SAN ANTONIO — Senior center Nate Leonard is back again this season with a blog that will give fans an inside glimpse into UTSA Football.
The Roadrunners dominated from start to finish on Friday night at Houston and won their fourth consecutive season opener (third straight on the road) by a score of 27-7. Leonard played a big role in the squad’s program-record-tying sixth win in a row.
A leader on and off the field, the McKinney native was instrumental in the team's success last fall, as UTSA won its last five games en route to a 7-5 overall record and 6-2 mark in its first campaign as a member of Conference USA.
The 6-foot, 280-pounder was a member of the preseason Dave Rimington Trophy watch list (nation’s top center) and he earned preseason second-team All-Conference USA accolades from Athlon Sports. The only player to start all 35 games in program history was a 2013 second-team Capital One Academic All-American in addition to being named the 2013-14 Conference USA Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football.
Leonard is coming off a junior season that saw him record a team-leading 70 knockdown blocks and he also graded out at 82 percent. He was a key part of an offensive line that did not commit a holding penalty during the season while helping the offense average 25.6 points, 417.8 total yards (175.4 rush/242.4 pass), 21.9 first downs and 32:24 possession time per contest.
Below is his second entry of the fall.
Week 2: H-Town Down
On Friday night, I did something I usually don't do. I stood back. I watched with intent as many of my teammates gathered at the entrance of the tunnel, priming to take the field.
I watched as fellow seniors led the bushy-tailed underclassmen in chants and stood back as the chants crawled the walls and retreated but not before injecting electricity throughout my body.
I stood back and watched as the Roadrunners faithful leaned over the rails of the tunnel, cell phones in hand, with the blind hope of forever saving a taste of that tunnel feeling — that feeling of being more than alive.
I stood back as a sea of red took to its feet and smiled as hostility attempted to suffocate the tunnel.
I stood back because I needed to watch and I watched because I needed to remember.
The hands of the clock of my final season have been set in motion and they won't turn back for me. In fact, they won't turn back for anyone. I guess the hands of the clock have been ticking for a while now, but I just happen to be a little more aware of them these days. I can remember when those hands started moving and when the end was far from near.
There was a large oak tree in the middle of the park. It was the only shade for miles and it was a friend to everyone. Parents would circle around it like a campfire and coolers would rest under it like Christmas presents. It was August and condensation from the coolers rolled down, but the tree provided some haven from the hot Texas sun.
I wasn't used to my pads. In fact, earlier in the day, I attempted to try on my gear in preparation for my first football practice ever and wound up putting the pads backwards in my pants. Once I recovered from my mistake, I wore everything throughout the house all day and played out ill-scripted scenarios of game-saving sacks and game-winning touchdowns.
However, practice wasn't anywhere close to my daydreams. Coach Jeff introduced himself to the players and parents and then proceeded to run our third grade, baby fat-laden bodies into the thirsty Texas dirt. My head was spinning and I hadn't even sustained a hit yet. Then, like a sign from above, Coach Jeff blew his whistle and set up the first tackling drill.
I don't remember much about the hit other than it just felt right. It felt like that moment when you bust a baseball off the sweet spot of the bat. I turned to my mom and dad, flashed a smile from my beet red face and gave the most enthusiastic double thumbs up the world had ever seen. At that moment, we all knew that the hands of the clock wouldn't stop ticking any time soon.
I think about that moment after nearly every first play in a ball game. All the nerves and anticipation of the contest keep building and building until that first hit when the tension dissipates into the opponent. I always find myself wanting to turn to my family and give them the double thumbs up, but I don't play in a small community park with a large oak tree and campfire circle of parents anymore.
Two nights ago, we played Houston at their brand-spanking new TDECU Stadium in front of a standing-room-only crowd of more than 40,000. Our "hard hat" defense forced six turnovers en route to a 27-7 victory and they deserve the credit for the win.
Crosby Adams III is a pivotal member of that group and of the "Original 18."
Crosby and I rarely cross paths on the football field aside from the occasional water break. Since he is a member of the secondary, the only feasible time that we even are in close proximity is during a screen play, but by the time I might seen him, he already is gone.
However, I have gotten to know Crosby pretty well throughout our years at UTSA due to the fact that we share the same major and many of the same classes.
Crosby is a good teammate and a better man.
Here is what UTSA Football means to him.
"If I could describe this team in one word, without any doubt, it would be 'family.' Our advantage is that the 'Original 18' bought in early and established a tradition that has given this team an edge over our opponents. I am truly amazed as to how much we have grown as a program and university and how we have grown from having practices and meetings at Dub Farris Stadium to now having our own practice field and meeting rooms. From playing as an FCS Independent to now playing in Conference USA, it's truly a blessing to have come so far, so fast."
Crosby is right. It is amazing how far we have come and, more so, how the vision that the coaches sold us on five years ago has held true.
So, my last first game is in the books and it was a winner.
In my four seasons at UTSA, we never have lost a season-opening game. Consider it just another feather in the cap of the legacy that we will leave behind.
As the second huddle took the field to run the victory formation, I stood back and watched the future of UTSA Football run the greatest play in the books. As the clock ran down in Houston, I stood back and watched us avenge a defeat that rested heavily on our team. As the hour and minute hands of my playing career continued to tick away, I stood back and knew that there was no other place that I would rather be. I stood back, watched and relished the fact that each and every game day, my teammates and I take a stand.
Previous entries
· Aug. 25