Ward says goodbye to
Ferrum football
Shanna Carter, Assistant Sports Editor
Football is just a sport to watch, for many, but for some, it’s a part of their life. For Chris Ward, a senior from Fairfax, Va., it’s been closely tied with his self-identification for the last eight years.
Ward started playing football his freshman year in high school. He said he would have played Little League Football; however, he was always too big to qualify for the team. Ward started out as a defensive tackle on Fairfax County’s ninth grade team. He played well, and the next year, the coach moved him straight to varsity. Ward started on the schools team for the following three years.
“Football taught me a lot—it taught me about hard work and dedication. It always paid off in the end!” Ward says.
Ward came to visit Ferrum College in his senior year of high school and was recruited for the football team here as an offensive guard. “It’s the same position as defensive tackle, just on the other side of the ball,” Ward explains.
Since Ward began football, his parents have never missed a single game, not at any time or for any reason in the past eight seasons. “It’s really important to me that they’re there. It gives me an incentive to play that much harder and not let them down at all.”
Ward, an accounting major, is in his senior year at Ferrum. The end of the 2003-2004 football season marks the end of an era in Ward’s life—he’ll turn in his football pads for an accountant’s suit.
“I know I’ll feel incomplete without football,” a teary-eyed Ward says. “I don’t want it to happen; I wish this season could last forever.”
Ward says most of his memorable moments have happened on the football field. During his high school years, he lived for Friday night, when he could seize his next opponent on the field. His favorite memory happened during his senior year of high school, when he had his third sack against Marshall High School. “It looked so good on film. So good. I wish I could watch it over and over again!”
Ward’s coaches at Ferrum have had a huge impact on him. He singles out Coach Addison Kendricks, a first-year coach, who, he says, has given him a new perspective on something he never thought he lacked on the football field—confidence. “I have always relied on my strength, or my speed, to get me to the opponent. I never realized that if I had more confidence, it would be easier for me to achieve my goals.
Ward also praises Coach Dave Harper and the way that Harper has caused him to rethink his goals: "Coach Harper has taught me a lesson I’ll take wherever I go in life. He told me the sky is the limit—if I dream it, I can achieve it!”
Teammate Gary "Beebo" Buchanan says he has really enjoyed
playing with
Ward during his Ferrum career. "He’s a great player, and he’s
definitely always there when someone needs him.”
Ward maintains a high GPA at Ferrum while pursuing his degree. It certainly hasn’t been easy for him, with football practice and games tying up most of his free time. How does he do it? “Lots of ARC time. I live in there!” Ward grins.
Ward hopes the season won’t end on Nov. 15, when the Panthers play the last regular season game against Christopher Newport. He prays that the team will go ion to post-season play.
“I know I’m going to cry the last game. As soon as the last game is over, and the time clock reads 0:00, I know that’s when it’ll begin,” Ward sighs and shakes his head. “Life without football…it’s a hard concept for me to grasp.
Ward plans to go to a few open tryouts for the NFL, the Canadian football league, and arena football; he’ll go to any reasonable lengths to keep football in his life.