Pate: ‘You can do anything you want’

By Steve Carter

TIFTON November 16, 2006 09:14 pm

— The scene would have been a great introduction to the importance of high school football in South Georgia.
The Tift County Blue Devils had just won their first region football title in 23 years and a pair of senior players, Israel Troupe and Zach Pate, were standing on benches on the sidelines celebrating with the Blue Devil fans. The smiles on the faces of the fans and the two players showed just how happy everyone involved in that moment was.
What made the scene even more special was the fact that both players are respected throughout the Tift County locker room by players, as well as coaches.
Troupe is a nationally-known prospect at wide receiver that has already committed to the University of Georgia.
On the other hand, Pate is a back-up offensive lineman that happens to be legally blind.
Pate explained what being legally blind means for him.
“I can see fine,” Pate said. “I can see all of the players on the field. I can see the football in the air. Just far away stuff is kind of hard for me to see.”
Tift head coach Jay Walls respects Pate and what he brings to the Blue Devil football team.
“I think he has shown an extraordinary toughness and a physical toughness,” Walls said. “I think the kids are aware of what he deals with, and I think he is a great inspiration and has a lot of courage.”
Pate hopes he can be an inspiration to the rest of the team.
“You can do anything you want as long as you put your mind to it, if I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t be out here,” Pate said. “Doctors told me I would never be able to play football. I remember going into a doctor’s office, and they thought I was crazy before I began playing in the seventh grade. I finally went to a family doctor who told me I could play, as long as I had an eye shield on my helmet.”
Even though he practices every day with the team, Pate has not received much playing time.
“I got into a couple of plays this year at the Brooks County game and I got into a couple of games last year,” Pate said. “In my sophomore year I got in for a couple of plays. I think the most I have played was the Brooks County game this year, because I got in for five plays.”
Even with the limited playing time, “I feel like I am just as much as part of the team as they are,” Pate said of his teammates, especially his fellow seniors.
“All of the seniors have worked so hard since we started playing in the ninth grade. I love all of the seniors because we have been through a lot. From going 2-8 in our ninth-grade year to now being 9-1, it feels great.”
Troupe is among the seniors with a lot of affection for Pate.
“He is my boy. He is a big inspiration to all of us,” the senior wide receiver said.
Troupe and the rest of the Blue Devils do not treat Pate any different than any other teammate.
“They don’t bug me, they just treat me the same,” Pate said.
Some of his teammates do not even realize that Pate is legally blind.
“I think most people that I have every-day contact with know, like most of the juniors and seniors,” Pate said. “A couple of people on the second team might not know, but most people I hang around with probably know.”
Tift’s current success is not a surprise to Pate and the Tift senior class.
“We told each other when we were in the ninth grade that we were going to win the region by the time we left,” Pate said.
With the region championship in hand, Pate and the Devils are now preparing for the state playoffs as Tift opens tonight against East Coweta.
“I am loving it, thinking about how far we have come in four years. It is just amazing,” Pate said. “I am excited about Friday night.”
With the region title, Pate and his teammates will receive a patch to go on their letterman’s jackets. But the senior wants another piece of hardware to remember this season by.
“I want that (state championship) ring,” said Pate. “That will be something I can show off forever.”