NEW YORK — Andrew Hawkins has no idea where he is supposed to line up.
In his six years as an NFL wide receiver, that’s never been a problem. But now, 20 minutes before his commencement ceremony at Columbia University, he has no clue where his classmates have gathered. In the chaos of finishing up his graduate degree while co-parenting three young children and searching for his next football team, he missed the email containing directions for what to do on graduation day.
He’s one of a few stragglers left wandering around Columbia’s South Field, which just a half-hour ago was abuzz with scores of students in powder-blue robes climbing on top of iron statues to have their pictures taken.