Gonzaga University senior takes on the Questions

Each week, CatholicSportsNet.com will be getting to know a new student-athlete from around the country, by asking him/her a series of 20 questions - some in-depth, some lighthearted - that will provide insight into the thoughts and personalities of the men and women who are doing great things on and off the courts, fields, tracks, and courses.

Gonzaga University senior Francis Santiago is one of five members on the Bulldogs men's golf team and is currently a Finance and Marketing major in the classroom, where he maintains a 3.72 GPA.

Santiago, who finished 16th at the Kaua’i Invitational earlier this season, attended Bishop Blanchet High School where he was also a USGA Junior Amateur qualifier.

1. How did you choose the college you attend?

I’ve always gone to a private Catholic school ever since Kindergarten, so I wanted to continue the strong academics that I have received throughout my life and Gonzaga University is one of the best.

2. What is your favorite part of college athletics?

We get to travel all around the United States, something I most likely would not have done had I not played college golf. I’ve got to see the White House, gone to Hawaii a few times and got to visit Notre Dame and watch a football game. Just an amazing opportunity and truly blessed to visit some of the places that we have gone

3. How do you balance academics and your sport?

I’ve really had to learn how to manage my time well and efficiently. I’ve had to learn how to study on the road and be able to budget my time doing homework, practicing, and spending time with my friends. It’s been a lot of work, but well worth it.

4. What is the hardest part about being a student athlete?

Missing so much class is very tough. Luckily our tournaments are usually Monday and Tuesdays so we’ll fly out on Saturday or early Sunday morning to get in our practice round. So we don’t miss as much as other teams but still it’s tough to study on the road because with golf, it’s an all day event and you are just exhausted by the end of the day. So it’s tough to sit down and grind out some homework when you would much rather just lie down in bed and watch some television before going to bed at 10.

5. What do you do for fun when you aren’t in class or at practice?

Spending time with my friends and the team, as well as, playing sports such as basketball or football.

6. What is the best characteristic that you bring to your teammates?

Hard work. I take pride in the time I put in working out, practicing, and preparing for tournaments. I want to know that I have put in the time needed to get ready for the tournament and my teammates know that I work hard. Pushing the guys in the weight room can be tough but it’s good to see them get after it on days they really don’t want to.

7. What does your team do as a pre game ritual?

Our captain, Kyle Huus, typically plays some music on the radio or on one of the guys’ ipods in the car. We don’t have a specific song to listen to, it’s just whatever we feel like listening to that day. Besides that it’s just going to the course 45 minutes to an hour before our tee time and hitting putts to get the speed of the green and hitting shots on the range just to get loose and see what type of shot you are hitting that day.

8. What music do you listen to before a game?

Whatever Kyle decides to put on the radio.

9. What role does your faith play throughout school, games, and practice?

Going to Gonzaga and going to a private Catholic school since Kindergarten, I’ve really had a strong religious curriculum throughout my academic career. During games and practice, when days are going to well, I just trust that God has a plan for me and that things will usually turn around soon. One of my favorite quotes from a golf book I’ve read numerous times is, See it, feel it, trust it. See his face, feel his presence, and trust his love. It’s something I constantly say to myself throughout the day especially when things are going rough.

10. Favorite pro team to watch?

My favorite golfers to watch are Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler, I also like to watch the Miami Heat and the Seattle Seahawks.

11. What is your coach’s best quality?

His overall personality is awesome. He’s encouraging when he needs to be and get’s on us when we deserve it. I can always count on him to say something that’ll make the whole team start laughing. He was one of the strongest contributors for me wanting to come play at Gonzaga because I wanted to play for a coach like that.

12. Why is a team captain(s) so important to the team?

Kyle Huus is a great captain, he leads by example with his game and attitude during practice. But he’s always good for a few laughs. He keeps the team loose telling jokes and stories about anything and everything.

13. How does your team handle defeat? What do you say to your team after a tough loss?

Defeats are tough, but our team handles them well. We usually put in extra hours of work the next week to get ourselves ready for the next tournament coming up. We are able to look back at what we did wrong and during that next week or so before our next tournament we’ll work hard on those aspects of our game. After a tough loss I’ll tell the boys that it’s alright, we just have to work a little harder this next week and we’ll get ‘em next time.

14. What is your favorite pre game snack?

I like eating a banana, calms down the stomach a little.

15. Favorite movie quote?

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.” -Gladiator

16. What advice do you have for young student athletes as they decide where to go to college?

Make sure you find somewhere that you love. If you don’t love the area, the school, the people, the team, and the coach, you’ll find it tough to enjoy the experience as much as you would if everything about the school feels right. Don’t just go to a school because it is the best team or because it has all this prestige. Find a school that you will enjoy going to and that’ll be your best fit

17. Best smart phone app?

Angry birds

18. How do you think your involvement in college sports and academics will benefit you when you begin to look for a job?

It will show that I have the ability to manage my time well and that I put 110% in everything that I do.

19. What does it mean to play athletics for a Catholic college?

It means a lot to me and my family. They were very excited to see me go to a strong Jesuit institution, let alone be able to play golf for them.

20. What is your proudest athletic achievement?