Mason Gray is a former Division I football player at the University of Albany and Robert Morris University. He played three seasons at Albany before suffering an injury and redshirting. Mason then transferred to Robert Morris and played his final collegiate season. After college, Mason played two seasons in the Indoor Football League for the Green Bay Blizzard. Take a look back at this interview with Mason Gray where he talked about the pressures of being a Division I football captain.

As the captain of the team, what are you looking forward to the most?

I'm looking forward to teammates playing together and playing for one another, not seeing individuals.

Is there one part about being the captain of the team that makes you nervous?

Having to do the right thing all the time because your teammates are watching can be scary. If they see you slack, they will do the same.

What advice can you give to athletes who want to work towards being a captain of their team?

Work your hardest to do everything right. Be on time for team activities and it will put you on the right path.

Do you think it's best to have one captain of a team or two captains?

Two or more captains are the best. This allows players to relate to the team in different aspects and gives different perspectives on situations.

How do you balance being the team leader and being friends with the team?

It's challenging, but you have to let them know it's not personal. What happens on the field and in the locker room is to make the team and each other better.

Is there an athlete, past or present, that you try to take some of their leadership skills from?

No, I do not; I like to pave my own road. I do things that I believe are right, not what I see others do.

What is the funniest thing that happened to you on the football field?

Getting cut (blocked in the legs) in a game, and the first thing hitting the ground was my face, and I had a lot of turf beads in my face and mouth.

Image Credit: Robert Morris University Athletics