Football and Fatherhood
10/16/2025 2:02:00 PM | Football
Story by: Samantha Roach, Cal Poly Athletics
The typical collegiate athlete focuses on two things: athletics and academics. Within the Cal Poly football team, you can find two unique players who have another responsibility.
Redshirt seniors and defensive linemen Ethan Rodgriguez and Mason Barbour have entered the world of fatherhood while also balancing football and their education.
“It’s been a challenge, but I think football has definitely helped with the time management,” Barbour said.
Both athletes have had their fair share of time in football as they have spent the last five years becoming standouts on the team. In the 2024-2025 season, Rodriguez earned an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention after tying for second on the team in sacks (3) and tackles for loss (9.5). Barbour notched 13 solo tackles and six assisted tackles. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and had a season high three tackles against Montana.
However, they are both fairly new to the life of fatherhood. Rodriguez’s daughter turned two in September while Barbour is fresh to fatherhood with a four-and-a-half-month-old daughter. They have had to learn how to adapt to this new, unpredictable lifestyle.
“My wife and I had no knowledge, but nobody does when they have their first kid,” Barbour said. “You learn as you go.”
As these athletes navigate through bringing a child into this world on top of school and athletics, it can seem like a fast-paced rollercoaster.
“There’s sacrifices and you can’t do certain things,” Rodriguez said. “You got to stay disciplined and mature a lot faster than others at my age.
This season, the team has traveled to four away games ranging from San Diego to Montana, meaning that the athletes are away from their families for an extended period. On top of travelling for games, Rodriguez’s family lives a few hours away, adding onto the hardships.
“My girlfriend is back home doing her nursing program, and I’m up here playing football and doing school,” Rodriguez said. “I just go down whenever I have any free time or whenever I can but it’s definitely challenging.”
Rodriguez is a bioresource and agricultural engineering major, and Barbour is studying civil engineering. These majors require intense time commitments that add to the athletes’ responsibilities.
With Cal Poly being on the quarter system, schedules change quickly and often. This allows certain times of the year to be less hectic while others include packed schedules.
“With football starting so early in the morning, having class until 6:00 p.m. two days a week this quarter and then getting home and giving my wife a break, it’s been tough,” Barbour said.
Football has been a key part of their parental journeys. The demanding athletics schedule has given the players a glimpse into what to expect during fatherhood. Being part of the team has also taught the players to prioritize time management and stay on top of their schedules.
“Everything is so scheduled,” Barbour said. “Our new Teamworks app has our full schedule, everything down to a T. So that really helps with being able to manage and work around that.”
These athletes are not alone when it comes to navigating these challenges. A pivotal role of parenthood for these two is leaning on those around them. Whether it is on or off the field, these athletes know who to turn to.
“Having that support system of my friends, the team and my wife helps,” Barbour said. “My girlfriend and I both have big families that are very supportive and very helpful so that helps out a lot,” Rodriguez said.
Despite the time commitment that comes with football and academics, both athletes have fully immersed themselves in the world of fatherhood and focusing on their children.
“I have a family to provide for, I have a larger purpose now,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a different feeling, it’s just a good feeling,” Barbour added.
