Great story on Joe Sturdivant

[feelan]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/102205dnsposmulede.21a688d8.html

Junior safety keeps family tradition going at SMU

Son of a former Mustangs' linebacker had early trial by fire


09:02 PM CDT on Friday, October 21, 2005

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU coach Phil Bennett said it was unfair to play Joe Sturdivant his freshman season.

"I wanted to play," he said. "The speed in college football is so different, and as a freshman, we really didn't have a chance."

This season, the SMU junior safety used that early seasoning toward becoming the team leader in tackles and pass breakups heading into today's game at Tulsa.

Sturdivant is one of SMU's more trusted defenders with his coverage calls and ability to move to the line of scrimmage and make plays.

Joe Sturdivant said his success on the field should be attributed to his father.

But Joe Sturdivant is still recovering from the death of his father, who died of atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, on Oct. 30, 2002.

Bob Sturdivant was a former SMU linebacker, who lettered in 1976.

"He was very close to Paul," Bennett said. "It was a terrible, terrible loss. I'm sure there are facets he's still not over."

Growing up in suburban Atlanta, Joe hung onto his father's every word.

When son asked how his father received a long scar stretching from the left shoulder to the chest he was told, "Got it fighting an alligator,"

Bob was a gritty linebacker, blind in one eye, whose career ended abruptly to a shoulder injury, hence the scar, suffered against UAB.

"The injury was so bad, Paul had to be carried off the field in a stretcher," said Mary Sturdivant, Joe's mother.

Toughness was a trait in the Sturdivant household.

While Joe was playing high school football, all the players on the team had to give themselves a motto or a nickname.

Joe Sturdivant's was: "Kick Butt or Don't Come Home."

"Bob would tell the kids, don't be afraid of nothing," Mary said. "People in town see our kids, especially Joe, and say they knew he was being raised right. Joe is doing everything that's expected of him."

Sturdivant was a highly regarded recruit from Class 5A Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga.

Florida State, where two older sisters attended, Navy, Georgia Tech, SMU and Michigan were on the list.

Bennett had an in with the Sturdivant family because he knew Bob from his playing days at Texas A&M.

In Joe's senior season, tragedy struck when his father died in his sleep.

"My dad was my hero," Joe said. "He was a special guy for me. Real special."

Mary had to deal with raising four children alone and Joe had to endure missing his father and the phone calls, visits and letters associated with recruiting.

Bennett understood about the pain.

While at Kansas State, Bennett lost his wife when she was struck by lightening.

Bennett said he wanted to be sensitive to the needs of the family. He made a home visit a month after Paul died.

"I knew the emptiness," Bennett said. "Everyone was feeling it. I was in a funk when I left that home because it brought back a lot of memories."

Sturdivant, to honor his father, decided to attend SMU.

He said he doesn't regret the decision despite the rebuilding situation. If anything, he's glad to be playing on the Hilltop in trying to turnaround a struggling program.

That's what dad would have wanted.

"You never forget who raised you," Joe Sturdivant said. "I know my dad is in heaven looking down on me. That's what fuels me right now is to play for him."

[Stallion]

someone needs to proofread. He went by Paul Sturdivant at SMU but both Bob and Paul in the article. And he wasn't hurt against UAB but in the infamous slaughter against Alabama which I believe ended 56-3 in Ron Meyer's second game, SMU lost about 3 starters in that game with serious injuries. I remember before the game Meyer said he didn't want anybody to get on the plane who didn't think we couldn't win and they came limping home. That's a pretty bad mistake since UAB didn't even have a football team back then.

[that's great raplh]

all i know is Joey rocked UAB - it was awesome

[ponyte]

Thanks for the clarifications, Stallion. That is my memory of events around Paul’s career at SMU. What isn't mentioned was what a fun guy Paul was. And he was a fraternity brother of yours Stallion. Has Joe followed in that tradition as well?

[Stallion]

he graduated a year before I got there but I think I met him once on a "pledge retreat"

[ponyte]

One can only imagine how enjoyable Paul's company was during a "pledge retreat."