Impact Of A Scholarship: Mitch Suplee
Emma Neubart, umterps.com Contributing Writer
12/15/2022
Mitch Suplee was a stellar offensive lineman coming out of South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland, in 1987. While he received several football scholarship offers from some of the best football schools in the nation, his heart never strayed from his roots in Maryland.
The decision to play football for the Terps was never in question and was a dream come true.
"Maryland was my home state school. I wanted to represent the state when I played college football," Suplee said. "I've always wanted to play for the Terps."
Maryland was my home state school. I wanted to represent the state when I played college football. I've always wanted to play for the Terps.Mitch Suplee
Before falling in love with football, Suplee started his athletic career as a baseball player. However, as he got older, he realized that he could no longer hit curveballs and found that football better lent itself to his physical abilities. In addition, he was immediately invested in the contact of the game and the camaraderie of being a part of a close-knit team. Football was Suplee's calling; from then on, he never looked back.
During his time as a Terp, Suplee took charge as a leader on and off the field. As his career continued to shine, he began to receive recognition and respect from his coaches, peers, and teammates for his level of play, leadership, and professionalism.
While being a four-year letter winner and three-year starter, Suplee was voted by his teammates as one of the Terp's tri-captains his senior season. That same year, he was also named second-team All-ACC.
"There are two types of players. There are those that earn their scholarship and those that steal their scholarship, and I feel that I earned my scholarship," he said.
Football and the generosity of the Maryland donors really sort of propelled me to be able to go to college number one, and number two, have a successful career in business and send my kids to school also.Mitch Suplee
Suplee gives a lot of credit for his success on the field and in the classroom to his head coach Joe Krivak. He also adds that his offensive line coach, a University of Maryland class of 1977 Alumni, John Zernhelt, was a significant influence on him and had a great impact on his career as well.
Suplee has countless wonderful memories during his four years at Maryland. He particularly enjoyed his major in criminal justice and all the classwork and lectures he experienced within that major.
One of Suplee's fondest memories on the field was the Terps' victory against the University of Virginia in 1990, where they defeated the Cavaliers 35-30 on the road. The win allowed Maryland to play in the Independence Bowl against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Terps beat the Cavaliers again the following season as well.
"If there are two teams we always loved to beat, it was Virginia and West Virginia," Suplee stated.
Suplee valued every minute he had on the field with his teammates; however, it's the times he had with his teammates in the locker room, on the sidelines, and even just walking around campus that he misses the most.
Being part of the team helped transform Suplee's mentality and life going forward.
"I learned that it's not about me, it's about us," he said. "When you play with 115 or 120 guys, all of who you consider your brothers, you feel like you're never alone. So, things that we face in life that we think we can't do by ourselves, we can certainly do with the support of our teammates, friends, and family."
Suplee cherished his time as a part of the team and values his relationships with his teammates, whom he still keeps in contact with today.
Suplee also does everything he can to keep up with the UMD football culture and continues to radiate Terp Pride everywhere he goes. During the football season, you can find him in the stands at a game or in the parking lot tailgating with friends, former teammates, and his family.
"I enjoy coming back to campus and telling stories about how great we used to be," he shares.
The University of Maryland, more specifically the donors, provided Suplee with opportunities that altered his life path and gave him an education and memories he would not have been able to obtain elsewhere.
His scholarship provided Suplee with the opportunity to go to college. Without it, Suplee saw himself enlisting in the United States Navy, following in the footsteps of the other male members of his family.
"(Going to the Navy) wouldn't have been a bad path for me, but I was called to play football and go to the University of Maryland."
Receiving a football scholarship changed Suplee's life and paved a new path for his family.
He was able to not only achieve a college experience himself, something he did not always expect to be able to do, but he also utilized his education to start his own business Suplee Contracting, LLP. With his successes, Suplee was also able to provide his children with an opportunity to pursue their college experiences as well.
Suplee is grateful for everything he has received from this community and seeks to give back wherever he can.
"Football and the generosity of the Maryland donors really sort of propelled me to be able to go to college number one, and number two, have a successful career in business and send my kids to school also."
