What a Win!

As the season came to a close, the Eagles had one last game. Homecoming is the biggest game for any university, but for the Faulkner football program, it was even bigger. It was senior day and it would be the last time that these guys would ever play for the Eagles.

This was a special group of guys. These guys had been with the program from the very start and had given a lot toward this program. Sean Thom, Frank Padula, Scotty Pennington, Lincoln Taylor, and Jerod Corder. It was very special moment for these young men.

University of Virginia Wise, a Mid South Conference powerhouse, rolled into Montgomery looking for an easy win to finish their season...well, they got more then they expected. The Eagle defense led the way as Faulkner took their final game of the 2009 season. The defense allowed 240 yards of offense including -30 yards rushing and 10 sacks. That's right, 10 sacks. Matt Fleck led the sack party with 3 sacks. Sean Thom finished his career with 14 tackles and two sacks.

Offense was not to be out done. Frank Padula went out with a bang in his last game. Frank had 9 receptions for 123 yards including several big grabs in the final drive that lead to the game winning touchdown. The offense and defense played as one unit. If you were at the game then you know that the final drive was worth the price of admission. With the final score of 24-21, the Eagles took big steps toward 2010.

Staying Focused.

I've said all along that building a program from the ground up was no easy task. There is no manual for this job and definitely no blueprints to go by. You have to stand there and take your lumps just like everyone else has done through history. The Eagles are no different. We have had our bright moments, and then we have had our darker moments. Through it all, we have learned to stay focused. Really, that's on of the most important things you can teach a young man. After playing well last week against #11 Shorter, we stumbled a bit against Belhaven. Once again our defense stood tall.


Making the plays when we need them. With the exception of one big play given up, our defense played very well.

Offense still struggled at time to get their rhythm. No doubt we are going through growing pains with freshmen in key positions. However, these guys are getting valuable experience. I think we are just a few plays away from a break out game. With the emergence of a running game, our passing game is not far behind.Now, I know what you are thinking. You think I'm trying to put a positive spin on things. Well, yes I am. There is a lot to be positive about in light of our record. In the games against Shorter and Belhaven we made vast improvements compared to last year. Shorter alone beat us 49-0 last season. These are the steps that the average fan may not notice. The key is to stay focused and to let these players know that we are going in the right direction. That's not an easy thing to do, but it must be done in order to get these kids to buy into this program. Stay strong.

GO EAGLES!

Big Steps

I know that football is a crazy game. A lot of folks believe three years is enough time to become a great team. Those people are not alone. Players and coaches feel the same way. However, we are still very young and need to remember that success is measured in "baby" steps. After two tough losses against Huntingdon and Union, the Eagles took some of those steps Saturday against #11 Shorter.

Last season, Shorter blanked us 49-0. Coming into Saturday, everyone expected more of the same. For the first time, Faulkner showed how well they can play as a "TEAM". From offense, defense, and special teams Faulkner pulled together to show the home crowd that we have taken steps in the right direction.

Defense, once again stepped up to lead the way. Shorter has a very strong offense, but the Eagle defense rose to the challenge.

The defensive line was very active on Saturday, including scooping up a fumble and came close to "housing" it.


J.T Barker does what he does best in the secondary. Picking balls and crushing wide-outs.


One of the biggest improvements, was the Eagle ground game. The running back trio of Edwards, Taylor, and Cheatham ripped off chunks yards on their way to one of the best Faulkner ground attacks in school history.

This is something that Faulkner has to have if we expect the spread offense to work. When you can run at will, the pass will open up. There was no doubt that it did just that.

Special teams stepped up all day. From Corder punting the ball to, new comer Triston McCathern's 99 yard kick return for a touchdown. This also led to Triston grabbing the Mid South special teams player of the week.

There is no doubt that football is a team sport and in new programs this is the hardest thing to teach. Steps were taken Saturday that showed these guys have bought into Coach Bakers goals and ideas. From a coaching stand point, I was proud to see our guys fight for a chance to win. I won't take anything away from Shorter, they are a great team and won this game. However, we were in this game. If we had scored on that fumble recovery from Willie Mixon, it would have made that a 8 point ball game in the 4th quarter. It sounds like I'm grasping at straws, but these are the little victories that players, coaches, and fans need to grab and build on. Now, the key is, building off of this game. Can we carry it over into the next game. That's another step we need to teach these guys. I can't wait for Saturday and I hope you all feel the same way.

