TJ Session (72)
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Every Day is Veteran's Day for MSU Freshman Offensive Lineman TJ Session
11/11/2020 12:38:00 PM | Football
Organization and discipline were foundational for Session, who was raised by two military parents
BOZEMAN, Montana – Jeff Choate noticed it right away.
During one of the Montana State football team's Wednesday morning sessions with Phil Kornachuk's Lead 406 leadership and team-building programs at the Hyalite Reservoir just south of Bozeman, Bobcat players were tasked with different activities. One involved entering the water, and TJ Session caught Choate's eye immediately because he stripped off his outer clothing layers so they wouldn't weigh him down, even in the frigid early-morning water.
"I can tell you're a military kid," Choate told Session later, a nod from one product of a military family to another.
Both Choate's mother and father, along with his stepfather, served in the military, so Montana State's fifth-year head football coach has a keen eye for military-bred discipline and savvy. It was easy for him to spot in Session. "It's easy to see he was raised to be respectful and disciplined," Choate said.
A redshirt freshman offensive lineman for the Bobcats, Session's father Anthony retired as a Marine drill sergeant, while his mother Tina was a Naval officer. Both served for 20-plus years. He also has two older sisters currently serving, one in the Navy and one in the Air Force.
"My parents really taught me respect, yes sir no sir, yes ma'am no ma'am," he said. "My house is organized at home, everything is to the spot. With my parents being in the military everything has to be nice, tidy and fit."
While Session said there wasn't a lot of yelling or overt discipline in his father's parenting style – "He's a 6-7, buffed version of me," TJ says with a laugh, "so when he raised his voice a little I paid attention" – there was structure and an emphasis on remaining organized. "Having to stay on a schedule, following the script, waking up at six in the morning and we're going to do this, then when you get home from school and you're going to do your homework and then we'll do something else."
Choate's takeaway from being raised in a military family is similar. "There was discipline that was present," he said, "but it really centered on doing what needed to be done. The routine was the routine."
The Session family's day starts early. "I feel like they helped me to be organized and respectful, and on the physical side they have me up at a certain time every single morning working out with them. My dad is about to turn 60 and he works out every morning, and my mom, too."
Session said the structure of a Division I football program was not much of an adjustment at all, given his upbringing. "They have a plan, I'd say a military-type plan," Session said, indicating that his mother once earned a track and field scholarship from Oregon. "I wouldn't say they're very strict, but they have a plan and morals for me to fulfill."
#GoCatsGo #PlantTheFlag
As Montana State Athletics strives to develop the best and brightest student-athletes, support for the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund is crucial now more than ever. Donating to the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund's Plant The Flag initiative ensures not only that the 350-plus Bobcat student-athletes will continue to receive the resources needed to succeed in and out of competition, but that Montana State Athletics will rise above the pack stronger. For more information about the Plant The Flag initiative, visit MSUBobcatClub.com or contact a member of the Bobcat Club staff.
During one of the Montana State football team's Wednesday morning sessions with Phil Kornachuk's Lead 406 leadership and team-building programs at the Hyalite Reservoir just south of Bozeman, Bobcat players were tasked with different activities. One involved entering the water, and TJ Session caught Choate's eye immediately because he stripped off his outer clothing layers so they wouldn't weigh him down, even in the frigid early-morning water.
"I can tell you're a military kid," Choate told Session later, a nod from one product of a military family to another.
Both Choate's mother and father, along with his stepfather, served in the military, so Montana State's fifth-year head football coach has a keen eye for military-bred discipline and savvy. It was easy for him to spot in Session. "It's easy to see he was raised to be respectful and disciplined," Choate said.
A redshirt freshman offensive lineman for the Bobcats, Session's father Anthony retired as a Marine drill sergeant, while his mother Tina was a Naval officer. Both served for 20-plus years. He also has two older sisters currently serving, one in the Navy and one in the Air Force.
"My parents really taught me respect, yes sir no sir, yes ma'am no ma'am," he said. "My house is organized at home, everything is to the spot. With my parents being in the military everything has to be nice, tidy and fit."
While Session said there wasn't a lot of yelling or overt discipline in his father's parenting style – "He's a 6-7, buffed version of me," TJ says with a laugh, "so when he raised his voice a little I paid attention" – there was structure and an emphasis on remaining organized. "Having to stay on a schedule, following the script, waking up at six in the morning and we're going to do this, then when you get home from school and you're going to do your homework and then we'll do something else."
Choate's takeaway from being raised in a military family is similar. "There was discipline that was present," he said, "but it really centered on doing what needed to be done. The routine was the routine."
The Session family's day starts early. "I feel like they helped me to be organized and respectful, and on the physical side they have me up at a certain time every single morning working out with them. My dad is about to turn 60 and he works out every morning, and my mom, too."
Session said the structure of a Division I football program was not much of an adjustment at all, given his upbringing. "They have a plan, I'd say a military-type plan," Session said, indicating that his mother once earned a track and field scholarship from Oregon. "I wouldn't say they're very strict, but they have a plan and morals for me to fulfill."
#GoCatsGo #PlantTheFlag
As Montana State Athletics strives to develop the best and brightest student-athletes, support for the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund is crucial now more than ever. Donating to the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund's Plant The Flag initiative ensures not only that the 350-plus Bobcat student-athletes will continue to receive the resources needed to succeed in and out of competition, but that Montana State Athletics will rise above the pack stronger. For more information about the Plant The Flag initiative, visit MSUBobcatClub.com or contact a member of the Bobcat Club staff.
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