North Carolina A&T State University alumnus Brandon Sweeney has released his first book. In April, Foot Soldier Publishing released Sweeney’s, “Loving the Game When the Game Doesn’t Love You Back.”

His book exposes hidden truths about the pressures faced by athletes on a journey to play professionally. The book presents a behind the scenes look at the importance of preparing athletes for life on and off the playing surface.

“So many players dream of going professional but are unprepared for the unexpected situations that could potentially end that dream,” Sweeney said in a press release.

“I know firsthand how difficult the transition from field to reality is and my book was designed to help athletes accept this transition a little easier.

For the book, Sweeney draws from his own experience as a college football player. He played for N.C. A&T until he suffered a career ending injury during a scrimmage and lost a kidney. The book uncovers eight stages athletes pass through in their relationships with the sports they love in an effort to show them how they can use the sport without the sport using them.

Sweeney wants the book to motivate, inspire and challenge athletes to find their identity and purpose beyond their respective sports. After dealing with his injury and mourning his professional football dream, Sweeney returned to A&T to earn his degree in construction management. He is currently working toward a graduate degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. Sweeney and his wife, Ashantae, currently reside in Greensboro.