Bucknell University Athletics
Leading the Way for Bucknell
9/24/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2007
By Ashley LeVine, Bucknell Athletic Communications
Competing at the college level is something that an innumerable amount of athletes dream about and strive for. Most collegiate athletes can attest to establishing their favorite college team and to following their sport at the college level from a young age. Throughout an athlete's career, one is forced to develop, mature, and deal with transition. When high school graduation comes around, the time comes for aspiring athletes to decide if they have what it takes to compete at the college level while maintaining high academic standards.
Of all the athletes competing for a position on a college team, only a few make the goal into a reality. It takes a special type of person, one who is diligent, committed, and motivated, to be a successful student-athlete. All of the hours put into practice, training, and traveling, in addition to the late nights dedicated to staying on top of schoolwork are worth it, however, as the student-athlete is one of the few that knows the importance of being part of a team during a crucial point in life.
Bison senior Ryan Walsh is one athlete who was able to attain the goal of competing at the collegiate level. He can attest to how beneficial his experience on the Bucknell football team has been to him during his college years and how, with graduation just around the corner, he will carry the experience to other aspects of his life.
At Washington Township High School in Turnersville, N.J., Walsh lettered three times in both football and wrestling, but always knew he wanted to play football in college.
When the time came to look at schools, the defensive lineman remembers, "I went through the recruiting process like everyone else, which my family played a big part in. My mom and I actually made my highlight tape together."
Although Walsh was committed to playing football in college, he did not know where. Keeping his options open, he looked into a number of schools.
"I didn't know I wanted to come to Bucknell until my official visit when I came to campus," says Walsh. "I committed about two days afterward. I loved the place, the team, and the coaches."
As he ventured on the next step in the journey of his athletic career, Walsh immediately felt the support of his team at Bucknell.
"The transition from high school to college was not as difficult as what I was expected," says Walsh. "There were a few upperclassmen that were in my major and would help me pick out classes. They did a really good job telling me what needed to be done and how to do it."
Walsh earned a starting spot on the defensive line late into his freshman season and has maintained the position through his senior year. He was the only freshman in 2004 to start a game for the Bison, and in his sophomore and junior years he started every game. In doing so, he became a leader and sought to give others on the team the guidance he received his first year at Bucknell.
In his final season, Walsh says, "I try to do the same thing the upperclassmen did for me; I ask the freshmen if they need help. All the other seniors do the same thing because we know how much we appreciated getting advice from the older guys when we were younger, knowing how successful they were. We try to keep an open-door policy and a lot of the younger guys take advantage of that."
Knowing that his football career is winding down, Walsh realizes how important being a part of the Bucknell football team during his college years has been.
"I am appreciating it a lot more, realizing I only have a couple weeks left. I have started to appreciate a lot of the little things, being in the locker room, and just hanging out with these guys. We all come from different places and I am trying to make the most of the time I have left to be around these guys."
Making the Dean's List multiple times and being named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, Walsh knows how to balance challenging academics and a demanding athletic schedule. After graduation, he will pass along the tradition of being a part of a team valuing both athletic and academic excellence as the American history major plans on being a social studies teacher and a football coach back home in New Jersey.
His final season is not over just yet. Right now, he feels the Bison are at the same place they were last season at this time. He is looking forward to the fact that the team still has all of its Patriot League games left.
"We are really trying to take it up a notch, working as hard as we can and I am happy with how everyone is approaching the season and how hard we worked in the offseason," explains Walsh, who has 72 career tackles, including 12 this year, entering today's contest. "All of the doors are still open."
Walsh knows next year he will miss the home games on the turf at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. After four years of spending nearly every day on the field in varying conditions, it will be difficult to leave.
"I would always rather play a home game," mentions Walsh, who will play his final home game Nov. 10 against rival Lehigh. "My family is very supportive; I usually have one of the biggest crowds."
In the end, that is one of the greatest rewards of being a college athlete; to play in front of a home crowd with the support of a tight-knit group of peers, knowing that you are a representative of your university and what it stands for is a situation that anyone would miss. That sense of accomplishment makes all of the hard work associated with being a college athlete worthwhile.
