Grounded, But Not Broken: How ‘Goose’ Crowder Rose After the Fall

~~Will~~ Goose Crowder isn't just another quarterback chasing the spotlight—he's the kind of player who fights for every inch, on and off the field. Known to just about everyone as "Goose," a nickname that stuck since childhood thanks to a Top Gun obsession and an older brother with a sense of humor, Crowder's journey took a dramatic turn last season. What began as a long-awaited opportunity to start under center was quickly derailed by back-to-back injuries that could've knocked the wind out of any athlete.

But Goose? He didn't fold.

The Takeoff
The nickname "Goose" was born in a living room, long before Crowder took his first college snap. A young Will Crowder would rewatch Top Gun endlessly, drawn to the planes, the speed, and most of all, the character Goose. His brother Michael started calling him that—and it stuck. Eventually, it wasn't just a nickname—it was identity.

"It was in the yearbook. It was on my trophies. Even my coaches and teammates called me Goose," Crowder said. "It just became who I was."

Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Crowder was the youngest of three boys in a football household. His oldest brother, Steven, played linebacker at Eastern Kentucky, while Michael was a quarterback at Centre College before joining the Marines. Crowder soaked up everything they did—learning from their successes, their mistakes, and their relentless work ethic.

"They were my role models. They really helped shape who I am, on and off the field," he said.

The Injury That Grounded Him
Last season was supposed to be Goose's breakout. After transferring to Troy from West Virginia, Crowder earned the starting quarterback job—a dream he'd chased since youth football. But then came a pair of injuries—one early, another soon after. The second one was serious enough to force difficult conversations with doctors, coaches, and family. The consensus was clear: he needed to sit the rest of the season out.

"It was a rollercoaster of emotions," Crowder said. "But once the decision was made, I knew I had two choices. I could sulk—or I could still show up and be there for my teammates."

He chose the latter.

While many in his shoes might have disappeared from the forefront, Crowder made every trip, wore every headset, and mentored Troy's younger quarterbacks. Even if he wasn't throwing passes, he was still leading.

"The relationships I had with the guys, the staff—it made me want to be around. I didn't want to sit at home watching on TV. I wanted to be part of it," he said.

Faith, Family, and Fortitude
Through it all, Crowder leaned heavily on his support system. His parents were a lifeline, even from a distance. Teammates like Eli Russ, Tucker Kilcrease and Matthew Caldwell provided daily encouragement. Coaches checked in constantly, showing that Goose wasn't forgotten even if he wasn't playing.

"I prayed a lot. My family prayed a lot," he said. "But honestly, everyone rallied around me. It meant the world."

That support helped Crowder reframe his injury—not as the end of a dream, but as a detour. He learned to be more protective of his body, more aware of when to slide or step out rather than take a hit. As he puts it, "Knowing when the party's over can be the difference between second-and-11 and being out for the season."

A New Mission
Now fully recovered and wiser than before, Goose is ready to fly again. He's using the experience to lead with more perspective and maturity, both in the locker room and on the field. And while his signature grit—seen in both plays he was injured on, where he fought for every yard—hasn't gone anywhere, he's added something else: patience.

"There's only one quarterback on the field," he said. "I've always known that. But now I know how valuable it is just to be on the field."

Goose Crowder may not have planned for last season's turbulence. But his ability to endure it with grace, grit, and leadership says more about him than any stat line ever could. And this year, he's not just coming back.

He's cleared for takeoff.

Troy University Athletics

Grounded, But Not Broken: How ‘Goose’ Crowder Rose After the Fall

Players Mentioned

Matthew Caldwell

Goose Crowder

Tucker Kilcrease

Eli Russ

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