Ashford’s football career closes in UT’s blowout win
Editor’s Note: Tennessee holder Patrick Ashford, a graduate of Morristown West High School, played the final football game of his career in the Outback Bowl Friday afternoon. This is the story of his college career, written in his own words.
As I sit here beachside in Florida, I simply reflect upon my last four years as a Tennessee Vol and one word comes to mind: Thankful.
After my senior year of high school, I told coach Lamar Brown that I had a desire to play college football and be a coach. However, I did not receive any offers to play until Carson-Newman offered me a chance to come play late that spring.
I quickly accepted that amazing opportunity and began my career playing for Ken Sparks, who is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football.
While I loved my time at Carson-Newman, I never lost my desire to fulfill most East Tennessee boys’ dream of becoming a Tennessee Volunteer.
Additionally, my family had to consider the financial cost of Carson-Newman compared to Tennessee due to my mom’s cancer diagnosis. Therefore, at the conclusion of my freshman season, I decided it was best that I leave Carson-Newman in order to try and walk on at the University of Tennessee.
Upon leaving CNU, I was faced with a great deal of uncertainty. I had no guarantee that I would even make the team at Tennessee. Thankfully, I had a connection through Scott Altizer, who is also from Morristown, and I was able to join the team in the summer of 2012. The first year at Tennessee is one that I will always remember. After much preseason hype, our team failed to have a winning record and ultimately led to Coach Dooley being fired. I will always be thankful for the opportunity Coach Dooley gave me in walking on and I do consider him to be a good man.
The hiring of Coach Jones was an exciting time not only in the program’s life but in mine as well. Anytime there is a coaching change, everyone on the team has a clean slate, and I was looking forward to this opportunity.
Coach Jones brought such contagious energy and passion that our program desperately needed. More importantly, he brought a sense of togetherness and family that is desperately needed in any program to win.
After his first spring practice, roster cuts were made and I was one of those let go. It was a time of confusion and disappointment for me. I never had the opportunity to run through the T or participate in the Vol Walk.
However, the one thing I hold onto tightly is that my Lord Jesus came and died for all of us to have a “Comeback” both on this earth and if we accept his grace in Heaven as well.
Everyone needs a good comeback story and Tennessee football just happened to be mine. Coach Mike Bajakian called me when school started back in the fall and offered me a roster spot with the premise that I would work with the quarterbacks while training to be the next holder. I enjoyed being apart of the team in 2013 and learning about the game of football.
The 2014 season was one to remember for me personally. I finally was able to play football for the Tennessee Volunteers. I will never forget the jitters I had running onto the field in front of 102,455 people in Neyland Stadium against Utah State for my first play. It was a surreal moment for me being in that moment.
I remember running off the field and embracing one my great friends and teammates, Michael Cantwell. I was very thankful that we were able to play football together from seventh grade through college.
The next memory came against the Missouri Tigers on a primetime Saturday night ESPN game. Josh Dobbs rolled to the right and was tackled right in front of our bench on a third down when Coach Jones called a fake field goal.
I was prepared to run the play and knew if I could get the ball off it would be a touchdown. Our offensive line did a great job protecting me and Alex Ellis did a great job of escaping out and going to catch the football. They deserve all the credit for that play. Other than getting engaged to my beautiful fiancé Erin (who has been so encouraging and great throughout all of playing career), that was the coolest experience of my life.
My senior season has been the most rewarding for me not only as a player but as a person as well. Coach Jones graciously awarded me with a scholarship three days prior to fall camp, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment for all the hours of sweat and hard work I had given.
The season came with a great amount of expectation not only from fans but the team as well. We knew we were talented and were fully expectant on winning the SEC. More specifically, Aaron Medley and myself were looking forward to having a big year.
As we all know, many times in life things do not go as planned. We had a slow start to the season, missing several field goals including a heartbreaker in “The Swamp” as Aaron’s 55-yard field goal missed by half a foot.
Additionally, it was equally heartbreaking missing three field goals at Alabama in such a tight game. We had to do some soul searching and realize who we were playing for.
We found hope in Colossians 3:23, that says in whatever we do, we do it with all of our heart for God’s glory.
After reading this verse in our hotel room, we began saying, “For Him” to each other before every kick. We tuned out the distractions from the outside and realized it was about doing what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
We finished the season making 12 of 14 attempts kicking along with Aaron setting the single season record at the University of Tennessee for the most points in a season. It was a great lesson in perseverance and “emptying the bucket” every day.
As I conclude, I realize that all that matters is the people you have impacted and those that have impacted you. I have no more games left as a player at Tennessee, but I am perfectly fine with that because it’s about so much more than wins and losses.
The memories and friendships that I have encountered will go on forever. I just want to write a final note of thanks to the people of Morristown for their support over the past four years. Your constant outpours of interest and care mean the world to me. There are so many people who have done so much for me to name, ranging from community members, family, friends, pastors, coaches and teachers. I thank you all and am extremely grateful.
It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!
