Bucknell University Athletics
Focusing on Family and Football
12/1/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2008
By Matt Saylor, Bucknell Athletic Communications
This story appeared in the Nov. 22 Bucknell Football Program
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, a focus on family and football emerges across the country. For 22-year-old Bucknell senior Nolan Applegate, family and football has been his focus every day since he was only five.
A native of Morrisville, Pa., Applegate is one of eight in his family to have played football for Pennsbury High School. His father, Richard, his uncles Brian, Scott, Blaine and Bill, and a cousin, all preceded him as a Falcon, while his younger brother Richie just completed his senior season at Pennsbury.
“Football has always been the biggest part of my life,” Applegate says. “I grew up with it. My parents [Richard and mother Joyce] have made every game I've played in. They have supported me my whole life, in everything.”
Applegate's family has also bonded through The Falcon Foundation, started by Applegate's uncle, Blaine, in 2003. The annual event raises money for cancer research projects at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, and was started once Applegate's grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. The 5th Annual Falcon Foundation Two-Man competition and party raised $54,851 this year alone, and in five years has raised almost $175,000, all going toward cancer research.
“The whole event has just been a great chance for my whole family to do something positive for the community,” Applegate explains. “The event takes place in my uncle's backyard. We have games like horseshoes, volleyball and darts as well as auctions with autographed donated items. We had over 500 people at it this past year.”
The next event is set to take place on July 18, 2009, and more information can be found about it at the Web site www.thefalconfoundation.org.
--------
“Bucknell was actually the only school I officially applied to,” Applegate says with a smile when asked about coming to Lewisburg. “[Head] Coach [Tim] Landis called my house when I was a junior and started recruiting me. He actually knows my family. He is from the same neighborhood. I visited in the summer before my senior year. It was raining. I think every time I visited here it was raining, but I liked it here and my family liked it here.”
Applegate played safety, running back and quarterback in high school, while also returning kicks and punts. So for what position was he recruited to play at Bucknell?
“Coach Landis said he was recruiting me as an athlete,” Applegate remembers. “I started out at cornerback and by the fourth game of my junior year, against Richmond, I had worked my way to the offensive side of the ball. I remember at practice that week a coach asked me how I would feel playing offense. I just said 'Awesome.'”
What was awesome was Applegate's first carry as a running back, as he ran for a nine-yard touchdown against the Spiders. Applegate knows now though that his main role is as a special teams player.
“I love returning punts,” he laughs. “I know a lot of people would think that is crazy with 11 guys coming at you, but it is something I've worked really hard at and am excited to do.”
Over the last four seasons, Applegate established himself as one of the Bison's most versatile players. Over his 33-game career, Applegate has appeared as a defensive back, slot back, kick returner and punt returner. He has run for a touchdown and thrown for a touchdown. In 2006, Applegate accumulated 281 yards on punt returns, the third-best total for a single season in the Bucknell record books, and his 431 career punt return yards rank him among the best return men in the program history. Unfortunately, Applegate's senior season has been cut short, due to an injury suffered against Colgate, and he has had to watch his final collegiate games from the sidelines.
“I think the hardest part of not being able to play is knowing that I could be in there making something positive happen, helping with our struggles,” Applegate admits. “At the same time, I'm proud of everything I've accomplished and happy with all that I have done on the field.”
Despite missed playing time this season, Applegate still contributed one of the year's standout moments, completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to classmate Alex Odenbach in the Bison's contest at Robert Morris. Applegate's halfback option throw turned out to be the game's winning score, halfway through the third quarter, in a 17-14 Bucknell victory.
The game that Applegate most remembers from the past four years is Bucknell's 38-24 upset at Fordham in last year's regular-season finale. The Rams could have achieved a perfect conference record with a home win over Bucknell, to go with their Patriot League title, but were unable to get past the Orange and Blue.
“It was the kind of game we are always capable of playing,” Applegate reflects. “When we are all working together and coming together, that is what we can do, and what I hope the team does going forward.”
Applegate is disappointed with how this season's record turned out, but not in the progression of the squad.
“This is not the year I expected coming in,” he says. “However, this year I saw the biggest change mentally in the team. There is more passion for winning and playing well. There were a lot more people here over the summer, preparing for this season. People want to be winners and that is a big step in bringing the program to where it needs to be.”
Applegate continues, “Since I've been here recruiting has gotten better, and so has our attitude. I believe we work harder than anyone else in the league, and I believe we have to. We are undersized, so we need to work harder and play harder and that will pay off in the near future.”
As for Applegate's future, he would like to attend graduate school sometime in the next few years. He hopes to receive a master's in higher education, and he is currently on track to graduate with a bachelor of arts in education.
“I like working with kids,” he says. “I really want to coach football, whether it is pee wee or high school, coaching is something I want to do.”
With his love of football and his passion for helping others, Applegate should have no trouble achieving his dreams.
