Former Harding track and field runner Stephen Copeland learned last week that his name will be among those included on the University of Alabama football team.<\/p>\n
Copeland, a sophomore, came to Harding with the hopes of playing football. In high school, he played quarterback but was forced to step away from the game his senior year after he broke his thumb.<\/p>\n
Growing up in Huntsville, Ala., Copeland was a big fan of Alabama, and he said he always dreamed of playing for the Tide, but with his injury, it seemed Copeland would not get the chance to play football anywhere.<\/p>\n
After coming to Harding, Copeland went to an open tryout, but was told the Bisons did not have a spot for him on the team. That did not stop him. Copeland decided to try to walk on the track team. The coaches were impressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told us he didn\u2019t really have any experience running,\u201d former Assistant Track Coach Bryan Phillips said. \u201cBut he wanted to give it a try.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phillips added that Copeland was not a groundbreaking runner, but his hard work and determination paid off. Copeland made the team, and he ran the 400 meter dash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people and the coaches were great,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cBut the season and the races sucked. It just wasn\u2019t something I was passionate about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copeland said he was a middle of the pack runner, but his dream was still to play football, so he transferred closer to home. Once he arrived Copeland took one more crack at fulfilling his dream of playing football at the University of Alabama. He arrived at try-outs, prepared to fight for his spot on the roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had lots of conditioning. That\u2019s one of the things [the coaches] look for,\u201d Copeland said.<\/p>\n
However, because of his time spent running, he was in the best shape of his life for summer workouts. He said he never realized how much his time with Harding would help him in his journey to play football.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 30, Copeland received word from his coaches that he had earned a full-time spot on the roster. Now he works as a safety on the scout team, helping the Tide prepare for their next opponents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s rewarding,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cBut you aren\u2019t really recognized. A lot of people don\u2019t see the work that goes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copeland\u2019s former teammates were among the first to know he had made the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a hard worker, and I really enjoyed him as a teammate and as a friend as well,\u201d senior hurdles runner James Bowie said.<\/p>\n
Copeland watched Alabama\u2019s game against the University of Louisville from home. Division I schools are limited to a 65-man travel roster, but Copeland was there to celebrate with the team when they returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m shooting \u2018em texts. The next day we\u2019re in the locker room going crazy,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cThey\u2019re like family now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Copeland feels he has not reached all of his goals. He still hopes to run through the tunnel of Bryant-Denny Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a dream come true. I don\u2019t know how it\u2019s gonna feel, because I have nothing to compare it to,\u201d Copeland said.<\/p>\n
That still will not be enough for Copeland, who said he hopes to get on the field before he graduates.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to start,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cYou\u2019ll never get to where you want to be if you don\u2019t have high goals.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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