2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsUnlikely rise for Davis
Kai Raymer
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Only two years ago, Gerald Davis was buried on the depth chart at linebacker and fighting for playing time on special teams.
When Terry Allen took over as head coach that winter, Davis felt rejuvenated and sensed he was being given a clean slate.
"I looked at it as a chance for me to start over," Davis said. "New coaches have to look at their personnel and see what they can do, so it was basically a new opportunity for me."
After being converted to running back in 2006 and serving as the backup, Davis has since run away (mostly into the endzone) with his new starting role.
It rose to a rare level Saturday afternoon as Davis broke the single-game Missouri State touchdown record with five scores. He now has 16 on the season, placing him one behind Mark Daniels (1979) and two behind DeAndre Smith (1990) on the single-season Missouri State list.
Quite a ride for an individual that was converted to linebacker midway through the 2005 season.
Davis, who started his career as a fullback, said that his time spent on offense and defense was worth it.
"It was a learning experience," Davis said. "Everything was worthwhile, even though I went from playing fullback to linebacker. Coach Allen put faith in me and I'm just glad I could live up his expectations."
Allen pondered if he might have stumbled upon a hidden gem when he first saw the 6-foot, 225 pound Davis.
"You look at his body and his physique stands out," Allen said. "He's really made something of himself through hard work. You like to have players like that have success and all his teammates were happy for him."
Despite freshmen composing nearly 50 percent of the roster, the senior Davis has become a rallying point of sorts for the team.
Freshman quarterback Cody Kirby was one of the first to congratulate Davis after he scored his fifth touchdown.
"It was awesome to see him get that record," Kirby said. "We were all pulling for him."
Allen said Davis' performance was a great example for younger players of how hard work can pay off.
"I wanted Gerald to come away from this season with something he would be in the record books for," Allen said. "He's been kind of a beacon for us as far as doing the right things. He's the captain and a great young man."
Davis admitted it was a day he'll remember but was already focused on next week's game against No. 1 Northern Iowa.
"The way I look at it, every game I can do better," Davis said. "I'm proud of this and everything, but I can't hold on to it for too long. I've got to put it behind me because we have to get ready for UNI."
But Allen said he doesn't want to close the book on Davis' record-setting season just yet.
"Now let's see if we can't get him the season record."
When Terry Allen took over as head coach that winter, Davis felt rejuvenated and sensed he was being given a clean slate.
"I looked at it as a chance for me to start over," Davis said. "New coaches have to look at their personnel and see what they can do, so it was basically a new opportunity for me."
After being converted to running back in 2006 and serving as the backup, Davis has since run away (mostly into the endzone) with his new starting role.
It rose to a rare level Saturday afternoon as Davis broke the single-game Missouri State touchdown record with five scores. He now has 16 on the season, placing him one behind Mark Daniels (1979) and two behind DeAndre Smith (1990) on the single-season Missouri State list.
Quite a ride for an individual that was converted to linebacker midway through the 2005 season.
Davis, who started his career as a fullback, said that his time spent on offense and defense was worth it.
"It was a learning experience," Davis said. "Everything was worthwhile, even though I went from playing fullback to linebacker. Coach Allen put faith in me and I'm just glad I could live up his expectations."
Allen pondered if he might have stumbled upon a hidden gem when he first saw the 6-foot, 225 pound Davis.
"You look at his body and his physique stands out," Allen said. "He's really made something of himself through hard work. You like to have players like that have success and all his teammates were happy for him."
Despite freshmen composing nearly 50 percent of the roster, the senior Davis has become a rallying point of sorts for the team.
Freshman quarterback Cody Kirby was one of the first to congratulate Davis after he scored his fifth touchdown.
"It was awesome to see him get that record," Kirby said. "We were all pulling for him."
Allen said Davis' performance was a great example for younger players of how hard work can pay off.
"I wanted Gerald to come away from this season with something he would be in the record books for," Allen said. "He's been kind of a beacon for us as far as doing the right things. He's the captain and a great young man."
Davis admitted it was a day he'll remember but was already focused on next week's game against No. 1 Northern Iowa.
"The way I look at it, every game I can do better," Davis said. "I'm proud of this and everything, but I can't hold on to it for too long. I've got to put it behind me because we have to get ready for UNI."
But Allen said he doesn't want to close the book on Davis' record-setting season just yet.
"Now let's see if we can't get him the season record."
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