For Penn State RB commit Nick Scott, life-long journey leads to Beaver Stadium
By Frank Bodani, York Daily Record, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The new
It also was about buying into what his father and oldest brother taught him.
"He's living out each one of our dreams," said
"We're just living vicariously through him ..."
----Everything changed for the Scott family when
The father's roots are in
He once dreamed of playing football for
"I reached out to them, hoping I would get on someone's radar there," Scott Sr. said, remembering his high school days 30 years ago. "I did get a letter back. They appreciated my interest, but ..."
Instead, he earned an education degree, became a teacher and eventually a principal at
But he wanted more from his work. With the goal of becoming a superintendent, he entered
It was a tough transition on all the boys, especially the older two. They were in high school and had grown up going to
It was a bit easier on
But jumping was tough on his knees ... and
That sent the Scotts to northern
Simonds related a scene from last year, when an opposing coach asked Scott why he would play for a
Scott didn't hesitate: "Actually, I'm going to
"That answer" Simonds said, "kind of really threw me."
And then there's the athletic ability and the football value many schools were late to recognize. His strength is the first clue, bench pressing 325 pounds and squatting 485.
Another is his leaping ability. He cleared a stunning 6 feet, 6 inches in the high jump as a freshman. Then there was the clock in the foyer of his high school gym that's maybe 14 feet off the ground. The story goes that Scott stood, leaped and somehow touched it with his fingers.
Though still a shade under 6-feet, he could dunk a basketball in the eighth grade.
And that all eventually led to the football field. Go back to his sophomore season as he sprinted down the sideline during the final game. In one jaw-dropping sequence, he leaped and hurdled a defender, stayed in bounds, and then dove into the end zone for the fourth time that day.
"I remember fans going insane, coaches going crazy,"
"But my father hates when I jump."
That's because
"He has amazing leaping ability," said his father, 46. "But one thing we trained him to do -- or beat into him as parents -- is not to jump too much because it's too risky. He leaps so high that he lands too hard.
"Smart running backs learn how to preserve themselves."
----Always, proving himself in the classroom was most critical in his family.
Not only was his father a
"The toughest part was probably the social life," said
But now look at them.
Irving Jr., 22, is using his
"I enjoy helping people with their problems and giving them my advice," he said.
Mostly, going to
Finally, years later,
Now, he will report to
"It's really a dream come true. When I got the offer, my coach said he never saw someone smile so wide in his entire life. A lot of kids have favorite teams, but rarely does the opportunity come to play for your favorite team.
"It's motivation to show people how hard I worked over the years. I'm coming back to play hard for the state I grew up in."
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