Cedar Bluff's Henderson gets second chance to play football, signs with Shorter

by Shannon Fagan, Sports Editor Rn T.Com

Sitting from left is Gary Moore (uncle), Robert Henderson and Dale Reese (mother). Standing from left is Cedar Bluff principal Bobby Mintz, Cedar Bluff assistant football coach Todd Dean, Cedar Bluff head football coach Jonathan McWhorter and Cedar Bluff assistant coach Matt Watson.

slideshow CEDAR BLUFF - September 7, 2012 is a day Cedar Bluff senior running back Robert "Bam" Henderson won't soon forget.

Just a play into the Tigers' second football game of the season at Valley Head, Henderson pulled up lame. He thought he'd rolled his ankle or had a cramp, but the diagnosis on the sideline was much worse.

"The trainer was like, 'You're probably done.' I was like 'What do you mean?' She said, 'You're probably not going to play football again. You tore your ACL,'" Henderson recalled. "I looked at her and dropped my head. I started crying because I had put in so much work over the past few years in football, the sport that I love."

May 21, 2013 is also a day Henderson won't soon forget, either.

That's the day all the rehab and conditioning he's gone through the past few months proved to him it was worth it. He's been given a second chance to play the sport he loves.

Henderson signed a football scholarship with Shorter University in Rome on Tuesday. He said he never thought signing a football scholarship would be possible following his injury, but he's thankful Shorter sees something in him to take a chance.

Henderson plans to make the most of that opportunity.

"Today, I have a different feeling. I'm filled with joy and happiness," Henderson said. "I'm ready to move on. I'm ready to open a new chapter in my life, close this one and start fresh. I'm ready for it."

Henderson thanked Tiger football coach Jonathan McWhorter for helping him get through his difficult time. He said McWhorter gave him the push he needed to keep battling back to form.

"After I got hurt, I pretty much gave up on it," Henderson said. "I was focusing on going into the military, but Coach McWhorter always stayed in my corner. He stayed after me every day. He said 'Hey Bam, you still want to play football?' I'd look at him like he was crazy. I was like 'Coach, don't anybody want a running back with a blown out knee.' Through it all, he still stayed in my corner and helped me get recruited."

McWhorter said he's proud of how Henderson has worked his way back into playing shape.

"It?s pretty remarkable," McWhorter said. "He?s pretty much back at full speed now. He?s running, cutting, back in the weight room, trying to get back to where he was. He just needed an opportunity, and now he?s gotten it. Now it?s up to him.

"This is definitely not an ending. It?s a beginning. It?s an open door. I'm just so proud of him."

Henderson said the call he got from Shorter was unexpected. He was coming home from track practice one day and saw a number he didn't recognize. It was from Shorter recruiter and assistant coach Shawn Turner.

"He was like 'Bam, we're interested in you coming up here and playing a little ball. You want to come up for a visit?' It was just one of those things that popped out of the blue. I was just so happy," Henderson said.

Henderson went on his visit, met the Hawks coaching staff, and the rest is history.

"From a 1A school with no film your senior year, it?s tough to get opportunities," McWhorter said. "Shorter kind of rolled around and said they were interested. He went for a visit, and it kind of went from there. He was definitely excited when he found out they were at least interested. After the visit, he got to sit down with their head coach, offensive coordinator and some other people, and he couldn?t quit smiling when he got back that next day."

Henderson said the Hawks more than likely plan on playing him at the wingback position when he arrives at camp this summer.

"It's going to be odd at first running the option because I'm not used to that kind of offense, but that's part of the game," Henderson said. "You've got to transform and become better. Day by day, I've just got to push myself to get better, and that's what I'm going to do."

Source: http://rn-t.com/bookmark/22673328

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