GO EAGLES!

Huntingdon Week.

For a lot of folks, they just now started thinking about the Huntingdon game. For the Eagles, we started thinking about the Hawks as soon as we got back on the buses after beating Webber. Words or blogs can not express how big this game is for Faulkner. For the past two years, Huntingdon has let the state of Alabama know that Montgomery is Hawk territory and I assure you, they have earned it. Have the Eagles turned the corner? I believe it is very possible they have.

I have been with this program since the very start, and I saw things in the Webber game that I have never seen before. I saw "maturity"! I believe this is something that this team has been lacking for the past two seasons. There were several times during the Webber game when the "old" Faulkner would have folded up, but not this team. They fought every down. This is something that we have lacked.

You better hold on to your hat. This is going to be a brawl. Turk ALWAYS has those boys ready and they play like it's their last. Well, so do we. I'm looking for an old fashion throw down. So if you want to see a great college football game, head on over to Huntingdon this Saturday and watch two class teams go at it.

1-0

Wow, what a great weekend. For the first time in Faulkner football history, the Eagles have started the season 1-0. I've been with the program since the start, and I can tell you that this team has a completely different attitude. When we boarded the bus we had a very business like attitude and I believe it showed on Saturday.

Let me start by saying that in the past two years Faulkner has some good defense, but nothing like we saw on Saturday. The Eagle defense was insane. Time and time again the defense stood strong. With three pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks I believe they did their jobs. Oh, did I forget the four sacks? Yes, the Eagle defense played the best I have ever seen.

The offense is still a work in progress, however it showed just how fast it is capable of playing. True freshman, Joe Scott was called on to lead the team and he did a great job. Again, being since 2007, I can see a complete transformation. I'm expecting great things from the offense this year.

I think the biggest thing I was proud of was how mature our players were under pressure. Our guys battled all day against all kinds of obstacles. I believe that the Eagles may have turned the corner. Now it's back to work and prepare for the Hawks. Hope to see you there. If you were not able to be at the game, check out this link from Ryan Bartels. He did a GREAT job on filming. Enjoy.

http://faulknereagles.wordpress.com/

GO EAGLES!

First Scrimmage of 2009!

It's hard to believe that the first week of fall camp is under our belts, and we take another step closer to our first game on Aug. 29th. On Saturday we took our show on the road to Lee High School in front of a pretty good crowd for our first full scrimmage of this year. As a coach, I feel that we are moving fairly well in the right direction. Defense is always going to be ahead of the game this early...which is good. Most of our turnovers were due to tipped/dropped balls from our receivers. This is very fixable problem. Pass protection was solid, in fact, it was better then I have seen in some time, which our running backs enjoy very much. It was great to see some young players step up and make a name for themselves. A.J. Yelder ran from the opposite side of the field to lay a block that sprung Jurell Williams on his touchdown. That is just pure hustle. Leslie James, freshman from Andalusia, Alabama was very impressive. In this type of offense it's attention to detail that brings success, and players like James did just that. The little things in the game are just as important as the big things.

Defensively, I was impressed with the "hitters" that were on the field. It seems to me that our guys are flying all over the field and making big hits. Not to mention that they missed very few tackles. This is a huge improvement from last season. It always seemed that we had a hard time wrapping up last season. Well, it looks to me that problem has been addressed. Thom and Riggins were two linebackers that delivered some pain. There were many others.

This blog is meant to let our Eagle fans know about this "ins and outs" of our program. I can assure you that many of the problems from 2008 have been addressed. So get ready for a great season.

GO EAGLES!