-Patrick Ashford
Editor’s Note: Tennessee holder Patrick Ashford, a graduate of Morristown West High School, played the final football game of his career in the Outback Bowl Friday afternoon. This is the story of his college career, written in his own words.
As I sit here beachside in Florida, I simply reflect upon my last four years as a Tennessee Vol and one word comes to mind: Thankful.
After my senior year of high school, I told coach Lamar Brown that I had a desire to play college football and be a coach. However, I did not receive any offers to play until Carson-Newman offered me a chance to come play late that spring.
I quickly accepted that amazing opportunity and began my career playing for Ken Sparks, who is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football.
While I loved my time at Carson-Newman, I never lost my desire to fulfill most East Tennessee boys’ dream of becoming a Tennessee Volunteer.
Additionally, my family had to consider the financial cost of Carson-Newman compared to Tennessee due to my mom’s cancer diagnosis. Therefore, at the conclusion of my freshman season, I decided it was best that I leave Carson-Newman in order to try and walk on at the University of Tennessee.
Upon leaving CNU, I was faced with a great deal of uncertainty. I had no guarantee that I would even make the team at Tennessee. Thankfully, I had a connection through Scott Altizer, who is also from Morristown, and I was able to join the team in the summer of 2012. The first year at Tennessee is one that I will always remember. After much preseason hype, our team failed to have a winning record and ultimately led to Coach Dooley being fired. I will always be thankful for the opportunity Coach Dooley gave me in walking on and I do consider him to be a good man.
The hiring of Coach Jones was an exciting time not only in the program’s life but in mine as well. Anytime there is a coaching change, everyone on the team has a clean slate, and I was looking forward to this opportunity.
Coach Jones brought such contagious energy and passion that our program desperately needed. More importantly, he brought a sense of togetherness and family that is desperately needed in any program to win.
After his first spring practice, roster cuts were made and I was one of those let go. It was a time of confusion and disappointment for me. I never had the opportunity to run through the T or participate in the Vol Walk.
However, the one thing I hold onto tightly is that my Lord Jesus came and died for all of us to have a “Comeback” both on this earth and if we accept his grace in Heaven as well.
Everyone needs a good comeback story and Tennessee football just happened to be mine. Coach Mike Bajakian called me when school started back in the fall and offered me a roster spot with the premise that I would work with the quarterbacks while training to be the next holder. I enjoyed being apart of the team in 2013 and learning about the game of football.
The 2014 season was one to remember for me personally. I finally was able to play football for the Tennessee Volunteers. I will never forget the jitters I had running onto the field in front of 102,455 people in Neyland Stadium against Utah State for my first play. It was a surreal moment for me being in that moment.
I remember running off the field and embracing one my great friends and teammates, Michael Cantwell. I was very thankful that we were able to play football together from seventh grade through college.
The next memory came against the Missouri Tigers on a primetime Saturday night ESPN game. Josh Dobbs rolled to the right and was tackled right in front of our bench on a third down when Coach Jones called a fake field goal.
I was prepared to run the play and knew if I could get the ball off it would be a touchdown. Our offensive line did a great job protecting me and Alex Ellis did a great job of escaping out and going to catch the football. They deserve all the credit for that play. Other than getting engaged to my beautiful fiancé Erin (who has been so encouraging and great throughout all of playing career), that was the coolest experience of my life.
My senior season has been the most rewarding for me not only as a player but as a person as well. Coach Jones graciously awarded me with a scholarship three days prior to fall camp, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment for all the hours of sweat and hard work I had given.
The season came with a great amount of expectation not only from fans but the team as well. We knew we were talented and were fully expectant on winning the SEC. More specifically, Aaron Medley and myself were looking forward to having a big year.
As we all know, many times in life things do not go as planned. We had a slow start to the season, missing several field goals including a heartbreaker in “The Swamp” as Aaron’s 55-yard field goal missed by half a foot.
Additionally, it was equally heartbreaking missing three field goals at Alabama in such a tight game. We had to do some soul searching and realize who we were playing for.
We found hope in Colossians 3:23, that says in whatever we do, we do it with all of our heart for God’s glory.
After reading this verse in our hotel room, we began saying, “For Him” to each other before every kick. We tuned out the distractions from the outside and realized it was about doing what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
We finished the season making 12 of 14 attempts kicking along with Aaron setting the single season record at the University of Tennessee for the most points in a season. It was a great lesson in perseverance and “emptying the bucket” every day.
As I conclude, I realize that all that matters is the people you have impacted and those that have impacted you. I have no more games left as a player at Tennessee, but I am perfectly fine with that because it’s about so much more than wins and losses.
The memories and friendships that I have encountered will go on forever. I just want to write a final note of thanks to the people of Morristown for their support over the past four years. Your constant outpours of interest and care mean the world to me. There are so many people who have done so much for me to name, ranging from community members, family, friends, pastors, coaches and teachers. I thank you all and am extremely grateful.
It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!
-Patrick Ashford
