Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9411070011
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD NEWS
DATELINE: AUBURN LENGTH: Medium
Auburn senior Bradley Hudgins has seen both sides of the sword. The fervor with which he approaches every contest has enabled him to achieve great success in the various arenas in which he does battle. On the flip side, not controlling his emotions has also cost him dearly.
``I have always been real aggressive,'' Hudgins said. ''It has got me in trouble a couple of times.''
Fortunately for the Auburn faithful, Hudgins' emotion has been a plus most of the time. Hudgins is a three-sport star for the Eagles.
``He is a real fiery-type individual,'' said Auburn football coach Steve Wright. ``He is one of the fiercest competitors I have ever been around.''
Wright almost didn't get to see Hudgins' exploits on the football field. Hudgins, who has played baseball for as long as he can remember and basketball as well, elected not to play football until his junior year.
He retreated to the woods and stalked four-legged creatures with horns instead of ball carriers with helmets. It was another pursuit in which he enjoyed a great deal of success. He counts a nine-point buck among his most prized trophies.
After meeting Wright, the incoming football coach, the summer before his junior year, Hudgins decided to give football a try.
``I already played two varsity sports,'' Hudgins said. ``I just wanted some time when I wasn't bogged down. I met Coach Wright over the summer and kept talking to him and decided to play, and just fell in love with it. It makes me regret not playing before.''
Although he'd never played the game, Hudgins immediately became a starter.
``He is such a good athlete, things come naturally to him,'' Wright said. ``He is a very talented young man, and he has such a competitive nature.''
Despite his lack of experience, Hudgins has become a team leader, both vocally and by example.
``All the seniors are team leaders,'' Hudgins said. ``I usually lead by example, but occasionally I give words of motivation.''
After Auburn lost this season's first six games, Hudgins took matters into his own hands, delivering with both words of inspiration and on-the-field performance. With his team staring a winless season in the face, Hudgins rushed for a career-high 160 yards to propel Auburn to a 27-12 victory over archrival Shawsville.
``Saturday [after the victory] I felt like I weighed 100 pounds less,'' Hudgins said. ``People were asking if we were going to win a game. Somebody on the team really had to pick up the slack. I figured if anyone was going to do it, it had to be me.''
Though Hudgins enjoys his time on the offensive side of the ball, it is the time spent hunting opposing players as strong side linebacker that he relishes.
``I just love reacting and hitting people,'' Hudgins said.
``If he had been out there [playing football] before, it is hard to tell what he would do,'' Wright said. ``He is the type of guy you build a team plan around.''
If Wright wonders how good his charge might be with more experience, he has to look no farther than the baseball field. After hitting .500 with 24 RBI and 24 stolen bases last season, Hudgins was named to the all-region team as a shortstop.
His exploits on the diamond have not gone unnoticed. He is planning to visit Clemson this fall and has been contacted by Georgia and defending national champion Georgia Tech.
``I definitely want to play college ball,'' Hudgins said. ``A lot of people want me to play football and basketball, where I could play Division III. But in baseball, I can go pretty big.''
Though the combination of Hudgins' intensity and baseball's subtlety may be an odd one, he has made it work.
``My mindset is real intense in baseball,'' Hudgins said. ``I'm always concentrating on what the situation is.''
Hudgins has managed to channel the fire that has made him successful, but occasionally it has raged out of control.
One such instance occurred last basketball season after the team had played its fourth consecutive subpar game. An argument ensued between the frustrated Hudgins and his coach. The result: Hudgins quit the team.
``I regret it all happened, but I would rather do anything than lose,'' Hudgins said of the incident. ``We have talked about what happened. Last year stays in the past. We are not going to drag it out.''
Hudgins plans a return trip to the hardwood this winter and, along with it, a schedule depleted of free time.
``There are times when I say I don't want to go to practice,'' Hudgins said. ``I would like to go hunting, but I love the competition.''
by CNB