The Shadow
University of Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage was the guest speaker at Covington High School’s Fall Athletic Awards Banquet.
Littlepage first came to the Charlottesville campus in 1976 before leaving in 1982. He returned to Virginia in 1986 and has been there since, serving the last nine years as the athletic director.
Littlepage was introduced by longtime fried and former CHS basketball coach Garland Jefferson – who serves as the godfather of Littlepage’s second child, son Murray, who is a junior at Radford University.
“Craig Littlepage is someone that I consider as an all-time best friend,” said Jefferson to those in attendance. “He was not only my friend but was my mentor when I first arrived at the UVa. campus in 1976. Craig always seemed to have a kind word for me.”
Littlepage became the first African-American athletic director in Atlantic Coast Conference history. He was named the Black Coaches Association’s “Athletic Administrator of the Year” in 2003 and 2006.
He was also listed on Sport Illustrated’s list of the 101 most influential minorities in sports in 2003 and 2004. In March 2005, Littlepage was named one of Black Enterprise magazine’s “Most Powerful African-Americans in Sports.”
Littlepage talked of two major topics in his speech – the “MORE” generation and failure.
“We’ve had the baby-boomer generation, the hippy generation and the love generation (which Littlepage noted that Jefferson was part of). I consider today’s generation to be the “MORE” generation,” said Littlepage.
“You have more means of communication, more means of transportation, more styles of clothing, more entertainment, more everything.”
Littlepage started with three questions for the “MORE” generation.
What are you going to do with all this stuff you have?
Littlepage said, “More given means much more is expected. Use the abundance of this stuff to benefit you and those around you.”
Littlepage also made reference to a quote that Dr. Martin Luther King always used, “human greatness is best exemplified by serving others”.
The second question he asked was where will you go and who will you take with you?
“The two best ways to exert human strength is by pushing down or pulling up,” state Littlepage. “It is imperative that everyone have the obligation to help save lives. It’s the small things in life that make the biggest differnce.
“Whether it’s comforting a friend, mentoring a young person, or a simple hello, how are you?,” Littlepage added.
Littlepage’s third question, how are you going to define success?
“Distinguish between defining success and measuring success,” said Littlepage. “Success is what gives your life meaning. Each of us has to come up with our own definition.”
Littlepage defined his definition his definition of success as having the love, support and respect of his family.
“My career would be a failure if I didn’t have that,” added Littlepage.
Littlepage said that his second topic of discussion – failure – is the most common experience of all the most successful people in life.
“We as parents do not do our job in preparing our children for failure,” said Littlepage.
Littlepage noted that while all people fail, some fail bigger than others.
“Anticipate failure because it is inevitable,” said Littlepage.
“Sometime throughout your life you will fail. Whether its losing a game, a loved one or a business. . . . You will fail “And know that when this happens it is going to feel like a big kick in the gut,” added Littlepage. “Just know that you have to quickly pick yourself up. Don’t just hit the reset button. We grow as humans by learning from our mistakes. You will never grow as a person if you keep hitting the reset button.”
Littlepage closed with leaving the CHS athletes with seven things to remember.
“1. Don’t be overwhelmed by material things,” said Littlepage. “2. Do things that count. 3. Make sure you pull someone along with you, never leave anyone behind. 4. People come first, value people more than anything.
5. Don’t be quick to reset. 6. Anticipate for life’s setbacks and realize that they are not fatal. 7. When you fall – and you will – just keep getting up. It’s always more fun than staying down.”