2009 Fall Camp

When Gregg Baker pulled through the gates at Faulkner University on Monday, he had butterflies in his stomach.
The first-year head coach was about to conduct his first practice, and he was suf­fering from a strange combination of nerves and excitement.
"My stomach did a couple of flips," Baker said Monday afternoon, in between the Eagles' 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. two-a-day practices. "I never imagined this (when I accepted an assistant's position at Faulkn­er last year).
"Five years ago, I was the offensive line coach at Prattville High School, and I thought I'd hit the big time then. This here is just unbelievable to me. When I came through that gate this morning, I thought, 'I'm about to hold my first practice.' I can't describe that feeling."
After the initial weird feelings, though, the day went about like Baker expected.
The coaching staff wasted no time, as it went about installing new special teams formations and implementing new offen­sive and defensive schemes.
New defensive coordinator Duane McWhorter, the former Jeff Davis High School head coach, began teaching his phi­losophies to the players, and a five-way battle for the starting quarterback posi­tion got under way.
"Honestly, it was just a regular day," Baker said. "It wasn't much different from the practices last year. The coaches had everything very well organized and the players were ready to work. I couldn't have asked for more."
Monday's primary objective for the coaches was to evaluate the players and get some sense of where things stand at various positions. That theme will be car­ried out throughout the week, as the staff gets a handle on the talents of the new players.
"We've got a lot of good athletes that are new in the program and we're looking to see how all the pieces fit together," Baker said. "That will be the goal over the next couple of weeks (of camp). We've got our work cut out for us there -- there will be some good battles at some spots."
No spot will be more contested than quarterback.
As practice began Monday morning, five players -- two returning players, a junior college transfer and two incoming freshmen -- were vying for the starter's job.
And Baker said there was no favorite.
"It's a good, good battle for that spot that's probably going to go down to the week before that first game," he said. "I consider that a good problem to have -- having five guys qualified for the job. These are five pretty good QBs."
Faulkner will practice twice again to­day, Wednesday and Friday, once on Thurs­day and will hold its first scrimmage of the fall on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Robert E. Lee High School.

Josh Moon-Montgomery Advertiser

Coach Fipps Joins the Crew.

As promised, here is one of those new faces.


Coach Corey Fipps joined the Eagle staff this past spring where he has taken over the Offensive Coordinator duties. Corey is a high energy coach that the players have already grown to love. Corey is from Maxwell, California and were he was a four year Letterman in football and basketball. He played three seasons at offensive tackle for Harding University. Corey graduated from Harding University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology. He quickly followed that up with a Masters of Science in Kinesiology in 2008.

Corey has been in coaching since 2004. His most recent work was as the offensive line coach for Harding University for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

He met his wonderful wife, Jennifer at Harding University. They just recently have become proud parents for the first time with the arrival of a beautiful baby girl named, Kensley Anleen.

I have had the pleasure of working with Corey for only 6 months and I have been impressed with his knowledge of the game and his genuine love for the young men he coaches. We are expecting great things from Corey and we are proud to have him as a part of the Faulkner family.

It's Time To Get Ready!

It's hot and muggy outside, so that must mean fall camp is close. You better believe it is. It's that time of year again for Faulkner football to start flying high. August 1st all players report to camp, with the first practice under new head Coach Gregg Baker starting on the 2nd. This is going to be fun. We've climbed some serious hurdles this past year, and we are ready for a new beginning. We had our best spring ever and we are looking to build on that. The players, coaches, and fans are ready for the best year in Faulkner Football history.

Things are a little different now as we bring in a few new coaches and a lot of great young athletes. In the coming days, weeks, and month we will be introducing you to the new Eagle family. Don't think I'm leaving out our returning players, but when you see how hard they have been working this summer, you'll think they are an all new team. I'm already working on a few stories that I will be posting on a regular basis not to mention some new changes to the program.

So stay tuned.

GO EAGLES

Our Fallen Eagles

I've struggled the last few days on what I can possibly type on this blog that would give comfort to all those who read it. I've tried time and time again to type, and end up just shutting off my computer. T and Ryne were outstanding young men. People often say that about people who pass from this life, but these two guys were the real deal. They really are the type of young men that this institution meant to have as a member of the Faulkner football team. Ryne and T were friends to everyone they came across. They exemplified this university and this program. We remembered these young men in a memorial service on campus Monday. I could not be more proud to be a part of this Faulkner football family. The families of both young men were in attendance along with the entire University. I believe the families now know just how much we loved T and Ryne.

The players sat with a smile on their faces as they watched a slide show of the lives of T and Ryne. In a way this picture encompasses how everyone felt about these young men. All we knew of Ryne and T was the smile they always had and the smiles they spread to everyone they knew. 20 years from now as memories of touchdowns and tackles fade from our thoughts, the love of brotherhood through teammates will always remain. It's a bond that only teammates will know. A tie that can never be broken no matter the score of a game or the outcome of a game. I think Coach Baker said it best in a poem that he wrote just for this occasion.

