University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
10/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, October 5, 2009, 4:35 p.m.
Think back to late November of 2006. Now pick something you love, a food, an activity, a hobby, anything like that. Now let's say you can't do that until September 4, 2010. The old adage, you can look, but don't touch. That's what Tyler Stradford is doing as the long wait until he can play football again drags on.
"I've always been playing football, but I've missed it a lot since I haven't been playing and I've grown to appreciate it more," said Stradford.
The OU transfer arrived at North Texas at the midterm and hoped to receiver a waiver from the NCAA to play due to numerous circumstances. Well that's didn't go as planned. Waiver denied. Another year down the drain right? Not really.
"I was down, but if it wasn't in God's plans then if I gotta wait, I gotta wait," said Stradford. "I've just got to do whatever I can to help the team."
So it's another year of waiting for Tyler. So what exactly do you do while you wait to play....again. He's found some things to keep busy with.
"They just told me to keep working, be a leader and going into my third year of college football and I wanted to work to become that leader," said Stradford. "I'm going hard on the scout team and trying to make everyone work, make the defense play faster. A lot of time scout team players aren't the best guys on the team but I try to go hard every play and make them work for the next opponent."
Stradford has been relegated to scout team duties. Not the most glamorous work for a guy expected to the No. 1 guy when he's eligible. Normally he plays the role of the opponent's No. 1 receiver. During the week of Alabama he played the role of Julio Jones.
"Against Alabama I was Jones," said Stradford. 'They said I did everything he did but I did it a little faster than he did is what they said."....There was a wide grin coming from his face after that answer by the way.
But for Stradford he is serious about becoming a leader and doing it by example has been his biggest asset while sitting out....again.
It will be over 1,200 days when Stradford lines up for North Texas against Clemson in 2010 since he has played in a game. You almost wonder if he will even remember how to play the game. But you need not worry Mean Green faithful, Stradford has been waiting for this day for a while. He can see it.
"I think about that a lot," said Stradford. "I envision myself playing in that game and running my first route. But the thing I picture myself doing is going out there and having fun and being able to do what I love again, and that's play football."
