It all starts with football for Kansas University senior Mike Rivera, an outside linebacker whose trophy case grows more crowded by the minute.

The way he plays football makes him a recognizable name on campus, which enhances his ability to become a student activist. It makes him eligible for All-Big 12 academic honors. It pays for his room, board and tuition. It makes him a desirable participant to land for charitable causes.

Rivera’s ability to play football grants him a platform. What he does with it offers a greater window into the man.

The student body voted in April 2006 to approve a $6 million boathouse for the KU rowing team that will be located at Burcham Park along the Kansas River. The affirmative vote meant an increase in fees for students, the vast majority of whom never will lay eyes on the boathouse. How in the world was such support generated?

“That was Mike and his group recruiting the students to vote,” said Mike Harrity, director of student-athlete development. “It was like a political campaign. It was wild.”

Tackles aren’t the only things Rivera, a vicious hitter, sees through to the end.

Harrity mentioned Rivera and fellow linebacker Joe Mortensen as players particularly active in carrying the torch of the likes of former defensive tackle James McClinton as student-athletes generous with their time in helping in the community.

Mortensen, the team’s middle linebacker, and starting outside linebacker James Holt, joined Rivera recently at a table at the HyVee on Sixth St., signing posters and chatting up anyone who came to the table. The cause was Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a pediatric cancer foundation. Mortensen and Rivera talked about how much they enjoyed recently helping out with a Special Olympics event.

“I’m definitely trying to get everybody involved,” Rivera said. “It’s a lot of fun. We do a lot of good things. It’s definitely important to do well academically and in the community. It says a lot about a person. If you don’t do well off the field, chances are you’re not going to do well on the field.”

One athlete from each NCAA Division I, II, and III school was invited to participate in the 2008 National Student-Athlete Developmental Conference on May 27-29 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Rivera was selected to represent Kansas.

“It was pretty awesome,” Rivera said. “We talked about a number of issues, race and religion included. Also, everyone is going to be a professional in something other than their sport, so we talked a lot about career development.”

An aggressive football player forever in the middle of the action, takes a similar approach to student activism.

“The biggest thing is being involved and knowing what’s going on around your campus and in the community,” Rivera said. “There are a lot of things you can get involved in, things like student senate. You should want to be involved in decisions that will change the school years down the road.”

A two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention football player and a two-time recipient of conference academic honors, Rivera has been an instrumental in the change for the better of KU football.

In the media guide, Rivera lists “the pain and punishment” as the best parts of football. On the field, he dishes out plenty of both. In the community, he tries to have the opposite effect on the lives of those less fortunate.