Standing on the sidelines, Bobby Blick, a tight end at North Carolina State University, watched his teammates' time, sweat and endless weeks of practice come to fruition. During the previous weeks of summer training, the sophomore tore his ACL, a moment that would forever reshape his role in the game.
As a sophomore, Blick was offered a position on the coaching staff while he was rehabbing from his injury. The season before his senior year he was met with the choice of remaining on the coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant, or returning to the team knowing the previous season rehabbing on the sidelines would mean little to no playing time.
Blick said the level of responsibility that continued to grow as he was on staff had increased an interest in coaching. Though he had always looked up to his father, a high school football coach, he had never planned that his career would begin so early.
Though at first it was hard watching his teammates from the sidelines, Blick said that everything happens for a reason. He was disappointed he could no longer play, but in the end, things "took a turn for the good."
"At times people are defined by what they do, but God will then rearrange their priorities," Blick said.
After years of diligently training, adjusting to who he was without the jersey was difficult. Blick said that this experience has enabled him to support other athletes who will also have to discover who they are apart from the sport that they are passionate about.
From N.C. State to Elon University
Blick continued to coach at NC State for four seasons. When Jason Swepson took over as head coach at Elon University, he brought Blick on staff as the tight ends coach.
Swepson said that Blick offered "too many positives not to hire him," along with the fact that his wife and daughter made it clear they would "hate" him if he did not hire Blick. Swepson said Blick did a "fantastic job on staff and has a bright future." Swepson also noted that it was helpful having a younger coach on staff who was aware of current social media trends and could connect with the team.
A Young Man's Game
Blick said that being a younger coach on staff is an asset.
"It's something I've always kind of liked, being that I got into coaching early," Blick said.
Though he always was interested in coaching, he wouldn't have planned his career to start at such a young age.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways, and He led me early. So I guess that relating with the team has always been kind of my niche," Blick said. "Dad used to tell me, 'it's a young man's game' to be able to relate and communicate on the field is what it's all about."
Matt Eastman, a junior tight end, said that he enjoys working with Blick.
"He's younger than a lot of the coaches on staff, so you know, he's just cooler, honestly, he's just cooler," Eastman said. "We have a great time in our tight end meetings; we joke and laugh, and at the same time we study film and we stay in longer than any other position group. We just have a good time working hard and learning the plays."
Plus Blick knows what it's like being in college.
"He's a little bit more in tune to what college is actually like. He understands what we do, and he understands our commitments on and off the field," Eastman said. "He's just easy to relate with."
Coaching Tight Ends
Eastman is new to the tight end position this season. He formerly played as a fullback, and said that at first he was frustrated with the change. He said working with Blick has been very helpful in learning the position.
"I'm much further along because of him," Eastman said. "He does a really good job of explaining technique. He's been really patient with me."
Eastman said Blick is the type of coach to pull you aside and address specific issues, rather than abrasive yelling.
"He's starting to pick up on my mannerisms, he knows when I'm getting annoyed," Eastman said. "It just shows how connected he is with his players. He knows when I'm upset about something or I'm not learning something, and I'm trying to pretend like I know what's going on. He's definitely made the transition better, not just from a play-learning standpoint but from a mental standpoint."
Blick's perspective on coaching is that every athlete is wired differently.
"I like getting to know people and figure out how they work," he said. Blick said that if a player knows you care, he's almost always willing to work hard for you."
Blick said that what he loves about coaching is the relationships built. His dad, a high school coach, is his inspiration.
"He had such an impact on the players' lives that they always showed up at the house just to check in on him," Blick said. "That kind of led me into coaching. I coach for the relationships, the impact that you can have on people."
More than Football Plays
Blick says he hopes to make a positive impact, following the example of his father.
"I would love at the end of my coaching career for somebody to just say, man you helped me out a lot, you had an impact on my life, because of you I did this," Blick said. "That's why I coach. I love it."
Though he said he loves the "emotion" of the game, and loves the sport, for him coaching is more about the relationships than football.
Blick's spring break trip to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina made a visibly positive impact in one community.
"I think in a way, I'm a little bit more mature just because I can see how he carries himself," Eastman said. "He's not just this old guy teaching me plays and nothing else. If I have something that happens off the field I know I can go and talk to him, and I have." Though Eastman jokingly says he doesn't want to admit he looks up to Blick, he says, "I have a tremendous amount of respect for him."
In the future, Blick said he hopes to become a head coach. Though his first years on the sidelines were tough, Blick has embraced the coaching role and has admirable goals to teach more than just football plays.
His attitude embodies what he says is the most valuable advice he's received.
"Control the things that you can control and don't worry about the things you cant," he said. "My grandpa was a marine, and he used to say, 'FIDO' -forget it and drive on. That was one thing I always told myself, just because one door closes, another door is gonna open. Nothing good ever happens without first being positive. When times get tough, be able to rebound and keep moving forward. Know that's what you want to do, and what feel called to do, and nothing will stop you"