ITHACA, N.Y.  - Cornell football's first-ever letter winner from Alaska and 2025 Campbell Trophy nominee James Reinbold came to Ithaca knowing he would be playing football. What he didn't know was where his academic interests would lead him.
 
It didn't take long for Reinbold to find not one, but two passions away from the football field, deciding to double major in Government and Performing & Media Arts.
 
"During my freshman fall semester, still uncertain about my academic path, I enrolled in Comparative Politics and Introduction to Acting," he said. "Although I had little prior experience with either subject, both courses immediately captivated me."
 
Comparative Politics sparked his fascination with the legal system and governance, while Introduction to Acting reconnected him with his love for storytelling, a passion that only complemented his dedication to football.
 
That dedication starts bright and early for the senior linebacker. At 6:15 a.m., when campus is quiet and most Cornell students are still sleeping before their first class, Reinbold is up and heading to Schoellkopf to start his day. By 7 a.m., he's breaking down film and installing new plays and concepts, followed by either a walk-through on the field or a lift in the weight room.
 
By 10 a.m., after showering and grabbing breakfast, he's headed to class where he turns his attention to his studies, including a dedicated two-hour critical study window between morning and afternoon classes. By 1:25 p.m., he's back in the classroom, where he remains until practice starts at 4:45 p.m. and runs until about 7 p.m.
 
"Even after a full day of meetings, workouts, classes and practice, the evening remains just as important," Reinbold said. "I make it a point to get out of the locker room quickly, recover properly, grab dinner, and then jump back into my academics until around 10:15 p.m. Finally, I prioritize sleep, aiming for a full eight hours to recharge for the next day."
 
He pauses, then adds: "It's a demanding schedule requiring great efficiency and intentionality with your use of time. However, once your strong habits and routines become second nature, they set the foundation for success."
 
That mindset comes from words of wisdom shared by Associate Head Coach and The John B. and Ann M. Rogers '45 Defensive Coordinator Jared Backus.

 
"How you do anything is how you do everything."

 
"The qualities that have defined my success on the field, such as commitment, persistence, perseverance and grit, are the same qualities that guide my work in the classroom," Reinbold said. "The traits required to succeed in one inevitably strengthen the other. For instance, learning how to recover and bounce back after a tough exam has developed my resiliency and helped me overcome setbacks in football."
 
Reinbold's commitment to his studies has resulted in performances in seven theatrical productions and writing two screenplays of his own, including "Athlete," a football-centered film featuring several of his teammates that is currently being submitted to international film festivals.
 
But it's his legal work that has shaped his post-Cornell goals. Reinbold has spent three summers interning in the legal field, including two summers in Alaska's legal system — working at a private law firm, clerking for an Anchorage Trial Court judge, and most recently interning at Troutman Pepper Locke in New York City.
 
"Through my courtroom experiences during internships, I discovered that prosecution offers the most meaningful path for me to serve others," he said. "It provides an opportunity to make a direct, positive impact on my community."
 
After graduation, Reinbold plans to attend law school with the goal of returning to the Final Frontier as a prosecutor and bringing the same methodical preparation and commitment that have served him well on the field and in the classroom back to his home state.
 
The 6:15 a.m. alarms will eventually stop. The film sessions and two-a-day practices will become memories. But the foundation Reinbold has built at Cornell, along with the habits, the work ethic, the understanding that excellence in one area strengthens all others, will serve him well in whatever courtroom he finds himself.
 
As Coach Backus says, how you do anything is how you do everything.