing your program,' UW quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton added.
In representing UW student-athletes, Sorgi is a unique addition to the athletic board. Traditionally, student-athletes from sports such as track, golf, crew or volleyball have sat in Sorgi's current position.
'It's very rare that we see a representative from a high profile sport,' said McDonald, who served on the board for eight years before becoming the Special Assistant to the Chancellor this year.
And as a quarterback on the football team, Sorgi is one of the highest profile student-athletes on the highest profile sport on campus.
'Hopefully when people look at Jim and they see the way he carries himself, conducts himself, they'll realize that he's more than just a football player,' Horton said. 'I think people will be impressed with him by the way he handles himself.'
Jim Sorgi has a strong voice.
Calling out plays from the line of scrimmage on the Camp Randall turf takes a strong set of lungs. But while the ability to change a direction on the football field does involve a powerful bellow, the ability to direct change involves much more than vicious yelp.
'To be a quarterback, you have to be a great leader, ' Horton said. 'The players and coaches have to believe in you. '
Sorgi's selection to the SAAB exhibits the respect coaches and players have in him. Last season, Sorgi earned the respect of the fans. Against Michigan State, Sorgi replaced an injured Brooks Bollinger and threw a last minute pass to receiver Lee Evans to defeat Michigan State and avoid a 0-4 start in the Big Ten. The next week, Sorgi made his first career start against then-Purdue Heisman Trophy hopeful and current San Diego Charger Drew Brees. The Badgers fell to the Boilermakers 30-24 in overtime, but Sorgi performed well, completing 21 of 29 passes fro 243 yards and two touchdowns.
This season, Sorgi has not faltered. Sharing time with UW's starting QB Bollinger in leading the Wisconsin offense, Sorgi has displayed self-control, guidance and leadership. And it is a leadership that transcends the football field. The same qualities that make Sorgi one of the leaders of the Badgers make him a successful student-athlete representative.
'Being able to see the big picture, being able to make quick decisions, being able to get us to the right situation,' Horton said. 'You have to be able to make good decisions on the football field and good decisions off the football field.'
Sorgi noted that the transition from the turf to the table is easy because in each situation, everyone is working toward the same goal; everyone is trying to succeed. He understands that when he's on the field and in meetings he has a voice that people are going to listen to and respond to.
Jim Sorgi has a leader's voice.
'He's willing to speak on issues that he cares about,' McDonald said. 'On a lot of committees like [the athletic board], the student [representative] can feel intimidated or drowned out. I don't think Jim is in that position.'
Sorgi credits his parents Jim and Gail for the leadership ability he possesses and gives special recognition to his father. An ever-present figure in his life, Sorgi describes his dad as his guardian angel - always teaching him, always making sure he was on the right track. And it was the elder Jim who taught the younger Jim about leadership and responsibility.
'Always accept the blame; accept the criticism,' Sorgi said. 'And deflect the praise.'
A well voiced statement from the leader of UW student-athletes.