Remember Us
To the living, we are gone.
To the sorrowful, we will never return.
To the angry, we were cheated.
To the happy, we are at peace.
To the faithful, we never left.
We cannot be seen, but we can be heard.
So as you push through the tough times, remember us.
As you celebrate life's victories, remember us.
As you cheer our Eagles, remember us.
Remember us, in your heart, your thoughts, and your memories.
The times we've shared, the times we've cried, the times we've laughed.
For if you always think of us, we will have never gone.
Ryne and T, We will never forget you.
BY GREGG BAKER, FAULKNER HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Though we will take the field on August 29th for our next game, we will not be alone. As the whistle blows we will always have the comfort knowing that our brothers are there. In our locker room, on the sideline, in the huddle, on the field, and in our hearts. T and Ryne will ALWAYS be our SOARING EAGLES.

Cherish the time you have with your friends, families, and teammates. Take every moment to let someone know that you care. As T and Ryne did, live your life giving joy to others.

Faulkner football players killed in Chilton County wreck

Two Faulkner University football players were killed in a two-vehicle wreck in Chilton County on Monday morning.

Ryne K. Wilhite, 19, of New Albany, Miss.; and Teirson D. Holiis, 20, of Douglasville, Ga., both were fatally injured in the wreck, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Wilhite was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer on U.S. 82 about nine miles east of Maplesville at 5:10 a.m. when the wreck occurred. The men were returning from visiting a friend in Tuscaloosa, according to a news release from Faulkner.

“I’ve never been through anything like this – it hurts so much,’’ Faulkner head coach Gregg Baker said. “T and Ryne were both great kids, two wonderful Christian young men. The only thing that is helping us right now is the fact that we all know exactly where they are, and that’s with our God in Heaven.’’

Hollis and Wilhite were both offensive linemen, with Hollis having been with the program since its inaugural season in 2007. Wilhite had just transferred to Faulkner this semester and went through his first spring practice last month. Hollis, a native of Douglasville, Ga., played high school football at Robert S. Alexander High School. A native of New Albany, Miss., Wilhite played for Northeast Mississippi Community College last season.

“Both of them were always smiling and joking around,” Baker added. “They may no longer with us here, but T and Ryne will always be a part of this program. Always.’’

Flags on the Faulkner campus were flying at half-staff by mid-day Tuesday. The Faulkner football team was informed of the tragedy by Baker and his staff just after the school’s academic honors convocation Tuesday morning. Simultaneously, Faulkner president Dr. Billy D. Hilyer informed the rest of the student body, faculty and administration. Grief counselors have been made available to everyone on campus.“This is a very difficult day for our family,’’ said Hilyer, who also addressed the football team Tuesday. “My primary mission on this campus is to be there for our students and to help provide them what they need to earn a quality Christian education. In many ways, they are like my children. And this just breaks all of our hearts. The message that it should send to everyone is just how much we need God, who we know also lost a child. And it’s the blood of Jesus that we embrace today.’’Funeral service arrangements have yet to be determined.
Alabama State Troopers are investigating the accident.
-- Scott Johnson

2009 Recruiting Class

One of the questions I get the most is, how are recruiting class is going. Well, let me answer that for you. We are still hot and heavy into recruiting and will be up until August 1. So far, we are very excited about who we have signed at this point. Here are some of your new 2009 Faulkner Eagles.

