Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Rashada Feasting to Fast, Showing Discipline on and off the Field
11/15/2002 12:30:00 PM | Football
"I'll get up before sunrise around 4:30 a.m. and cook some breakfast. Usually my breakfast consists of scrambled eggs, grits, biscuits and some turkey bacon. After that I can't eat until the sun sets which is after practice. I can't eat, I can't drink (not even water) and I can't chew gum. But coach (Robb) Rogers has been looking after me. When the sun starts to go down, he'll bring me some protein shakes that will last me until after practice. Then I usually go home and pig out."
That is a typical day for Middle Tennessee defensive back Muhammad Rashada during Ramadan. The red-shirt junior is not on some crazy diet, he's fasting for his religion.
Ramadan, as summarized from encarta.msn.com, is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, the holy month of the fasting for adult Muslims. According to the Qur'an (Koran), the sacred scripture of Islam, God requires the fast of Ramadan so that believers "may cultivate piety." The month of Ramadan is particularly sacred to Muslims because the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, during this month.
"Fasting during Ramadan is to help a person grow," Rashada said. But even if it's not Ramadan, I can still fast if I'm going through anything where I need a little more discipline."
Fasting consists of abstinence not only from food and drink but also from smoking, sexual relations, and the inhaling of fragrance. The fasting during Ramadan is a means of fostering piety.
"You have to respect a man who sticks to his beliefs and convictions," strength coach Robb Rogers said. "Most of the failings of any man come from a lack of discipline."
And that's something Rashada doesn't have to worry about. It's that same discipline with his belief that Rashada exudes on the football field every Saturday.
"It takes a lot of discipline to restrain yourself from doing what you shouldn't," Rashada said. "It helped me out because nobody is perfect - and it helps me get through the things that I'm struggling with."
While Rashada may be used to fasting for a month at a time, this is the first time while at Middle that Ramadan has fallen during the football season. Therefore, coach Rogers has kept a close eye on Rashada during practice.
"As soon as five o'clock rolls around at practice," Rogers says, "we will give him a protein shake that will last him until after practice. We just want to make sure he doesn't get hurt."
Practice is one thing, but playing on Saturday afternoon is another. At only 5-11, 174 pounds, the red-shirt junior doesn't require an enormous amount of food for energy - unless you're planning on eating for an entire day at one sitting. That's where the Waffle House comes in. Right next to the team's hotel sits the 24-hour restaurant where Rashada will try to eat as much as a house before the sun rises on Murfreesboro Saturday morning. With game time around 2:30 in the afternoon, it will not end until after the sun has already set, leaving Rashada without having eaten anything since his early morning feast at Waffle House. Coach Rogers will, however, provide plenty of protein shakes at the game the minute the sun sets Saturday afternoon.
So far Rashada's discipline has won over fatigue. And if for some reason fatigue does set in, he is confident that his faith in Islam will carry him the rest of the way.
