For some college may seem out of the question, but for Carbondale’s senior Owen Lee, he plans to continue his football career playing for the Southern Illinois Salukis. Owen had his signing Wednesday the 4th, and the room was filled to the brim with people who have supported his goals from day one and to anyone we can see how his hard work has paid off.
“So, it looks like an easy narrative but it’s not. There’s a lot of things that a picture won’t show, it won’t show that this guy, my guy, has been a fixture in my life and in my coaching for four years. For four years I’ve walked by and seen him sitting in the same spot, in the same corner waxing philosophical to players.”
Owen has put countless hours into preparing for his future as SIU and anyone can see how excited he is to continue his career at SIU.
“I’m excited to be bad again and have to learn everything. I’m excited to be a D1 football player, that’s a big deal and it’s gonna be a good time.”
“Sometimes being good at something isn’t enough, what people don’t see is the hours and hours and hours in the gym. Me knowing every night what time the rec closes because 15 minutes later he’s here. The plyo, the weightlifting, the running the stadiums. When everyone else went home he would be leaving and I would be like, “Where are you going?” assuming he’s going to go cruise for chicks or something cool, I’m like “Where are you going?” and he’s like “I’m going to go run the stadiums again” people don’t see that. They see a big kid and think “Oh that’s just a natural progression, surely he’s going to get a scholarship” it doesn’t work that way.”
“I love these guys, and for allowing me to lead they’ve allowed me to learn. They’ve allowed me to learn what it takes to be a leader and how to control a group of people who look up to you and that’s a hard spot to be in.”
Owen had the majority of his family, friends, teachers, and coaches come to his signing. This truly showed how many lives Owen has been a part of and how much he means to everyone he’s come in contact with.
“Probably either beating Murphy this year week one after being down 25-7 or beating Marion last year to win the conference championship, but beating Murphy this year was a big deal. I was very happy with the win.”
“There’s the politics of shaking hands, “Yes sir, no sir” hoping that somebody will take value in you. Putting yourself out there like that and thinking “You have what I want, I hope that I can get it” and going through that process sometimes it being heartbreaking, but now it’s being a celebration. You don’t always see that, in the picture you see a short guy and a big kid and you think this is the way it’s supposed to work, but it doesn’t happen without hard work.”
“If I could choose one player to be like it would be Joe Thomas, Coach Stamp, he inspires me everyday, and then you know my dad, little ole tiny guy but he got out the trenches and he inspires me everyday.”
Carbondale will certainly miss Owen’s presence on the field and in the classroom. Thankfully though we will be able to see him grow as a person and a player in his new environment and team at SIU.
