Billy Bruce/The Lawrence Herald
Ironton native Tyler Whaley waves to the crowd at Buckeye Stadium on Senior Day. The 23-year-old fullback just finished his final season with the Buckeyes.
What would Tyler Whaley think?
Jan 09, 2008 @ 11:59 PM
The Herald-Dispatch
Despite Ohio State's 38-24 loss to LSU in Monday's national championship game, the team's second consecutive title-game defeat, I still want to be a Buckeye. Specifically, I want to be fullback Tyler "Tank" Whaley.
So here goes:
As the 23-year-old senior from Ironton, I want to say that this loss really hurts. We worked our tails off the past several weeks to get ready for this game. Nobody on our team believed LSU was any better than we were -- and they weren't. We just made some mistakes in the game we couldn't overcome.
I don't want to take anything away from the Tigers; they are an excellent football team. They earned and deserve this win. But, I want to remind everybody that our team was extremely young this year. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us. Remember? We lost Teddy Ginn, Troy Smith, Antonio Pittman and Anthony Gonzales to the NFL after last season. Nobody gave us much of a chance to even win our own conference when this season started, much less play for it all.
But we went through the regular season 11-1, and there we were in New Orleans playing for the national championship again! We scored the first 10 points of the game. It was an overwhelming rush. But, then things kind of fell apart. Like you, I was on that rollercoaster ride of emotions, from high to low. I'm as much a fan of my team as I am a player. These guys are my buddies. I wanted this win for all of us.
Sometimes, though, life doesn't script itself the way we want it to play out. That's hard for me to accept, because a national championship ring is the only goal I set at Ohio State that eluded me.
I walked onto this team after high school because it was my lifelong dream to wear the scarlet and gray. I pushed myself harder than most people can imagine just to become a part of this historic program. I went from an undersized walk-on lineman to a scholarship fullback because I refused to give up on my dream. And, although we didn't win the big game, I wouldn't change anything for the world.
For the rest of my life, I'll be able to say that I knocked heads with the best football players in the country. I'll use my experience as an example for those who say, "I can't."
That's when I can say, "Let me tell you a story about when I was a young man."
I am a living, breathing example that anybody, no matter what their age, can achieve anything if only they believe in themselves. I still have the best years of my life ahead of me, and I will always chase my dreams. You can take that to the bank.
I am, and always will be, an Ohio State Buckeye!
Tyler Whaley is much too humble to talk so openly about his personal accomplishments. Knowing what I know about this young man, he would most likely deflect all praise aimed in his direction to others. That's just how he is. I greatly admire him for that.
Kids and adults across Lawrence County, and throughout Ohio, have been inspired by Tyler and his flat-out refusal to allow anything to keep him from his dream. For five seasons on the OSU campus, he was David among many Goliaths. There is no way to measure the seeds of hope and desire he has planted in the hearts of others simply by believing in himself. What a great example he is for our children!
The lives of Tammy and Dave Vogelsong and Rich Whaley, along with the entire Whaley and Tipton families, have been greatly blessed by this young man. I know how proud they all are of Tyler. It's a special pride that can never be taken away.
Tyler has played his last game as an Ohio State Buckeye, but his determination will play on for many years to come. Stories like his are passed down for generations.
I'm only one man, but I know I speak for many when I say, "Congratulations, Tank, on a truly spectacular career as a Buckeye. Thank you for the inspiration you have given to us all. You make us very proud!"
Billy Bruce is a freelance writer who lives, works and writes in Lawrence County, Ohio. He can be reached at [email protected].
but didn't list it since he's off to the side and was wondering if anyone would catch it. Hate that we won't see more of him.