North Carolina State University Athletics
Freshman Year with #RGII
1/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - Reggie Gallaspy II is one of seven new Wolfpack players who graduated from high school early and enrolled at NC State for the spring semester. The youngest of four children, Gallaspy was born in Flint, Michigan and moved to North Carolina when he was in fourth grade.
Throughout 2015, #RGII will share his journey as he makes the transition from rookie to veteran.
Getting Started
Well I’ve been here around two weeks and so far, everything has been real good. The hardest thing to get used to has been the weightlifting so far. School has been pretty good, but it’s been a minute since I weightlifted, so getting back into that has been tough. The first week was really killing me.
I’ve never had a schedule this tight, but I’ve gotten adjusted to it real quick. The second or third day, everything started flowing.
The best thing about being in college is meeting new people. Interacting with new people and different interest groups. Being out in the community, being able to socialize, have fun and just be independent. Just learning how to be a man.
The Freshman 15
It’s amazing the freedom that we get and the new plan the NCAA gave us when we can get unlimited meals is real good, so you can eat whenever you want to eat and pack a bunch of snacks to take back to the room and snack while you watch TV or do your homework.
My stomach has a limit, so when I get full, I pack it up and bring it to my refrigerator. At first in high school, it was hard for me to be consistent with my nutrition. Sometimes I would skip a meal, but coming here you can’t really do that.
I’ve gained a lot of weight with the new meal plan. Coach Kitchings said he wanted me at 210 or 215 with 5% bodyfat. We haven’t hit the body pod yet to see how much body fat I’ve got, but I’ve gained at least 15 pounds since I’ve been here. I was 203 when I got here and now I’m at 218. My mom was shocked.
Missing Home
I live an hour and 30 minutes away, so I can go home if I feel the need. I actually went home this morning to an orthodontist appointment. My mom and I communicate pretty much all day – we text and try to talk to each other every night when I have free time just to see where we’re both at. It’s been a little bit harder for her.
The Workload
It’s a little different that I thought it would be. You’ve got to really stay on top of it. They give you a syllabus but the teacher doesn’t say ‘remember to do this’ or ‘remember to do that.’ It’s just ‘have a nice day’ and you leave and you’re on your own and it’s your responsibility to remember the assignments. You have to set up a calendar. It’s very different from high school, but not hard. The academic support people and one of my former teachers have helped me and given me a couple of tips. My sister also gave me some advice.
The one lesson I’ve learned the hard way is staying on task. I already missed one homework assignment but I got it in so they gave me partial credit. They don’t remind you when it’s due, so I just forgot. And then I did it and forgot to print it off. I was like “Wow. First couple of days in college and I’m already slipping up!” But I’ve gotten back on track so it was a good lesson to learn.
I think I’ve adjusted pretty good to it. My mom asked me if it’s really hit me that I’m in college now and I guess it hasn’t yet. It’s just been real good.
Social Life
I live with Josh Sessoms and M.J. Salahuddin. I want to get my foundation sound before I start doing a lot of socializing.
All of us freshman have a great bond already. Before we even came to campus we already had a good bond. We met on recruiting weekends and really spent a lot of time together at the Florida State game. That’s when we really came together and talked to each other. That’s the day I committed.
We were like ‘Let’s stay home. Let’s bring the title to NC State.’ We just want to come help the guys from Pack14 and the ones who came in ahead of them. Pack 14 came in and did a tremendous job but we still aren’t where we want to be. We want to be the ones to help bring it up to where it needs to be.
The Brotherhood
The old guys are real, real good guys. You watch TV and you see the freshman pranks and that type of stuff, but it’s not like that here. It’s a brotherhood. The guys are worried how you do every day. Worried about your classes and everything. Shad [Thornton] is a real good guy and he’s really stayed on top of me.
