Like ALL things in life, any position of influence over subordinates or younger participants is first and foremost to focus on that specific position. Any mentoring is to be within that realm, by default. Obviously. Without question.

Whether in science, engineering, athletics, music, business, law, linguistics, etc... Any general life mentoring can naturally come in the flow of that. Great professors or coaches or managers will weave general advice here and there, but they primarily fulfill their role as __________. That is what they do, and that is the relationship with the subordinate.

I wrote about this subject a year ago because it struck me as odd either how Mendenhall emphasizes it, or how people vehemently defend the philosophy. I'm not really sure how much Mendenhall specifically still advertises this, but it seems like he has in the past and many people defend it as such.

I don't have a definitive horse in this race as I'm removed from any recent red meat, but I'm not sure why people so ardently defend the role of a FOOTBALL coach to act as a life mentor. If it happens, thats fine, but we shouldn't be hearing about it. Its in hearing about it and the emphasis on how unimportant football is in all things life that makes us question it because no one else talks like that from a professional position.

"Is there any other entity on campus that is extracurricular that downplays its own importance since there are other things that are more important in life in a similar way?"

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=11699439