Taking Names Keeping Score

This past Saturday I was on the road again making what, at this point, is expected to be my last trip to a college football game this season. In many ways this trip was a fitting climax to the to the seven stops I made along the way where not only did I get to see and experience college football at the Division II, Division I - AA, and Division I - A levels up close and personal but also got to follow up on most of the young men from our area who are currently playing the game at the collegiate level.

This time my path took me to Birmingham and my old alma mater Samford University. Instead of going back for a reunion or some other special occasion though, I was on a mission this time to watch 2005 Thomasville High School graduate Ryan Anderson play his final football game for the Bulldogs.

Needless to say, just being on campus brought back many fond memories and getting to see how much it had grown and changed over the years caused some degree of amazement. But that is another story for another time.

As stated above, the real focus of my trip this time was to see Anderson and the Bulldogs in their season finale against Southern Conference foe Elon. And let me say, I think my timing was perfect. Not only did it happen to be senior recognition day, where the Thomasville native and his twelve fellow seniors were singled out and honored by the University in a pre-game ceremony but once the game got underway the red shirt senior possibly had one of his best games of the season.

In Saturday's game which the Bulldogs unfortunately lost, the always aggressive Anderson recorded five total tackles from his linebacker position including four solo stops and one assist. Add to that the fact that one of his tackles was for a loss and that he had a critical pass break-up at the goal line and you can easily see what I meant by his having a good day.

With those numbers to add to those accumulated in his previous games this season it brought his totals this year to 22 solo tackles and seven assists with four tackles for a loss and two sacks. In addition he had one pass interception, six pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. If that weren't enough, what makes the totals even more special is he produced those numbers in only seven games because an injury in the middle of the year sidelined him for four games during the heart of the season.

Just as those numbers speak volumes on what this four year letterman has contributed to the football program at Samford what probably says more about him as a person is that he is also on track to leave the University this year with a degree in sociology. And after all that is really what it is all about. For long after his ability to play football has left him the degree he has completed will serve him well.

Just as I have said about the others I've made trips to see this fall, I think without question Ryan Anderson has accomplished a lot and has represented Thomasville, Thomasville High School and all of us in this area well. And in so doing who knows what doors he might have opened for others from this area in the future.

Until next time….be safe!