Before beginning his military career and later becoming an astronaut, the Ontario, Calif., native played defensive back for Cal Poly\u2019s football team and wrestled in the late \u201990s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hardest thing that I\u2019ve ever chosen to do in my life was walking in space,\u201d Glover told Armstrong. \u201cThe second-hardest thing that I ever chose to do in my life was wrestling practice with Lennis Cowell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cowell was the head coach of Cal Poly wrestling from 1985 to 2003, when the program was Division II. Glover told Armstrong the practice was \u201cso demanding, but also so rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that just talks about the epitome of the benefit of being a student-athlete,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n
Glover played football for the Mustangs under Andre Patterson, who most recently was the defensive line coach for the New York Giants.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may not have been the fastest guy out there or the most athletic guy out there, but he was going to succeed since he was the best technician out there,\u201d Patterson told the New York Times<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s who he is at his core.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Victor Glover said the second hardest thing he\u2019s ever had to do, after moving in space, was wrestling practice under Lennis Cowell. (Joe Johnston \/ Courtesy of Cal Poly)<\/p>\n Glover continued to speak at graduations, to the Black Student Union, the wrestling team and other students on campus.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team loved hearing from him and you could tell his experience really resonated,\u201d wrestling head coach Jon Sioredas said via text message. \u201cHe has a unique ability to connect his journey to lessons that apply directly to young athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n Glover pushed back on the hero narrative.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea of heroism or heroics, I think that whole narrative is challenging. They make us almost untouchable. That\u2019s not the message we want to give kids. I\u2019m a human, and I make mistakes, and I learn, and I fail people and I fail myself,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n Glover is also aware of the moment he\u2019s a part of in history.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think about when we did this, the first time in Apollo, 1968, it was a tough time in the country,\u201d Glover told the New York Times. \u201cAnd I hope that we can create a touch point for our generation that\u2019s equal to or maybe there\u2019s a path to be even greater than because it\u2019s current and it\u2019s ours.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jeffrey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20250613-VictorGloverAMA-JJ0175.jpg\")
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