Michael Uranga-OL/6'2/282/Prattville High School
Mitchell Thornton-OL/6'3/286/Prattville High School
Joe Scott-QB/6'0/180/Northside Warner Robbins, Ga.
Ryne Wilhite-OL/6'3/310/Northeast Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Brandon McKenzie-DB/S/6'2/215/Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Tyler Renfroe-OL/DL/5'11/275/Stanhope Elmore
Zach Lee-OL/6'4/280/Stanhope Elmore
A.J. Wilson-RB/5'10/180/Stanhope Elmore
Corey Renella-OL/6'2/260/Mosley High School, FL.
Vince Nix-P/K? 5'8/165/Stanhope Elmore
Grant Kimbrough-OL/6'2/250/Stanhope Elmore
Lucas Craig-OL/6'1/230/Stanhope Elmore
T.J. Wells-FS/5'10/170/Stanhope Elmore
Ike Salter-DB/5'9/168/Stanhope Elmore
Isalia Collins-DL/5'11/250/Stanhope Elmore
Tyler Broom-LB/5'11/195/Stanhope Elmore
Harrison Gore-LB/5'11/210/Tattnall Square Academy, Ga.
Gary Wade Jr-LB/6'0/205/Alexander High School, Ga.
Leslie James-WR/6'5/200/Andalusia High School
Lance Kenny-WR/5'11/180/Derby, Kansas
Jeremy Cox-RB/5'11/195/Bessemer Academy
Chris Nelson-OL/6'5/240/Citronelle

Keep checking back for more updates to our list. I'm looking forward to these guys taking the field for the Eagles in 2009.

GO EAGLES!!!!

Black and Blue Game.

With the rain coming down, the 2009 Faulkner Eagles took the field for the annual spring game. Because of earlier competition during the spring, the offense won the right to wear the black uniforms for the game. Thus the name new name "Black and Blue" game. We had hoped for better weather, but it turned out okay in the end.

This year Coach Baker implemented a scoring system that would allow the defense to score points. It was a tight game all the way until 3:12 left in the game when Jurrell Williams caught a pass and a key block from Bobby Britton and went 80 yards for the winning score. The score gave the offense a 37-34 victory over the defense. TJ Jacobs and Nick Garrett combined to go 27-36 for 405 yards and 3 touchdowns. Williams caught 4 passes for 111 yards. Luther Burton 4 catches for 91 yards. The ground game struggled at times, but still was able to gain 100 yards and 1 touchdown by Lincoln Taylor.

Defense was led by Roger Barker who recorded two sacks. Quintory Braswell, Anthony Haywood, and Emmanuel Godfrey each had 4 tackles. Leroy Whitner recorded some points with an interception in the 2nd quarter. Justin Gomez scooped a fumble and scampered 48 yards before get run down on the 1 yard line (by Joe Burton who fumbled).

All in all, it was a great day even with bad weather. A large number of fans came out to watch. We also had about 20 recruits out to watch. After the game, we had a great lunch prepared by the coaches wives and families. It was a great day.

Now it's back to the weight room/classroom to get prepared for the season. The Eagles open up with Webber College in Orlando on August 29th.

GO EAGLES!

Eagles Offense Soars During Spring Scrimmage.

Last Saturday we took are show on the road and had a scrimmage at Jefferson Davis High School. Needless to say it was a day that our defense would like to forget. On the flip side of that, the offense showed that they have improved this spring. The Eagles ground game had 12 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown (no fumbles). The Faulkner air attack went 21-31 for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. The offense could have added another touchdown late, but got bogged down inside the 20 and went for it on 4th and long. The defense did stand tall on several plays with two interceptions and two sacks.

All in all, the team is looking very good this spring. As we prepare for our third season of competition at Faulkner University, our older guys are now stepping up and taking a leadership role. There are several former red shirts making a name for themselves and are moving quickly into key roles. Things are setting up nicely for the annual Blue and White game scheduled for this Saturday at Cramton Bowl at 10 am. Come out and see how far your Faulkner Eagles have come. We'll see you out there.

GO EAGLES!

Last week of spring practice.

Heading into the last week of spring practice, things are starting to come together. It's amazing how far we have come in such a short time. Defense is looking very strong. They have been giving fits to our running game. This is a welcome sign, since last season we had trouble with defending the run. The defensive coaches addressed that problem early this spring and it shows. Not to be out down, the offense is really clicking in the pass game. If we can't get the ball to the backs on the ground we'll get it to them in the air and we have done just that. This week will be all polish for the Blue and White game on Saturday March 14th. The players have already begun the chatter back and fourth that comes with a big game. I think I even saw a smile from the offensive coordinator yesterday.

I'm glad so many of you read the blog, but instead of reading about the Blue and White game on the blog, come on out and see it for yourself on Saturday. It is going to be a great game. See you there.

Blue and White Game.

