Troy Viola started playing t-ball, a simplified form of Baseball, when he was four years old. “Baseball has been pretty much my entire life. I am looking forward to taking one step further and getting drafted this year into the Major League of Baseball.” The ride has not been easy, he has been in four different colleges in six years. “At every step I was getting in somewhere better, after San Jose State I got the opportunity to go to a bigger stage and in a better competition. So, I took the opportunity.” He committed to Purdue University. During his Senior year, he decided not to play. “I made my decision in January and the season started in February.” Viola started conversations with other colleges but the season was just starting. They didn’t know the money availability for the next season, nor the players' performance. 

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A day in his life combines everything that comes from being a student, plus the workouts and practices. The Baseball team counts with an academic advisor who sets up individual calendars, and keeps track of all their homework. “They want to see us succeed, not everything is about sports, academics matter. 1% of the athletes are going to go pro, the rest 99% are going to be getting a job out there, and if you don’t get good grades, or you don’t finish college you won’t get a good job. It is a bit more challenging being a student athlete than people think.” 

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"Baseball is a game of failure, you fail more than you succeed. Taking that into my game has been a big part of my success"

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Purdue proporcionates all the amenities they need: an updated waiting room with workout equipment, a nutrition center, an indoor facility for winter, and trainers always available for them. “We have some of the best facilities in the country. We are pretty spoiled when it comes to facilities. We have everything we need to succeed.” 

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When it comes to the treatment between female and male student-athletes, “everyone gets the same access to everything.” However, when it comes to fans' support, “Males draw more attention,  which is unfortunate because I know how hard women work here to be at the highest level that they are.”  

 

The third baseman considers that Purdue media is “at the top of it”. “They go to all the events and take pictures and videos of everyone, and they make sure they send it to us when they get it. I don’t think that one or the other gets more media attention.”