Congrats to a fine young man

Please allow me the privilege of bragging for a few moments. I know that it is often considered unseemly and crass to brag but I’m going to do it anyway. I’m not bragging about myself or my church or members of my immediate family this time, but I am going to express my extreme pride in a 19-year-old young man that I have known for well over 10 years.

Andrew Gardner was just a kid when his family began attending the church I served as pastor. He was the youngest of three children and was always a pleasant, smiling, polite child. Like his siblings, Jennifer and Rick, he was bright and well-liked. His parents, Jim and Christine, became faithful members and my good friends.

It was exciting to see Andrew grow and become interested in athletics. He would go on to Sandy Creek High School where he would excel in both football and basketball. He was named to the All-County basketball team and, in one game, grabbed 19 rebounds. But it was in football that he truly excelled. He was a three-year letterman and was an All-County selection as a junior. By the end of his senior year, he was a Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee, was named to the First Team All-Area by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was named as the top lineman for a school producing over 4,000 yards in offense, was ranked among the Top 100 in Georgia by TheInsiders.com, and was an honorable mention All-State selection (Class AAAA) in Georgia.

Andrew seemed unfazed by it all. He remained friendly, smiling, humble, and kind. One of my favorite photographs of Andrew was taken during a youth meeting at church where Andrew is surrounded by young people who are praying for him. It seemed that the only thing that changed about him was his height. Every Sunday, when I shook his hand at the door following services, he seemed to be an inch taller. Then, during his senior year, he signed a scholarship with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to play football.

He red-shirted his first year then, during spring practice, just 18 years old, Andrew earned a starting position as offensive left tackle. He would be 19 when the season opened in the fall of 2005 and Andrew helped lead Georgia Tech to a 7-4 regular season record. Georgia Tech defeated Auburn, North Carolina, Connecticut, Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest, and pulled off a stunning upset of Miami. They lost to Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Virginia, and were defeated in a squeaker by Georgia by a score of 14-7. For their efforts, they earned a trip to San Francisco and a berth in the Emerald Bowl, where they lost to Utah.

Andrew, who started every game, helped Tech lead the Atlantic Coast Conference with the fewest sacks allowed (just 10) and rank third in the league in rushing. He was named to the Freshman All-ACC Team by the Sporting News and was a Freshman All-American honorable mention by TSN.

But just last week, the Football Writer’s Association of America named the 6-foot-7, 280-pound Andrew Gardner of Tyrone to the First Team Freshman All-America Team. His response? He just came to church like always and later in the week played for our team in the local church league basketball game. He played hard but fair, never complained, encouraged the other players, congratulated the opposing team when they made a good play, and, when our team lost 47-41, he told our team members how well they had played.

I watched him play at Georgia Tech as I sat in front of the TV during several of the televised games. He was a fierce competitor and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to face him. He was an emotional player at times but he was always a gentleman and always kept his cool. In these days when college quarterbacks stomp the legs of opposing linemen, when players spit on opponents, curse referees, and even make obscene gestures at the crowds, I am honored to know and to serve a man like Andrew Gardner.

I am proud of Andrew not just because he’s a first-team Freshman All-American. I’m also proud of him because he’s a First Class Human Being. Congratulations Andrew on being names an All-American! And Go Tech!