08/15/2022
The Life of A College Walk On By Kyev Tatum
Introduction
Church Shoes and Football
I grew up loving and playing many sports, however football was my sport of choice.
I loved football. Punt. Kick. Pass. Football was for tough boys and I was a tough kid, from tough neighborhoods, with very tough options. Football would become my ticket out of the traps of poverty. I dreamed of playing professionally, however I was a realist, I had a better chance of getting a college degree than playing professionally. So I earned the degree.
I felt my first burst of football bliss as a 5th grade running back on my school's team. We were poor and my mother could not afford to buy me tennis shoes, so I wore "Church Shoes" to school, practice and even the games.
One day we were playing a school called Circle Park Elementary and I kept slipping during the game. In frustration the coach told me to take them off and run without shoes or socks. Not wanting anyone to step on my toes, I ran faster than I ever remember running.
We won the game and I scored several touchdowns on that road to victory.
This was the beginning of my love for the game of football and an eleven year journey through elementary, middle, high school and college championship teams. Each phase taught me about life and about myself. However nothing has had an impact on my life more than having the courage to walk on two college football teams (Tarleton State University Texans and the University of North Texas Mean Green Eagle) and earning four football letterman awards respectively, a bowl appearances in Mexico City and two trips to the NCAA I AA Playoffs in 1987-88
It was not easy. I used what was left over after the scholarship players received their gear. It was humbling, however I was determined to make it on the team and out of pain and shame of poverty.
The Life of A College Walk On is my incredible story, but it is really about God's Amazing glory of grace and mercy.
Growing up without a father caused me to fall into the same traps of every other fatherless, insecure, immature, ill prepared and ill responsible teenager in Innercity, USA.
I had to discover through the pain, pressures and problems created by my hurts, habits and hang ups caused by the stress, strain and struggles of living life in abject poverty, how to overcome many barriers, stumbling blocks and burdens with the help of the Lord.
The Life of A College Walk On is my way of letting young people know that it is not where you come from but where you are going. It is not where you start but where you finish that will determine your destiny in our society and eternity.
From walking on to the football field to walk the halls of the Texas Capitol try to pass meaningful bills, this is the Life of A College Walk On.
The Life of A College Walk On
Kyev Tatum
Fort Worth, Texas 76123 | 817-966-7625 | [email protected]
From College Campus to Texas Capitol: http://www.legetv.org/content/senate-education-sclc-president-rev-kyev-tatum-march-26-2015
My Brother's Keeper Grassroots Network:https://northtexan.unt.edu/content/my-brothers-keeper
