Fullback Joey Phillips finished his career with no regrets — not even his haircut
I wrote a story on senior fullback Joey Phillips, a former walk-on from Blacksburg who worked his way onto scholarship and into the starting lineup, for today’s newspaper. Here’s how it starts:
ORLANDO, Fla. — It had been nearly a year, right after Virginia Tech’s January appearance in the Sugar Bowl, that fullback Joey Phillips last had a haircut. But with his football career winding down, the senior could sense the straight-laced realities of the real word fast approaching.
“I was like, you know what, I’ve got to be a real person this time next year,” he said. “I might as well do something with it.”
An “executive decision” was reached earlier this month with members of the strength staff to cut it into a mullet, a down-to-party look Phillips augmented with a horseshoe mustache.
Now, he’s part Joe Dirt, part former ’80s wrestler Magnum T.A., a quirky look that fits the fullback’s personality. He’s gone all-in, wearing different outfits that have included an American flag T-shirt, camouflage overalls and, on the second day in Orlando, a shirt airbrushed with howling wolves.
“I’m speechless every time I look at him,” running backs coach Shane Beamer said. “I’m at a loss for words, and he knows that. He scares my children when he’s walking around with that deal.”
His look is popular with his teammates, as is he. The former walk-on from Blacksburg who worked his way into a scholarship and became a two-year starter at an unheralded position was voted a permanent team captain by his teammates before the season.
Read the whole thing here. And follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
I’ll be back with more later today from the head coaches’ final press conference before the bowl.
December 27, 2012 - 9:14 AM
An excellent blocker. He’ll be missed.
I love the unsung guys.
I was a fullback, perfect personality. I was a converted tackle so the mentality has to be there.
Long hair is good regardless of your gender. I’ve been a real person with long hair since about a couple of months after Vietnam Nam. Go with it.
Well done, Joey. This is one thing that VT has excelled at in the last 20 years, taking willing workers and making them good college football players. Frank Beamer has done well with developing talent, and not caving to ratings when playing players. They have to buy in. Lee Suggs is a good example. Highly rated, but until he bought in, he was on the bench. Joey is the kind of Hokie I will always think of when I think of VT football. Heart!
And Hair!
I love the guys who start out as walk-ons. They work hard and earn scholorships. John Engleberger, Jarrett Ferguson, Dustin Pickle, Cody Grimm, etc. Joey Phillips can proudly add his name to the list. These are the kind of guys who really help a football team.