By Ryleigh Watson | When thinking of people who have graduated, in particular athletes, there is a vision of them going out and starting their life right then and there. However, when a door opens to play one last season of the sport they love, it is hard not to take it.
It is football season, and some players are soaking up every minute they can due to having a Covid year.
When most people think about Covid, they think of quarantining and being confined to their houses. However, HPU athletes see it as something that took away a season of the sport they loved.
“The covid year is actually a year that was granted to all NCAA athletes that in the year of 2020 Covid was at its highest; some sports played a full season, and some did not. So, therefore, the NCAA granted them one more year of eligibility,” said HPU Head Football Coach, Jason Bachtel.
Bachtel said that although they were granted another year of eligibility, there is more to consider for these players than just playing another year.
“We were at that point to where you want those guys to take that year because they are so much more mature, they have been invested in this program. But, you also want them to understand where they are at,” said Bachtel. “Some of them have already graduated, so they have to make that decision. Are they ready to get into their career workforce, or do they want to stay one more year? So when all of them decided they were ready to come back and play one more year, it was great for Howard Payne football.”
There are multiple seniors currently taking their Covid year. One of these seniors is player #20, defensive back Dylan Zeno, a graduate who majored in business administration.
“I’m just going to be there for my teammates. I’m always going to ride in the blue and gold,” said Zeno. “I think we had a good chance last year to do what we were supposed to do, and we had a good shot at winning the ring, but I think that this year we have an even better shot. We have more experience and just all-around the whole 53-man roster. I definitely think I made the right choice coming back,” said Zeno.
The HPU community is ready to see the players back on the home field and back in action. Getting the opportunity to see the familiar numbers and faces of these athletes makes this football season one to remember.