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September 26, 2012

Love of football took sidestep

By Dennis Glade Washington Times-Herald

WASHINGTON — Kelly Davison has always loved football, but for five years something else loomed much more important.

Davison, 26 enrolled at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in August 2011 and he began his new journey, this of becoming the best college football player he could be. This journey, however would be a piece of cake compared to his previous five-year journey in the United State Marine Corps.

It was spring 2004 and Davison was approaching his high school graduation from Washington, but he was a few months away from making a life changing decision. In October 2004, Davison joined the Marines and completed two tours in Iraq.

“I just felt a duty to serve my country,” Davison said.

While serving his country for those five years, Davison learned all about the system of discipline that got him to where he is today. Upon his release from the Marines, Davison enrolled at Vincennes University as he contemplated what he wanted to do next with his life.

After a year back home, Davison and some Marine buddies decided they were going to move down to Florida, specifically Orlando. Davison said he just wanted to live and make his life in Florida. After getting to Orlando, he enrolled at Valencia Community College as part of his goal to get to UCF.

“I was finishing my AA degree,” Davison said. “Valencia has a direct connect program, where once you finish your AA degree they automatically shuffle you right into UCF.”

Once Davison realized he was going to be at UCF, playing football became a reality once again. Without a scholarship, Davison decided to tryout and see what he could do for the Knights football program.

“I walked into the coaches’s office one day and told him I wanted to try out,” Davison said. “They told me to come back after spring break, I showed up and that was it.”

Davison made the team as a walk-on, playing on the offensive line and wearing No. 77 for the Knights. Getting the chance to play football everyday is a wonderful opportunity for Davison, one he is very thankful for. With two years left of eligibility left at UCF, Davison is working on finishing his bachelor’s degree in Science Education with an eventual goal of being a science teacher.

“I felt the need to serve so I did, but football was always something I wanted to do,” Davison said. “Once I had the chance when I got out, I jumped on it.”

Since joining the UCF football family in March it has been quite a transition from where he grew up to a large community like Orlando. The transition to the football team has been a welcome adjustment for Davison, who sees the life he lived in the Marines compared to the one he lives now as fairly similar.

“It’s really not as different as you would think,” Davison said. “All the players and the coaches have shown me a lot of respect. They respect what I’ve done and what I’ve been through. Being on a football team has a lot of the characteristics as being in the military. You have to be disciplined and you have to listen to your authority figures. Being on the football team is like the junior Marine Corps.”

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