David Pittman has been nervous all week long.
Not because Saturday, he’ll watch national television and wait for his name to be called as the next selection in the 2006 NFL Draft.
That, he knows, is going to happen, sooner or later. Sooner than later Saturday will mean more digits on his signing bonus, which will be wonderful and well deserved.
As the soft-spoken 22-year-old Northwestern State cornerback says, he has no control over that. Since leaving the field as a Demon for the last time, smiling in the wake of a 41-21 romp over Stephen F. Austin, he’s done all he could to maximize his status, and the effort has made his stock among NFL teams soar just like oil company profits.
But to Pitt, that doesn’t matter. OK, it does, but right now, it’s not been his biggest worry.
He’s in the final stages of closing out what he believes is a more rewarding prize ? the culmination of a five-year plan, completing his business degree at Northwestern.
Some seniors with pro football potential get wrapped up in visualizing their dreams and don’t tend to the tasks at hand. Not Pittman.
Since he arrived at Northwestern, he’s admittedly dreamed of continuing the Demons’ tradition of turning out NFL talent. What he did wearing a helmet and shoulder pads has provided that opportunity. He’s been a starter since his freshman year, and in 43 games, he snagged 11 interceptions, broke up 26 passes, scored four touchdowns (three on interception returns) and a lot of that production came in his first two seasons wearing No. 4 for NSU.
In his last two years, opposing quarterbacks would sooner stare straight into the sun than throw in Pittman’s direction.
As a result, scouts were intrigued, and Pitt was the only Division I-AA player among 100 top NFL prospects playing in the Senior Bowl. As he said, the only difference between him and the other 99 was the decal on his purple helmet. He fit in fine. In fact, he downright shined at times.
Will he become the ninth former Demon to win All-Pro honors? Could he be the ninth from NSU to play in the Super Bowl? Might he even follow in the footsteps of Jackie Smith, NSU ’63, whose career was capped by a trip to Canton. Ohio, for his 1994 enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
The ceremonies Pittman has envisioned recently are closer to his Gramercy home.
His focus? Wearing a cap and gown, shaking President Webb’s hand and accepting a diploma, looking to find his family in the seats at Prather Coliseum next Friday at commencement.
“I’m just hoping to get through the next week with my classwork and finals, so I can finish my business degree and graduate,” said Pittman last Monday, while fielding a question from reporters asking him if he was nervous heading into the draft.
Not exactly the answer they expected. So, a few moments later, one sportscaster chose a little different approach: David, he asked, do you realize how your life is absolutely going to change on Draft Day? You’ll go from a guy who probably worries about how to fill up the gas tank on your car to somebody who can pay cash for a fully-loaded Hummer.
“I haven’t given it much thought,” said Pitt. “I’m focused on graduating. The business program at Northwestern is one of the best in the country, so if I can earn a diploma here, then I should be well prepared to deal with the changes ahead and make good decisions in the future.”
Somewhere right now, I thought, the business faculty and NSU academic advisor for athletics Julie Lessiter should be beaming with pride. These things aren’t by accident.
Rarely does Demon football coach Scott Stoker end practice without telling his players to be sure they take care of their business in the classroom. Now, when he delivers that message, he has another shining example to cite.
I’m going to enjoy watching my friend Pitt on Sundays, probably for years to come. He’s going to be a productive pro. As Stoker says, “he just loves to play football.”
It will be exciting to hear his name called in the draft, when he’s liable to become the ninth Demon chosen by the end of the second round.
Watching him line up outside my office next Friday at commencement, now that’s gonna really, really be cool.