Last week we had temps in the 70's, storms with tornados, then capped with a weekend of snow. To say the least, we have missed a few days of practice. Even with that being said, we came out Monday and had a great practice. After the offense dominated the defense last week, they came back on Monday and had some revenge. The attitude and fire of both sides of the ball is looking good. Defense, led by senior Sean Thom are flying around and making plays. While the offense are connecting on many of their pass plays. The improvement from last spring to this spring is evident. This is setting up for a great annual Blue and White showdown on March 14th. Last year, the offense was learning a new offense, and now it looks that the team has bought into the system and are hitting on all cylinders. If you are looking for a great show of our athletes, come out on March 14th at 10am in the Cramton Bowl. Not only will the Faulkner Family be out in force, but so will all of our 2009 recruits. Make your plans to come out for some Faulkner fun and football.

Spring is in the air.

With 5am work-outs out of the way, spring practice is in full swing. The Eagles have geared up for the big push to make some noise in the Mid-South Conference in 2009. 5 practices into spring ball and things are starting to click. New head coach Gregg Baker is liking what he sees.
"Things are going smooth and the tempo is great" stated Baker. Practice Thursday ended with some good ole smash mouth 11 on 11 with both sides of the ball looking good. Faulkner hit the practice field last week with 84 players, which included several new spring transfers. Several of the new players have already begun to stand out. Spring practice will conclude on March 14th with the annual Blue and White game at Cramton Bowl at 10:00am. The game is open to the public. Come out and see your 2009 Faulkner Eagles.

Faulkner Tabs Baker to Lead Football Program

Gregg Baker has been named the head football coach at Faulkner University, school president Dr. Billy D. Hilyer announced Monday.
Baker, who was the Eagles’ running game coordinator and offensive line coach last season, was introduced at a press conference at Tine Davis Gymnasium with Faulkner faculty staff and students joining local media outlets for the announcement. He replaces Jim Nichols, who resigned following the 2008 season – Faulkner’s second of intercollegiate competition.

“This is a dream come true for me,’’ Baker said. “I’m excited about this opportunity. I’m looking forward to leading this program and honoring this university.’’
Baker was an all-city, all-state and All-American selection at Carver High School in Montgomery in 1985. He received a football scholarship at Georgia Tech, where he played for Bill Curry. He spent time as an assistant coach at the high school level at both Jeff Davis and Prattville and was named the head coach at Alabama Christian Academy in 2006. He spend two years there before joining the Faulkner staff in February of 2008.

A committee put together by Hilyer and Faulkner athletic director Brent Barker conducted a national search for the new head coach, reviewing over 100 applications for the job. Nine finalists, which included current college coaches from all levels, were then invited to the campus to be interviewed.

“After interviewing a number of candidates for the job, the committee and I decided there were none better than our own Gregg Baker and with him we have the advantage of some continuity in the program,’’ Hilyer said. “Gregg is very much respected by players and his fellow coaches.’’ Barker said he and the committee were impressed with each candidate, but agreed that Baker quickly emerged as the top choice.

“Gregg has a great reputation around the state of Alabama as an excellent football coach and it became apparent during the process that he was the guy we wanted to lead our program,’’ Barker said. “He is well respected by our faculty and administration, and I think our team is excited to have Gregg as its head coach.’’

**Artical from the Faulkner Sports Information Department***

Post Season Honors

Now that the holidays are over and the new year has begun, it's time to get to work on the ole blog. A lot of things have happened since the end of the season, but I want to focus on most important thing...the players. Since joining the Mid-South Conference, we are now able to receive post season honors. We were well represented in all areas of awards. Let's get started...

Champion of Character of The Mid-South Conference.
Sean Thom

All-Conference
Sean Thom

All-Conference Honorable Mention
Jared Corder (K)
Matt Fleck (LB)
Brandon Johnson (OL)
Ryan Nixon (DL)
Quinton Prothro (DB)
Jurrell Williams (WR)
Ryan Williams (RB)

Academic All-Conference
Bobby Britton
Frank Chinoski
Landon Taylor
Lincoln Taylor
Sean Thom
Colton Terry
Jurrell Williams

NAIA Scholar All-American
Bobby Britton
Sean Thom

We could not be more proud of these young men. As you can tell, the future is bright with athletes like these.