Senior Spotlight: Reid Rials

For the Rials' clan, football is a family affair. A whole family affair.

Throughout his high school years, Reid Rials and his family were all in it together. They won as a family, and they lost as a family, quite literally.

"(My brother) was my offensive coordinator in high school, my head coach was my dad, and my uncle was the defensive coordinator," Rials said. "We were all in it together. They all just wanted to see me succeed."

With the family living together and working together, football seemed never ending.

"I couldn't get away. I would go to practice, go to school and go home, and they were all there. It was football all the time."

This mantra of "football all the time" rang true even on one of the most important days of a student-athlete's career, graduation day.

Rials' father, Scott, was the head coach at Luverne High School and was set to play in the state championship game the same day Rials was graduating from Southern Miss. Rather than walking across the stage to receive his diploma, Rials was on the sideline with the rest of his family cheering on Tigers.

"My mom said that the only way I could get out of walking at graduation was if my dad made the state title game, and he did. I was on the sideline with him, my brother and uncle. I had to be close to the action."

So, when it came time to leave Southern Miss and finish his playing career, Troy was an easy choice.

"I have always liked Troy. My sister graduated from here. My mother, aunts and uncles; you name it. Troy had a big place in my heart. I am excited to have gotten the opportunity to play at Troy."

Suiting up for the Trojans meant that Rials was just miles away from his dad.

"It was awesome for us because (my dad) was just right down the road. He could get to the games easier being just thirty minutes from Troy. We enjoyed that a lot."

As a family man, having his whole support crew nearby has made being at Troy that much more special.

"You know how dads and sons are. We talk every day about football and anything else. I have family everywhere around here and having them all around has been a big blessing."

As Rials finishes up his MBA in December and his last year on the playing field, the next step for him seemed like a no-brainer.

Like father, like son. Time to continue the family business.

"Now that I am getting ready to decide what career that I want to take, I talked to my dad. I think I am going to go into coaching. That's what I have known for so long, and it is my passion."

"I might as well keep it going. I guess I'll be right there on the field with the rest of the family."

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