Bowling Green basketball ‘hype-man’ taking on new role as Division I SAAC chair
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BVM) — When you watch a college basketball game, there are always one or two guys at the end of the bench who never play, yet may be the most popular players on the roster. They get their team hyped, the crowd pumped up, and if they get to enter a game and touch the ball, the fans go wild.
Ethan Good has been that guy for Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) basketball team over the last four years. But the walk-on has done more than just hype-up the program during his time as a Falcon, becoming an integral part of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well.
The Wapakoneta, Ohio, native first took up the sport of basketball in third grade, in addition to baseball, soccer, football, and roller hockey.
“My parents always tell me I came out of the womb with a ball in my hand,” Good said with a laugh. “I just loved every sport and particularly enjoyed basketball because of the fluidity and constant movement of it.”
Good attended Wapakoneta High School, where he lettered on the hardwood in three of his four years playing. He was also a team captain and named a first team all-conference player in his senior year.
But Good’s favorite high school memory comes from when he scored a career-high 31 points in a game versus rival school, St. Marys. Prior to the game, a St. Marys’ player posted a tweet saying he would score 30 points on Good’s team, which motivated the senior to instead return the favor.
Several Division III schools reached out to Good about playing college basketball, but the 22-year-old has always set his sights to the highest level, and that’s what ultimately led him to BGSU.
“My mentality has always been to get in the biggest pond you can get in and see how far you can grow rather than enjoy being a big fish in a small pond,” Good said.
Good quickly realized what was asked out of a college basketball walk-on player: someone with a good attitude, a person who will boost the team’s culture, and a player who will stay out of trouble. Already an unselfish person, Good relished this role and thrived in it over the last four years.
The BGSU grad enjoyed his time as a Division I college basketball player, getting to experience unique opportunities like traveling to Italy and the Virgin Islands. But in general, Good just simply loved his team. He only scored nine points in his college basketball career. But his role as the Falcons’ “hype-man” never went unnoticed.
🚨HUGE GAME TONIGHT🚨@3thangood is here to show you how to cheer at the @BGSUMHoops game tonight!https://t.co/4bkTJnUUmZ pic.twitter.com/fHu0dgE15l
— BGSU Athletics Marketing (@BGScreechTeam) March 6, 2020
“All my teammates were crazy good athletes and players and it’s special to watch them go cook other people on the court,” Good said. “Being the team’s hype-man was a lot of fun but it’s something I did — not because people noticed it, but because it was the right thing to do for my teammates.”
Good also had a few special moments while actually on the hardwood for the Falcons. Each time he would enter the game, let alone score, the crowd would go absolutely wild — returning the hype for him that he always made sure to give his team.
“It was fun and freeing,” Good said about playing. “I went 1-13 in my career from deep but the one that I hit sounded like a game winner with all the people cheering for me. I was so flattered and it’s always encouraging when your teammates are just as excited for you as you are for them.”
But Good’s contributions during college have gone beyond what he has done on the bench or court. As a freshman, one of Good’s teammates was involved with the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He suggested Good join the group, and things only took off from there.
Good was initially involved as a member representing the Mid-American Conference (MAC). At the beginning, Good claims he was not necessarily the most outspoken member, or one with the best ideas, but he enjoyed listening and giving feedback when necessary. By his sophomore year, Good was asked to be part of the MAC’s executive team.
With no men’s basketball players on the committee at the time, Good’s services were highly sought after. He soon became a representative for the MAC at the national SAAC level, while also being on the men’s basketball oversight committee – representing all Division I college basketball players.
The 22-year-old continued to move up the ranks, eventually getting elected as co-vice chair of the SAAC as a senior. With one year of eligibility left this coming year, Good was elected Division I SAAC chair.
In his role, Good sits as a student-athlete representative on the Division I Board of Directors. Good represents all student-athletes at the Division I level, and also collaborates with the Division II and Division III chairs. In addition, he meets with 32 student-athletes from each of the 32 Division I conferences to get updates on what is going on from each league.
“I’m very honored and very proud,” Good said about his role. “It’s just one big discussion about what we should be doing and how to do it. We’re really excited and we hope to get our committee out there to let people know that there are student-athletes representing other student-athletes in the NCAA.”
The BGSU grad feels a mix of emotions about representing all Division I student-athletes “depending on the day.” Good specifically cites the current state of college athletics due to COVID-19 for creating a stressful time in his role.
“It is maybe the worst time in history to represent student-athletes right now,” Good said. “That’s no knock on them because I’m also torn on these decisions. With COVID involved and all kinds of debate on whether or not to play, it’s really tough and not easy on anybody. But I’m still extremely grateful for this opportunity. If there weren’t challenges it wouldn’t be any fun.”
Despite the challenging times, Good remains upbeat and uses his unselfish attitude and personality in each situation in his role. He credits those under him, specifically those currently in the vice chair positions, as absolute assets to SAAC as a whole.
Good and the rest of the members of SAAC have several goals they would like to accomplish in the near future. Some of these include being at the forefront of the name likeness conversation, allowing student-athletes to transfer one time without penalty, addressing diversity and inclusion, and placing a greater focus on the mental health of athletes.
Of course, the uncertainty of whether or not fall sports will be played continues to rage on as well. Many conferences and leagues among all levels have postponed fall sports to the spring. But some, including Power 5 conferences like the SEC, ACC and Big 12, are trying to play this fall. Like many, Good is torn on the decision citing that there are still so many unknowns of the coronavirus, but not playing also affects athletes’ opportunities and future career possibilities.
The 22-year-old graduated from BGSU with a degree in neuroscience. But he is now down in Tempe, Ariz., to get started at Arizona State University. Good will now study sports law and business, and hopes to find a future career in the field.
While Good’s role is to impact others, he can not ignore the impact SAAC has had on his life as he plays out his final year with the committee.
“SAAC has had a massive impact on my life,” Good said. “God had a plan that was bigger than the one I had. I didn’t know what SAAC was when I came into college but I just got involved with it and ended up where I’m at. The experiences and opportunities that I have had through it are super impactful. I’ve met some of my best friends through SAAC and it’s a great organization — I’ll vouch for that any day.”
Good found something that has allowed him to have a positive impact on his peers while also having a tremendous influence on his own life. With a bright future ahead for the 22-year-old, he hopes others can see his story and choose to do something in their lives to make a difference, no matter the capacity.
“To anyone who’s on the fence about joining an organization, the fence means not,” Good said. “If it’s knocking on your mind, pursue it. Life is short and you won’t know until you try. We learn more from our failures than we do from our successes. My biggest thing is to take risks and although the failures will taste sour in the moment, they will taste sweet in the long run.”
