Ten years of karate brought Chad McNeal to the realization of a personal goal. He had wanted to achieve first degree black belt status, and after he succeeded, the Calvary Christian School student began to think about moving on to another sport challenge.
Towards the end of his seventh-grade year at Calvary, friends began encouraging McNeal to try out for the school’s middle school football program. It was just coming off the inaugural year of development and McNeal was looking for something to help him stay in shape in preparation for the possibility of playing high school sports.
While many young guys who participate in middle school football have played the sport in recreational leagues, McNeal had never been “into” football. He was so skeptical of the plan to join the Calvary Knights middle school football program that he didn’t even discuss his plans with his mom at first.
“I didn’t tell her I was going to play football. I signed up for it, and when she got the email about it about a week later, she wasn’t too happy about it,” said McNeal, 15, with a smile.
As time went on, McNeal’s mother got more accustomed to the idea and supported her only child in the pursuit of becoming 
a football athlete. For the eighth-grader, it was difficult starting from scratch in learning the game, but he was a quick study.
“He would and will not quit… [H]e is very attentive, especially when learning something new. He was not one we had to continuously re-explain things to. He generally picked up on them quickly,” said Ray Honea, football coach for Calvary Middle School.
Honea wanted to play the 5’10,” 155-pound McNeal at fullback since he was one of the fastest athletes on the team. Sometimes the plans don’t match up with the players, and the middle school team didn’t have anyone who could step in and block. The decision was made to ask McNeal to play on the line, and it turned out to be a good move for everyone.
“I saw time at right tackle, outside linebacker, and kickoff returner. I started out at fullback but got moved. I guess my favorite position of all is linebacker. It’s fun to, you know, tackle the quarterback,” he said.
McNeal’s first season of football was memorable in many ways. In the past, he had participated in a few sports that were more individually orientated. With football, McNeal was playing a team sport, and he felt the pressure to be a team player. To that end, he admits he was “scared out of my mind” at the beginning of his first game. And, at first, it looked like he might have made a mistake.
A scrimmage game was held prior to the season. The first time McNeal got his hands on the ball, he fumbled it. Instead of becoming rattled and giving up, though, McNeal says he became determined to get back in the game and make up for the mistake.
Throughout the season, McNeal’s skills steadily improved. He returned a kickoff for a 75-yard touchdown and had other great moments on the field. The middle school team at Calvary went 4-3 on the season, and McNeal was firmly hooked on the sport of football.
“I had no idea I would love football so much. There is just nothing else like it. I was sorry when the season was over. It was the best few months I think I have ever had,” said McNeal.
Because the middle school football program ignited a fire in McNeal for the sport of football, there was no question he would continue to play at the high school level. This summer McNeal has been working on improving his overall athleticism on the football field. He has the gift of speed but knows he has work to do when it comes to catching the ball if he should have to fill in at the strong safety position. He also notes he is aware he needs to learn more of the true mechanics of the game. Having never played football until last year, McNeal is not as comfortable as he would like to be with certain plays and game plans.
While Calvary Head Football Coach Brian Osbourne knows McNeal is a “newbie” at football, he is excited about what the freshman athlete will be bringing to the table this fall.
“I am expecting to see Chad on the field as a back-up linebacker and special teams player. The best word to describe Chad is coachable. He is still learning the game, but he listens and attempts to perform the techniques we are teaching. He works on properly executing his technique,” said Osbourne, who has headed the Knights’ football program since it began in 2011.
Calvary will be returning 23 players to the program this fall after posting a 6-5 season last year. From coaches to players, everyone is looking for big things to happen, and no one is more excited that McNeal.
“I can’t wait. I know there are some guys ahead of me and you have to earn your spot, but I’m going to work hard to make that happen,” said McNeal.
McNeal has become so enthused about playing football he has set another personal goal for the future. He has long had a desire to attend Auburn University to study veterinarian medicine. Now, the freshman athlete has added playing football at the college level to his plan.
“I went to vet camp there for two years and would like to get a scholarship for football. But I will go anywhere that will let me play. Football is not like anything else I have ever done,” he said.
Getting to know Chad:
Family: Mother, Sandy McNeal
Pets: A cat, Chipper
Favorite food: Ribs
Favorite team (college or professional): University of Georgia/Seattle Seahawks
Music he listens to: Christian or Country
Favorite place to eat: Shogun
Favorite television show: Duck Dynasty
Best movie: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Person he most admires: Grandfather, Ed Johnson
Favorite athlete: Peyton Manning
Best thing about attending Calvary Christian School: How we grow in the knowledge of the Bible; and the people.
Columbus Valley/Freshman Focus/August 2014
Chad McNeal
Calvary Christian School
Columbus, Georgia
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
