Aurora University Athletics

Throughout the 2020-2021 year, the Aurora University athletic department will highlight the senior student-athletes. The seniors will provide some insight to their time at AU while getting to know them as individuals they have grown into in their time as a Spartan.
 
Senior Spotlight: Bobby Daniels (Football and Men's Basketball)
Sports: I play football here at AU, and I also have been a part of the basketball team as being the manager for my freshman and sophomore years and now the student assistant coach as a junior and senior.
Major: Special education with a minor in history at the secondary education level.
What are your plans after graduation? My plans for after I graduate school is to get a teaching job somewhere in the Chicagoland area, as well as getting into coaching basketball and a possibility of either football or baseball.
What is your most memorable/best academic experience at AU? My most memorable academic experience that I have had at AU was making relationships with my teachers who are a part of my major that have helped me and guided me throughout my years of learning the subject and help me prepare to be a good teacher in the future. Also, being named to the dean's list and a scholar athlete numerous times throughout my time here.
What is your most memorable athletic moment at AU? I would say the most memorable experience athletically I have had is winning the conference during my 2019 football season as a junior and going to the national tournament to play St. Johns and being a part of a great team full of guys with the right attitudes and goals. Also, throughout my years of being a part of the basketball team, going to the national tournament for two years and being a part of the conference winning teams my sophomore and freshman year. Also creating a bunch of relationships with my teammates and coaches were a big impact of my 4 years here at AU.
Other than the sport(s) you play; what other sports activity are you good at? I played baseball, basketball, and football since I was 5, so baseball and basketball are two other sports that I think I am good at.
Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? Outside of sports I love to work out and lift, play basketball in my driveway with my little brothers and friends, hang out with friends, going on adventures, and I also enjoy playing video games and watching movies/ tv shows.
What is your favorite meal in the cafeteria? My favorite meal in the cafeteria was probably a cheeseburger and a salad.
What AU faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you and why? She may not know it, but my special education teacher Mrs. Garriott has had a big impact on my time here at AU because as being my junior mentor and giving me a bunch of advice on teaching and guiding me through my academic journey my Junior and Senior year. Also, my football coach, Coach Beebe, has had another big impact on me in a bunch of different ways from a coaching standpoint and the perspective of life and how to go through life and be a better man.
What do you enjoy most and least about practice? I enjoy most about football practice is the constant fun that we had on a day in and day out basis. The atmosphere and environment that we create is the best part of practice because it always translates to having the best time and always having fun. Practice is something that most athletes don't like but we all make it something that we look forward to at the end of the day. There is nothing that I really dislike about our practices.
Do you have any pregame rituals? I normally get to the field really early to start throwing, then I normally go back into the locker room and watch a little bit of College Gameday and the 11:00 games at the division 1 level, and also listening to my game day playlist.
What advice would you give to underclassmen at AU? Keep up on your academics and stay flexible with your classes because if you are doing bad in the classroom, then you won't be able to play if you are in a sport.
If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? I can listen to the song enter sandman by Metallica on repeat forever because it is probably the best song from this band and one of the most famous and popular songs in the sports realm. I can listen to this song before games, when I am doing homework, and when I am lifting or even when I am in the car driving.
What is something that people may not know about you but should? I am a very picky eater.
If you could spend an hour each with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why? Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and John Wooden. I choose these three because of the competitiveness and mentality of MJ and Kobe, and the coaching legacy of Wooden and being able to learn from him on why he was so successful.