As a young boy, you generate a list of dreams. To be a fire fighter, meet a celebrity, become a doctor, or even to be a professional athlete. Whatever it may be though, I am going to venture out on a limb and guess that many dreams for young boys, never come true. However for some, they do. When they do, it is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. That is why we dream, right? To be able to one day have that feeling that matches no other feeling we have ever had before. Can't say I have had it yet, but I am destined to one day; no doubt about it!!
There are currently several former players from UT who are active in the NFL today. Some names that may ring a bell: Chester Taylor, Lance Moore, Bruce Gradkowski, Stephen Williams, Brett Kern, and Barry Church; to name just a few. That list however, may grow just a "wee" bit bigger after this week's 2012 NFL Draft. And to some of those who are making that number grow; it might just be a dream they had as a young boy. A dream they held onto and went above and beyond to make sure they achieved it.
The NFL Draft begins this Thursday night—and Sports Director Dave Holmes will be tracking all of the big names on the air here on 13abc. Here are a few names that you may want to listen for. Desmond Marrow (mind you, played 6 years at UT. Overcoming a long list of injuries and obstacles in order to have an opportunity like playing in the NFL one day), Eric Page, Adonis Thomas, Kenny Stafford, and Mike VanDerMeulen have been given a shot at an opportunity of playing in the NFL. It's an opportunity for these young men, that I think, would rank as one of the most incredible highlights of their playing careers. It's also an opportunity to represent their family, friends, homeland, and the community of Toledo on the big stage. As I came in with Desmond Marrow as a freshman, and then had the opportunity to be a college athlete during the same time as the others, from rocket to rocket, I wish the best of luck to them all!
As a former Rocket myself, the one thing I can say about this week when it has come around for the past 5 years, I have always been a proud alum of the Rocket Family. To understand the sweat, pain, time, and sacrifice it takes to get to the point in a playing career that these young men currently are, is tough. I am sure they felt like giving up and walking away from the game at some point in their careers; that is what we as athletes all experience at least once; it's the reality of what it takes to succeed in athletics. These guys however, exemplify what it is like to dream as a young boy, to go above and beyond what it takes to achieve that dream and in my eyes, what it is like to finally feel that incredible feeling of achievement. The only thing left to do now is simply LIVE THE DREAM!!!!
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