Hathaway makes dream come true
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Bobby Hathaway heard all the talk when he was finishing up his outstanding high school football career at Carmichaels. Hathaway wanted to give West Virginia University a shot as a non-scholarship invitee, but there were those who thought he’d be better off at a smaller school where he’d be assured of more playing time.
“That’s what some people told me,” said Hathaway, the son of Oscar and Barb Hathaway of Carmichaels. “They said it was a big risk going to West Virginia as a walk-on. You never know if you’re going to get a chance to play. Better to be a big fish in a small pond is what I guess they were saying.”
Hathaway followed his dream to Morgantown, however, and after one red-shirt year and an impressive freshman season that saw him spearhead the Mountaineers’ special teams, the 20-year-old Division-I player has now been awarded a football scholarship for his upcoming sophomore campaign.
“I always thought about coming here,” Hathaway said. “I had West Virginia season tickets when I was younger, and my grandfather, Fred Stuvek, played here when they won the 1949 Sun Bowl. There are pictures of him around the stadium.
“The thing is, if I didn’t pick West Virginia, if I didn’t give it a shot, I would’ve always wondered what would have happened, could I have made it?
“I’m glad I made the decisions I did. I wouldn’t change anything the way things stand now.”
The way things stand now, Hathaway not only is on scholarship, but also should see significant playing time at linebacker with a starting position a possibility.
“After spring ball, we had a meeting with the coaches, and they told me they were going to put me on scholarship and try to get me on as soon as possible,” Hathaway said. “I wasn’t sure when it was going to really happen, but then it came in the mail two weeks ago. It was cool to finally see it on paper, that it was official.
“I’m just happy to see it really happened.”
Hathaway rolled up 1,503 rushing yards as a senior at Carmichaels, helping the Mikes reach the 2002 WPIAL Class A semifinals with a pair of playoff victories. He averaged 8.4 yards a carry while scoring 22 touchdowns, and added 141 more yards with three more TDs and a two-point conversion in the 2003 Tri-County All-Star Football Classic.
Then it was on to West Virginia and his dream to play NCAA Division-I football and secure a scholarship as a walk-on.
Those goals have now been realized, but Hathaway isn’t about to let up.
“Just because I got a scholarship doesn’t mean I can slack off,” Hathaway said. “I’ve got to keep pushing myself to keep proving myself.”
Hathaway gave a good enough impression during the Mountaineers’ 8-4 season last year. Earning his way onto the special teams and seeing spot duty at linebacker, he played in all 11 games and was credited with 21 tackles. He was credited with one tackle for a loss and one quarterback hurry.
“I was running second string at linebacker in the spring,” said Hathaway, who is behind senior Jeff Noechel. “The coaches said I’d get 20-25 snaps per game on defense. We rotate five or six linebackers. I’ll still be on special teams, but I’ll be in the rotation for defense, too, if things keep going well.”
Hathaway is working hard, as is almost the entire Mountaineer team, this summer.
“We’re all down here, pretty much the whole team,” Hathaway said. “We’re working out five days a week. We lift on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and condition on Wednesday and Friday, too. We do speed and agility workouts on Tuesday and Thursday.”
Hathaway is hoping WVU can bounce back after a somewhat disappointing season last year. The Mountaineers were highly regarded in the preseason, but lost their final three games, including a defeat in the Gator Bowl to Florida State, although they did tie for a second straight Big East championship.
“I thought maybe there was too much pressure on us, too many expectations,” Hathaway admitted. “I wish we could’ve done a little better.
“We lost a lot of seniors and a lot of younger players are going to have to step up. I’m pretty excited to see what happens.”
West Virginia kicks off the college football season at the Carrier Dome against Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 4. The game will be televised nationally by ABC.
“I’ve never been there, but they say the fans are loud and real close to you on the sideline,” Hathaway said. “I’m pretty excited to go up there. That’ll be cool.”
After that, West Virginia plays on seven consecutive Saturdays, including games at Mountaineer Field against Wofford (Sept. 10), East Carolina (Sept. 24), Virginia Tech (Oct. 1) and Louisville (Oct. 15). They’re on the road in that span against Maryland (Sept. 17), Rutgers (Oct. 8) and South Florida (Oct. 22).
The Mountaineers then play consecutive Wednesday night games, on Nov. 2 against Connecticut and Nov. 9 at Cincinnati, before closing the regular season at Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 24.
West Virginia’s final three games will be televised by ESPN.
“We’re going to be on national TV about five or six times, so that’s pretty exciting,” Hathaway said.
As he looks back from where he stands today, Hathaway isn’t surprised by what he’s done.
“That’s what I was hoping for, to be in the spot I’m in right now,” Hathaway said. “I’m set up in a good position.
“And I’m not about to let it go now.”