Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Troy University
Gameday Magazine Debuts
9/1/2010 9:35:50 AM | Football
Troy Gameday, the game program of the Trojans, will feature two seniors
The weekly home game program of Troy football, GAMEDAY, will feature two seniors for its season-opener against Bowling Green State University. The magazine will feature Jerrel Jernigan, who is poised to become Troy's all-time leading receiver this season, and senior Tyler Clark who will be making a jersey change for the opening game this season.
The two articles give you, the fan, an inside look at each of these individuals off the field of football. Below you will find excerpts from the articles, but in order to view the article fully you need to grab a GAMEDAY on Saturday at locations inside and outside of Veterans Memorial Stadium.
FULL SPEED AHEAD, ON AND OFF FIELD
Pride, desire, dedication and courage.
All words used to describe any walk of life, a great way to lead a life, but for Troy senior receiver Jerrel Jernigan … that is life.
Jernigan begins his final season at Troy University this weekend, and it will mark the end of one of the greatest careers by a receiver in school history. The senior is on the verge of becoming the greatest receiver in school history in receptions and yardage, and he currently holds the school record for receptions in a single season.
But for Jernigan, it is more than just numbers that he wants to be remembered by. The numbers are great, but to Jernigan, life is more than just football.
“Away from football, a lot of people don't know but I like to have fun,” the senior said. “I mess with my teammates, talk on the phone and I stay on Twitter. If you follow me on Twitter, you know I am at Waffle House 24/7. I also love my family, I am a family guy.”
But for Jerrel, the fun almost didn't happen here at Troy. He had attention from other schools as he entered his senior season in high school. However, the Trojans had an ace up their sleeve in the form of Shayne Wasden. A high school coach before his time at Troy, Wasden knew about Jernigan while he was a freshman in high school and that paid dividends in the end.
CLARK IS MORE THAN JUST FOOTBALL
Tyler Clark is a football player.
He doesn't play a sexy position and he wasn't a highly touted recruit, but Tyler Clark is a football player.
Football isn't what drives Clark.
It's just a part of the complex structure that pushes Troy's senior center to be the best he can be. Its part of what has pushed him to 31 consecutive starts, first at left guard, and now at the center position.
“Its funny when I first came here, I wasn't a believer at the time, but thought I was,” Clark said. “Just to see the story unravel is really cool.
“I don't want people to look at me and say 'Tyler Clark plays football.' I want them to see more of God and more of Jesus when they look at me. We are supposed to be bringing glory to him and I'm playing this game to do that.”
Clark's faith is part of what got him to Troy. His faith in the Lord and his faith that the right opportunity to play college football would open up.
“The dominoes were crazy,” he said. “Troy wasn't on the radar at all. I went ahead and filled out an application down here and I knew I could get accepted down here. It was nothing though.
“I thought I was possibly going to play at North Alabama, then West Alabama, possibly Jacksonville State, but that didn't work out. Then I was just going to walk-on at UAB. I really was just going to do that. There was a weird mix-up with paper work and I know why now – because I'm here.”
In Clark's mind, a Higher Authority had another plan – a plan that included a true freshman walk-on playing in the opener and starting by the eighth game of the year.
REMEMBER, TO READ THE FULL ARTICLES PURCHASE A GAMEDAY AT VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM ON SATURDAY.
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