By Nick Wetzel

Fordham’s own Vince Lombardi once said, “Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” This quote demonstrates how playing football can teach you a lot about life, and also happens to be Louis Springer, GSB ’19’s favorite quote. It is also the attitude Springer takes towards life.

The first thing you need to know about Springer is that he is obsessed with sports. In high school Springer did not play one, he played four: football, baseball, lacrosse and track and field.

“I was very, very busy,” Springer said with a laugh. “I still don’t really know how I pulled that one off.” In high school Springer was named Scholar Athlete of the Year and first team all-conference and all league during high school football as an offensive lineman.
Springer is also obsessed with watching sports, both on the TV and in person. “I never miss a Giants game, even if I have to stream it on my phone when I’m walking somewhere,” Springer said with a concerned look. Springer’s favorite football player is Justin Tuck. “I always used to watch him playing up and he was the fiercest D-linemen on the field and always made a clutch play,” Springer said.
Going off to college is challenging for many students, and Springer was no exception. “Coming from an all-boys catholic high school, Fordham was a big adjustment. I wasn’t used to having girls in the classroom,” he said.

Springer also wasn’t used to Fordham’s size. “Coming from a small community and school in Staten Island where I knew everyone, it was tough to transition to knowing almost no one at Fordham.”

Another challenging part of Springer’s transition was the amount of free time he had since he was not playing four varsity sports like in high school. However, Springer got involved quickly, joining intramural softball, volleyball, and basketball. He also joined Dean’s Council and Investment Banking Society. “I like to stay involved,” Springer said modestly.

As a student at Fordham, Springer applied the work ethic he learned during high school football to both classes and his professional career. Springer is part of Fordham’s “Finance Scholars” program, a group designed to help the top finance students at Fordham to prepare for a future professional career in the financial services industry. Although he started on the pre-health track in high school Springer quickly realized he loved mathematics and business. “My high school business classes are what inspired me to apply to the Gabelli School of Business,” he said.

Springer recently completed an internship at Morgan Stanley. When asked about what he wanted to do in ten years, he stated, “I loved all the finance classes I’ve taken at Fordham and I’d love to pursue a career in investment banking, if given the opportunity.”

Another thing you need to know about Springer is that he is an avid cook. “I’m a big foodie. I cook everything: Italian, American, Mexican, you name it.” His favorite dishes to cook are chicken parm and porterhouse steak. “One of the big appeals for me of New York City is the wide variety of culinary cuisine available, especially in the Bronx,” he said. “My favorite restaurants in Manhattan are Club A, Avra and Del Frisco’s, but you can’t go wrong with any place on Arthur Ave.”