Ryan Silverfield’s first off-season as Memphis football coach was not the elegant transition I expected.
The COVID-19 pandemic canceled spring practice and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor encouraged athletes, like many others across the country, to raise their voices even further against racial injustice.
Silverfield only supported his players, announ in June that the Tigers would be the first Division I team to wear a helmet sticker supporting Black Lives Matter.He will be at the demonstration on Saturday when he makes his home training debut against Arkansas State (7pm, ESPN) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
For those of you who know Silverfield, it wasn’t a surprise. As motivated as Silverfield was to be the head coach, he cared about the players he worked with just as he cared for his friends in his 22-year coaching career.
“If you’re a user in Ryan’s life, you’re incredibly vital to him,” said Ben Watts, who has known Silverfield since they were freshmans at Hampden-Sydney College.”I’m sure you’ve had quite a few open and fair conversations with as many of those children as possible.As this challenge has become increasingly prevalent in society, I think he cared what they had to say about it.
‘You can’t simulate their point of authenticity when it comes to caring for children.’
Silverfield’s education course is not typical.His only delight in principal education in 2004 at Memorial Day High School in Georgia and the team finished 1-9.His first Division I task came here when Mike Norvell hired him in Memphis before the 2016 season, and he is just one of two AAFC coaches along with SMU’s Sonny Dykes who has not played football at school.
In Hampden-Sydney Division III, he maintained the balance between being a student and running as an assistant coach for four seasons.
Watts recalls how Silverfield befriended one of the show’s top visual followers, Walter “Shorty” Simms.Simms had Down syndrome, but volunteered on the team, either to wash the uniforms or to help leave the stadium blank.
“Even though he’s 30 years younger, he likes an older brother chasing this guy,” Watts said.
Jon Staman, a friend of the training years, said that when Silverfield was named president of Elementary School Elegance in high school, his priority was to join as many academics as possible.Remember once when Silverfield volunteered at a homeless shelter.
“He did it just to get an idea and an idea of where other people are in other walks of life,” Staman said.”On the football team, he also played a leadership role in meeting and bringing others together.
Silverfield cared as much about relationships as he cared about his training skills.He trained the defensive line for two seasons at Hampden Sydney (2001–02) before moving to closed wings and H fullbacks in 2003.
Staman said that on his scale in Silverfield, he lived in the school gymnasium to prepare for the games.It’s an ethic of paintings they learned from their best school coach, Corky Rogers, the most successful coach in the history of Florida’s best schools.
Rogers did not have full groups of top-tier recruits, however, he preached the basics and most important opponents.When Silverfield’s playing career ended after a neck injury in his senior year, he transferred the classes to coach.
Watts saw Silverbox’s friend away from the box: the guy who took some time for pizza and video games while they were read for the final or the friend who left tickets for him and his father during his six seasons on the Minnesota NFL staff.Vikings.
When Silverfield was a graduate assistant at UCF, he advised him to assign assignments to Watts when he tried to locate positions in football.Although he refused, he appreciated Silverfield taking care of him.
“Many more times, when he did his best to give time to all his friends.No, none of the time he said, “I’m sorry, I can’t, ” said Watts.
This ability to build original relationships made Silverfield an exciting choice when Norvell hired him in Memphis.He briefly worked with Silverfield in the state of Arizona, and when he was looking for an offensive line coach, he called Silverfield not only because of his football IQ, but because of the way he communicated and shaped relationships.
“Ryan does a smart task of listening when he communicates with other people and that’s all I think is important,” said Norvell, now coach of the state of Florida.”One of the things that he does aside is that he is very selfless with his time when it comes to meeting someone.”
Trust and candor helped Silverfield become one of the Tigers’ most sensible scouts, but he also played a role in blocking the school’s most productive offenses and also attracted him to players.
When offensive lineman Obinna Eze recruited through Silverfield, he gained text messages in Igbo, Eze’s local language of Nigeria, the texts made him feel appreciated and even now receives igbo messages from his coach.
“He a few words and words and uses them from time to time, ” said Eze.
Gabe Kuhn, who played for Silverfield from 2016 to 2017, recalled how his coach had to be helped with non-public problems, so he was not surprised that players burst with joy when he was hired as head coach.and supported them with a Black Lives Matter helmet sticker.
He’s a wise football coach, but he’s also committed to our off-field life.He’ll make sure you’re okay, that you’re okay,” Kuhn said.”It will treat you with human decency and some coaches across the country don’t.”
So when Silverbox gets in the box on Saturday, he’ll be aware of what it cost the small University of Virginia in Memphis.You’ll probably have an emotional mind about your circle of family and friends who will attend the game.
But you’ll also think about your players and make sure they prepare for the start of the 2020 season.
Only he needs it.
“It’s not about me, it’s about those young men and watching them play with their hearts for victory,” Silverfield said.”That’s what will keep me motivated and excited.”
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