Schlossberg’s Transition Theory in We Are Marshall

Schlossberg’s Transition Model What is a transition? Types of events Anticipated, unanticipated, non-event, positive, and negative The 4 S’s Situation Self Support Strategies

Characters in We Are Marshall Nate—surviving team member Tom—surviving team member Reggie—freshman on team Annie—her fiancé died in plane crash

1st clip Plane crash

Plane Crash Unanticipated Self Support Strategies Not predicted or scheduled Self Effects everyone differently Psychological resources available? Support Friends and family Strategies Coping methods

Clip 2 23 mins-26 mins: University administrators discuss with Nate that they’re planning to suspend the football program, as it takes years to build a strong football team and program; Tom and Nate discussing the rebuilding of the team, Tom doesn’t want any part of this

Positive/Negative unanticipated event Growth through transition Beginning to cope with event Positive for Nate Reaching out to freshmen players Feeling like he can play football again Negative for Tom Realizes he doesn’t want to play football Agrees with administration

Clip 3 47:50- 49:00 :Nate goes to Tom and says they have a coach, reflects on their freshman year and how they’re best friends, Tom is struggling with the fact that he wasn’t with the team that day at the game b/c he overslept and he feels guilty b/c he should’ve been there.

Negative Nonevent Tom should’ve been at the game and on the plane but he wasn’t Strategies How is he coping with this? Negative He is not going back to team, even though Nate is being supportive

Clip 4 1:09:34—1:10ish/1:11ish: new recruits who live with Reggie open up the beers that he’d bought 5 months ago for the team to drink

Unanticipated/Positive Event Reggie didn’t expect to be able to move forward Coping Shows how Reggie & Nate are coping differently Reggie Moving on/forward with his life Nate Still having trouble, didn’t want to hang out with new recruits

Clip 5? 1:16--: first football game of the season, Annie and Tom are listening to it on the radio from far away shows they’re still in transition, not comfortable/okay with everything; the team loses 1:21-- : one of the new recruits threw down the jersey and Reggie and Nate get in a fight with him and tell him to be respectful

Unanticipated Event Community did not expect them to play Tom and Annie still aren’t comfortable with it They are transitioning though as they listened to the game Team loses

Clip 6 1:23—1:25/ 1:26-1:27 Nate is hitting everyone hard in practice, taking his teammates out hard

Transition Shows how he is coping with it Coach is supportive Feels alone Tries to fight through pain of shoulder injury Coach is supportive Lets him know he’s not alone Shares his trouble Social/relationship support

Clip 7 1:39—1:41Annie is walking with Chris’s dad talking about California; he is encouraging her to go and talking to her about grief 1:59: Annie driving in her car going to California, summarizes where everyone ended up

Potential Non-Event She’s always thought she would go to California, now she’s questioning Could be a positive change for her They talk about dealing with the event

Clip 8 1:44-1:45 Coach takes them to graveyard and reminds them/talks to them about the plane crash and tells them to play with their hearts

Transition/Coping Shows how far the team has come Reminds new players to honor those lost Served as closure for Nate and Reggie Tom still not involved with football

Clip 9 1:49: Nate has taken a few hard hits and he can’t play anymore b/c of his shoulder. Coach supports Nate and says he’s done enough and that he team is together b/c he never stopped pushing

Nonevent Nate thought he would be able to play, but he can’t Coping, dealing with tragedy Support from coach

How can we utilize this in Student Affairs? Being aware of students transitions How they can happen, different types, etc. Serving as support systems