RHS senior signs football letter of intent
Signing: Tanner Shaw, a senior at Ridgewood High School, signed his letter of intent on Friday, Feb. 19 at Amici’s Pizza in West Lafayette to play football at Cincinnati Christian University this fall. Family, friends and coaches were in attendance and watched as Shaw and Generals head football coach John Slusser signed the letter. This will be the first year for a football program at the college and the head coach will be former Bengals standout David Fulcher. Shaw is pictured with his dad, Scott and mom Tina. Beacon photo by Mark Fortune
WEST LAFAYETTE – Family, friends and football coaches shared memories and good natured jibes with each other as Tanner Shaw, a senior at Ridgewood High School, signed his letter of intent to play football at the next level – specifically Cincinnati Christian University under former Bengals star David Fulcher. The 2016 season will be the first for a football program at the college.
Shaw said, “It feels great. It’s been a long journey of recruiting and visiting other schools. I feel that I made the right decision on where I’m going to go. Coach David Fulcher is very personable and I have talked to him a few times. Everything he’s told me has been the truth. He’s not there to lie to me. He said, ‘You gotta do this to play, you have to do that to play. You don’t do it, you don’t play.’”
Shaw said that a favorite memory of playing football at Ridgewood was, “Making it to week two of the playoffs (in 2015). Even though we did not come out with the victory we wanted we still made it there and that is the farthest I ever made it and I was glad to meet the people I met and to make it that far.”
“All of my teammates are tough. We didn’t have the biggest line this year, everybody was small but they just went out there and battled and got it done. During two a days, the coaches were always crazy and yelling and mean but looking back on it now, that’s what got us to today.”
“This means a lot to me considering I have two brothers playing college ball. I’m the third one to make it. They pushed me a lot and especially my dad. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would be where I am at today.”
Shaw plans to pursue a degree in education, “I want to be an intervention specialist and help kids with special needs. There’s a kid in our family that has special needs and I grew up around him. I went to Hopewell games; they’re cool kids and just great people to meet.”
Generals head football coach John Slusser said, “It’s always nice when you can get a kid to go play football at the next level. Tanner has worked very hard for that; it’s always been a goal of his so we’re excited that he gets a chance to do it. I’m really happy that he’s willing to go take on the challenge of college and try to go to the next step. A lot kids don’t have that desire or inner strength to go do it so good for him that he’s trying to do that.”
Parents Scott and Tina Shaw said about their son, “Words can’t really express. I’m very proud of all my boys. They’ve really showed a lot, and the way they play football just really exemplifies the way I tried to teach them how to play it. As far as him going, and being the baby, I’m so proud. I can’t believe it.”
Mom Tina said, “I love it. I love the sport. I grew up with the sport. I’m proud of all of my boys. It’s very exciting and I look forward to seeing where their future goes after this.”
mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: High School, Multimedia, Photo Galleries, Sports
