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In the early fall of 2000, our Ohio State staff still had one scholarship to offer to a defensive lineman. We had trouble deciding between three players for the final grant-in-aid. They were all about the same size and had similar talents, so the decision was a tough one to make.
I kept watching film trying to find something that would make one guy stand out above the rest. Finally it happened. With just a few seconds left in a game that was all but over, one of the guys I was evaluating broke through and blocked an extra point even though his team was well ahead. He didn't have to do that -- he could have taken the play off. We offered him the scholarship even though he was from a much smaller school than the other two linemen.
The player's name was Tim Anderson, and he ended up being a three-year starter and a third-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. Tim now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, and the irony is he probably wouldn't have been offered a scholarship if he hadn't blocked that extra point. A play that meant nothing ended up meaning everything. Effort in football can't be overemphasized.
I kept watching film trying to find something that would make one guy stand out above the rest. Finally it happened. With just a few seconds left in a game that was all but over, one of the guys I was evaluating broke through and blocked an extra point even though his team was well ahead. He didn't have to do that -- he could have taken the play off. We offered him the scholarship even though he was from a much smaller school than the other two linemen.
The player's name was Tim Anderson, and he ended up being a three-year starter and a third-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. Tim now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, and the irony is he probably wouldn't have been offered a scholarship if he hadn't blocked that extra point. A play that meant nothing ended up meaning everything. Effort in football can't be overemphasized.
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