Mordecai Cargill

NAME: Mordecai Cargill
SCHOOL/MASCOT: Yale University/ Bulldogs
SPORT: Football
CLASS: Sophomore (2013)
CURRENT CITY: New Haven, CT
HOMETOWN: Cleveland Heights, OH
BIRTH DATE: 04/24/1991
AGE: 19

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'1 / 215
POSITION: Running Back

 On your sport...

HOW LONG HAVE YOU PLAYED? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PLAY?

I've been playing football practically all my life. I didn't start playing organized football seriously until 9th grade. I wanted to play football after watching Nate Clements play for Shaker Heights in the late 90s.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY?

ANYWHERE in Cleveland, Ohio. If not there, then The Yale Bowl vs Harvard.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER? WHY?

At risk of sounding conceited, my favorite number is whichever number I'm wearing.

WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER YOU?VE PLAYED WITH AND AGAINST?

I can't pick a best, but the ones i remember have all been teammates. Paul Rice, Jake Stoller, and Travis Henry at Yale. Mike Edwards, Travis Freeman, Jonathan Newsome, Marcus Hall, and Davon Coleman at
Glenville. Justin Chappell, Julius Cartwright and Andon Daniels at University High School.

DO YOU HAVE A PRE-GAME RITUAL? IF SO, WHAT IS IT?

I always lay out my entire uniform in front of my locker before the game. Once I'm dressed I eat skittles before I leave the locker room.

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL?

I chose Yale because of the balance between school and sports. The people connected to the athletic department are extremely passionate about sports but not so much as to lose sight of the importance of education. Yale was the right fit for me.

IF YOU DIDN’T  PLAY YOUR SPORT, WHAT SPORT WOULD YOU PLAY?

If I didn't play football I would definitely be playing basketball. The
hoopers get all the hype.

WHAT IS THE WORST EXPERIENCED YOU'VE HAD? WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

Losing to St. Ignatius in the second round of the playoffs my senior year. I really haven't learned anything from that experience because I've tried to repress the entire game. I haven't even watched it yet.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN INJURY WHILE PERFORMING YOUR SPORT?

Luckily i've only been injured twice playing football and none of
them have been serious.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

I don't have a greatest accomplishment yet, so I have a much more work to do.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? WHY?

My most memorable moment is walking out into the Yale Bowl for the first time this year. It was one of the most gratifying feelings I've felt to this point. I felt like all my hard work in high school paid off.

HOW HAS YOUR SPORT HELPED YOU BECOME WHO YOU ARE TODAY?

Football has molded me into the person I am today. The values i've learned in practice, such as determination, discipline, and aggressiveness, transcend the practice field and have become part of my approach to life.

HOW HAS YOUR FAMILY REACTED TO ALL OF YOUR SPORTING SUCCESS?

My family has always been supportive of my dreams regardless of tangible or perceived success. My dad has been to just about all of my games since I started playing sports. He even drove to a number of my games this year.

 Behind your sport...

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

In my spare time I'm watching sports, listening to music, and relaxing.

NAME 3 FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW

1) I pray constantly
2) I have 3 pairs of the exact same shoe

3) I almost always have candy with me

DO YOU HAVE A PET PEEVE? IF SO, WHAT IS IT?

Passive Aggressiveness.

FACEBOOK OR TWITTER?

Both. Follow me @MCargill28

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? TV SHOW?

My favorite movie is New Jack City and my favorite TV show is Family Guy

PS3 or XBOX?

Xbox without a question!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT COLLEGE?

Freedom and the meal plan

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

The eyes. They're the window to the soul

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?

"Make no small plans, for they have no power to stir the souls of men" Victor Hugo

WHO IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON YOU'VE MET? WHY?

The most influential person I met, I've known my entire life, and that person is my father. We talk everyday, and each time we talk he offers advice that helps me in my development as a man.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE THE MOST?

Integrity

WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR?

I'm still undecided.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU REGRET OR WOULD TAKE BACK IN YOUR LIFE?

To date, I have no regrets.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR SPORT WHAT ARE YOUR VISIONS/GOALS IN LIFE?

My only goal in life is to be happy. The rest will work itself out.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?

In five years I will be a Yale graduate in my second year in the NFL.

Final thoughts...

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING THE DORM RUMOR?

I'm honored. I really support what Mylan's doing as editor-in-chief. I think Dorm Rumor is a great idea and much needed.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE TO ANYONE READING YOUR STORY?

Work hard and dream big. Nothing is impossible. Some things just haven't been discovered yet.

WHAT WILL YOU CONTINUE TO STRIVE4?

Success and Happiness

 "An Ivy League Inspiration"

By: Mylan Murphy via Global Grind

If you were given a chance to attend an Ivy League School, how would you feel? Do you think you could handle it? Would you even consider it? As we all know, when it comes to academics; attending an Ivy League School is as big as it gets!!! Everything about attending an Ivy League School is extremely rare and difficult. Let alone, the simple fact of being able to apply and be considered for acceptance into whichever school it is.
Well, out in New Haven, Connecticut at Yale University, there is a young, black, football player by the name of Mordecai Cargill who is basically proving every person that said he couldn’t succeed wrong. Just the simple fact of saying he is an Ivy league student is enough satisfaction for one to have, but Mordecai hasn’t even let that get to him one bit. He has remained humble and focused with his mind on one thing in life; HAPPINESS!

Although Mordecai is a Division I athlete, there is 1 major thing that separates him from all other D1 athletes… Being at an Ivy League school, they are unable to receive athletic scholarships! Meaning, Mordecai isn’t on a full ride as most of the Division I players across the country may be. This isn't a bad thing by any means! This truly shows the love and passion of Football that Mordecai has within himself. To turn down full ride scholarships from other universities because he truly cares about his academics that much; really brings out Mordecai’s inner being! With these 3 major goals on his mind for this upcoming season/school year, you’ll understand what I’m talking about:

1.    Follow through and stay committed to all the things that I start.
2.    Have more discipline in practice, weight room, class, and my studying.
3.    Be more spiritually grounded… Pray, meditate, and chill.

However, don’t think this is “all” about academics, because it’s not! Mordecai Cargill is the starting running back for Yale and is on his grind on the football field! He told me that he sees himself playing in the NFL in 5 years, and he’s planning on doing whatever it takes to get there! So you can take my word, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HIM!!!

The Ivy League consists of these 8 institutions: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. I almost guarantee, not many of you could name any Ivy League student-athlete before you read this article… It's ok, I could only name a few... Their rare and very special… Now, you can watch and say that you know about Yale University Running Back, #28 Mordecai Cargill.

Follow Mordecai's athletic career at http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-11/bios/cargill_mordecai