Nov. 1, 2011

Tulsa, Okla. - Carl Stones, a senior distance runner on the Golden Hurricane men's track and cross country team, was selected by The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Student Services Staff as the Student-Athlete of the Month for November.

The Tulsa Student-Athlete of the Month award is given to a TU student-athlete that has a notable positive attitude towards school and is working hard to improve and excel as a student. The student-athlete must have outstanding character and integrity, contributes outside the playing arena, and be nominated by a coach, tutor/mentor or athletic administrator.

The men's cross country team recently won their third Conference USA Championship in the last four years. Stones led the Golden Hurricane with a fourth place finish (24:01.5).

"Carl has contributed to our team's success since he got here," Head Coach Steve Gulley said. "He is one of those guys who puts in 100 miles a week and gets better every year. Carl is a good diplomat on the team; he keeps the guys focused and is a great leader by example."

"Carl exemplifies what a student-athlete should be. He has integrity, character, is a team player and most importantly strives to do well in school, as well as in his sport." - Melissa Dawson, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services

Q & A with Carl Stones
Why did you choose TU?
Out of all the schools I looked at, Tulsa had what I thought was the best mix of athletics and academics. I really got along well with the team when I visited and Coach Gulley was the only coach to offer me anything more than a book scholarship. I appreciated that faith and all things considered it was an easy choice.

What are your career goals?
After I finish here I will be looking to apply toward physical therapy schools and see where to go from there. Ideally I would like to go into PT but I've changed my mind before.

What do you do in your spare time (other than schoolwork and practice, workouts, etc.)?
Spare time isn't really a word that we hear a whole lot with three different seasons during the year, but I guess we get some here and there. The team is pretty close here so a lot of the time we get away from practice we usually spend time hanging out. Personally I enjoy being outdoors so things like disk golf are big for me. I like to go backpacking during the summer, but I don't really have time for that during the school year.

Who do you look up to and why?
I'd have to say my high school coach, Andy Jackson. He's really the reason that I'm running in college. He actually put off his retirement for a year to coach me through my senior year and see me all the way through. He's one of those guys who said everything that he was thinking and I respected him for that. He also had some of the longest hours I've ever seen anybody work. Up at 5 am to teach driver's ed and usually not back home until after 6 or 7 because he stayed after to coach football as well. Despite all of that, he never did anything half hearted with us and we were all really lucky to have him as a coach.

Do you have a role model or someone you look up to?
As for a role model, my older brother, Dan, was someone I always looked up to when I was growing up. We were total opposites in terms of our choice of activities in college and high school, but he taught me a lot and continues to do so.