The TSU football team’s road to glory was a long one that began with many adversities. Many of these spawned a three game losing streak to begin the year. The Tigers overcame this obstacle and many more but the toughest task was saved for the finale of their season. They would have to play without starting senior quarterback Arvell Nelson.
There were many questions surrounding Nelson and the Tiger football team when news dropped that he would not play in the SWAC championship game.
There was an NCAA investigation was looming over the TSU athletic program during the Tigers’ historic run and caused the coaching staff and the Athletic Director, Charles McClelland to pull Nelson for the championship.
The investigation dated back to 2007 long before Nelson arrived on campus, but centered around him and others when the Tigers began to go on their improbable run.
“The story is that we as a program were being investigated for NCAA violations. Certain players were questioned about things that happened in the past and to be safe coach felt it would be the right thing to do,” said Nelson.
The night before the big game, Nelson and the team were notified that he would not be able to compete in the championship. The Tiger offense would have to make a major adjustment in order to come up with a game plan that did not include their starter. Nelson had somewhat of a rough start to the season, but would later become part of a major turnaround that led the tigers to seven straight victories and a SWAC championship bid. However, the Tigers would have to survive without their battle tested quarterback.
“At the end of the day what’s done is done, but it really hurt cause I worked so hard for that moment and for it to be taken away hours before waws heart breaking.”
Coach Cole rallied the Tigers behind Nelson, asking that they give it all they had for the guy that helped them make it this far. Nelson could not even stomach not being able to play in the game with his teammates and stayed behind at the hotel in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Tigers ended up winning the championship behind backup quarterback Riko Smalls and claimed the first outright title in school history.
“But at the same time I had no doubt that we would win the game. As a team we dealt with adversity all year and me being held out of the game was just fuel to our fire.”
Nelson will receive his championship ring with his teammates on April 17 after their annual Maroon and White Spring Game. Nelson is set to graduate in December, but will also take a shot at playing at the next level.
“The next thing for me to do is to graduate and make it to the NFL. If that don’t work out I am going to go into personal training and possibly coaching,” said Nelson.
Nelson’s plan is to put his full effort towards the NFL, but if that doesn’t work he will have a degree and still plans to be a part of the game in some kind of way.
“The game of football has my heart and I feel it’s my calling to teach young men how to be men using this game, the way the game helped me,” said Nelson.
The TSU Pro Day will be held on Monday March 28 and Nelson will be one of several talented young men trying to show off the same maturity, talent, and passion that led them into the first SWAC football title in school history.
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