San Benito High School senior Enrique Rodriguez, a three-year varsity starter for the Greyhounds football team, is seen Thursday surrounded by his family, campus faculty and football coaches signing a letter of intent to play for Texas Lutheran University. (Staff photos by Francisco E. Jimenez)
By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Enrique Rodriguez, a three-year varsity starter for the San Benito Greyhounds football team, has signed to play football for the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs in Seguin.
“He’s one of those guys who was a freshman when I got here, and he’s gone all the way through the program,” said San Benito High School Head Coach and Athletic Director Spencer Gantt during a signing ceremony for Rodriguez on Thursday. “Nobody could ever question his work ethic on and off the field. I couldn’t be more proud of him and what he’s accomplished for us.”
Gantt described Rodriguez as a leader on and off the field who motivated those around him to put in extra time in the classroom.
“Probably the biggest thing that I’m most proud of is during his sophomore year, he felt that if he was really going to go to college, that he needed to start working on his grades,” said Gantt. “He has put so much time in the classroom and overachieved in the classroom. That’s exactly why he’s sitting here today. He’s going to school because he’s academically qualified to go to school, and he’s going to school to do something that he absolutely loves to do, which is play football. I couldn’t be more excited about this.”
Rodriguez, who played outside linebacker throughout high school, will be pursuing a degree in accounting while playing football at Texas Lutheran University, a Division III football program.
“It’s been a really good experience,” Rodriguez said of his time at SBHS. “It’s taught me a lot of lessons, and it just taught me to be a better person. What I’m going to take away from this is leadership, because that plays a big role, and I have to stay on top of my grades and just stay on top of my game. I can’t let up.”
“He’s just got a great gift of leadership,” Gantt said. “He is a great leader on and off the field. These kids rallied around him constantly, and he did an outstanding job of keeping their fire going and keeping them motivated. I think the most important thing is they saw what he was doing in the classroom, and it really motivated them to excel in the classroom.”
Gantt added, “Football is a fleeting moment in our lives. There is going to come a time when there is no more football, and what do you have to fall back on? He’s going to have a great education from this high school, San Benito High School, and he’s going to have a great education from Texas Lutheran to fall back on.”
Rodriguez explained how he plans to balance playing football at the college level while maintaining his grades in pursuit of an accounting degree.
“I plan to just do my football, and when it comes to studying I have to put in my time,” said Rodriguez. “I just have to balance everything and figure it out somehow. (Football) was probably the best experience I’m ever going to have in my high school years. It was really fun. It’s something I love and I’m really going to miss.”
1 comments
Wow now theres the whole picture. Coach Gantt. is truely a life affecting coach If he keeps produceing college level student players in San Benito your sure to see a first class footabll program second to none. There no short cut to playing football and winning . You go to college to study to be prepared to do research early and use all the resources avalible to you in college tutoring and libraies . There may be some people who may make it hard on you but rest assure they are only human and give way to human needs to become excellent problem solvers and professionalism.. Your desires to suceed are only as good as the person who stays foucus on academics. Live life to the fullest and take no chances, play some footabll , play smart some of the kids on the team will be bigger and faster and the level of play is alot more physical but most of all study as if your life depended on it. Have fun. “The way you study and preform in the class room to make excellent grades with no sort cuts will bring out the best in you on the gridiron”! Gods speed.