Former Lambuth Football Coach Vic Wallace once told me there is a story behind every student athlete. After seventeen years as the voice of Lambuth athletics there is no doubt in my mind of that very fact.

There are stories of inspiration and courage. There are stories of thrills and yes-even heartbreak. There are stories of family support and no support at all. There are stories of success in the classroom and on the field.

There is the inspiring story of Jonathan Finch. A quarterback from White House, TN, not only excelled on the field and in the classroom but he raised two young brothers while at Lambuth. Finch actually played half a season with a broken arm.

The classy story of Jason Hoath who played, went to class and raised a family, all at the same time.

The story which captured hearts all over the nation of Joey Williams and his dream to play Eagle football with his son Kyle.

The superstar efforts of Jo Jo Jones and Cory Hill are still legendary. All one has to do is check the record books. Cory remains an inspiration to all of us with his battle against all odds and his recovery from brain surgery earlier this year.

There is the commitment story of former Lambuth All-American, Dan Crockett. After his education he built a successful business in Franklin American Mortgage. He has contributed his time and endless funds to the school and the athletic program.

There are the colorful athletes who have passed on the mantle of the Blue and White. Players like Matt Davenport with his pre-game rituals. The very hyper Brian Carlton. The off the field legend of Gene Lofaro who has become a successful businessperson in New York. The charisma of Dustin Hargrove. The grace of Rashad Smith. The antics of Doc Daniel, Major Wright, Johnny Allen, Kevin Lorenz and his favorite Bill Brusky, along with Mark Gadwell. I might add, all of those guys were very talented as well, except Bill Brusky.

 The ability of Ron Dixon who returned a kick-off in the Super Bowl will always be a huge part of the Eagle legacy. Chris Edwards and Andre Gilbert were as good as they come. Stefan Rogers and Allen Irvin are both in the NFL. Stefan is with the Ravens while Allen is with the Lions. Both proved to all, a player from a small school can make it to the" big time." Allen may be the nicest young man I ever covered at Lambuth.

 The intense defense of Derek Morales, John Thompson and Tyrone Malone and the power of Cedric Fisher will be remembered for a long time. No one will ever forget the toughness of Damon Bradford and Don Pitt.

Lambuth fans will never forget the "house calls" made by Doc Roberson. The enthusiasm of Josh Woulfe. The ability to cover the entire field of linebacker Bingham Tuisamatatele. Lambuth players who have been an inspiration to many by serving in our military like T.C Miller, Larry Terry and Chris Robinson. Dan Prestridge served in Desert Storm and then came to Lambuth to anchor the offensive line. (Thanks guys.)

There is the story of Mark Kelley. The quarterback from the same Arkansas high school of Bear Bryant, Kelley not used as much as he would like, excelled when called upon. He had one of the best games ever against Pikeville back in 07.

The family support of many of our athletes has been outstanding. Josh Omura's family has been a blessing to meet. Derek Morales, a long way from home was somewhat adopted by a Greenfield family, the Merrill Light family.   

Who can ever forget the guts of Josh Garza? Eagle fans will always remember the crunching blocks of Willie Bernard. He opened a lot of holes for Jo Jo.
 Two kickers stand out as two of the very best ever at the NAIA level in Jon Bass and Evan Granier.

The class of a young man like Jonathan Abel will never be erased from the memories of Eagle fans. A Hyde Scholar in the classroom and the ultimate teammate on and off the field.

The heartbreak of injuries suffered by many. One can never not feel sorry for Justin Farley and K.W. Smith. They deserved much better but both kept great attitudes and will be successful. Ronnie Hollis will tell you his experience at Lambuth was a positive one, despite an injury, which cut his playing days short. Hollis went on to attend the University of Georgia and is a successful businessman in Atlanta.

There is the story of Toby Taylor. Toby was not a star at LU but has become a star for many with his web site dedicated to Eagle football. Check out the site at lambuthfootball.com.

There is the story of former Eagle player and assistant coach Ryan Watson who married the very talented and sweet Kelly Forrest. Kelly has always been one of my favorites, even before she was a member of the national championship squad.

For every one of these stories there are hundreds more that will always linger in the hearts of Lambuth fans. We are sorry for those players left out in name mention and we beg their forgiveness.

All of this leads us to our story of the day. It is the story of maturity. This athlete is a story of maturity and how a program and a school helped change his life.

Don't get me wrong. Ryan Paul Harris comes from a great family. His Grandfather and Father have been very instrumental in his life.

 He came to Lambuth like many athletes with his own story. With family support and a love for football he dreamed of a college education and being a star.

He accomplished both in the end. It was not easy on the way. You see, Ryan Paul will be the first to tell you, he had a mischievous nature. Never bad trouble but at times not serious enough on the field or in the classroom impeded his potential.. That changed early his junior season. He became serious on and off the field and became one of the more popular Eagles in the last ten years .A loving family and a coach who cared led him to a degree and a new perspective on life. Today, he is working hard to be a head coach himself.

Ryan Paul caught a lot of passes in his career with Lambuth. His most famous catch was against Virginia-Wise back in 2006. In one of the more exciting finishes in Lambuth history he caught a 27 yard TD pass from Jonathan Finch with just 17 seconds left to give the Eagles a 47-43 victory.

This Saturday Ryan Paul will make the biggest catch of his life. He will marry the lovely Claire Brewer. Claire is a former manager for the football team. The ceremony will take place at L. L. Fonville Field at 6 p. m.

Lambuth University and all of the athletic programs have and continue to be a huge part of people's lives. For all of the negative things we hear these days there are stories like Ryan Paul and Claire that still remind us Lambuth is a great place to attend and work.