THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080642
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Long : 137 lines
When people ask Sam Hardy if he's crazy, they don't mean to be insulting.
It's just that they've never known someone who was married, raising a child, working nights, attending school and playing high school football at the same time.
``It's not easy,'' says Hardy, a trace of bewilderment still in his voice four months after tying the knot. ``A lot of people ask me if I'm crazy. It's a responsibility. That's what it is.''
Hardy, a halfback and linebacker, will shed some of that responsibility on Saturday when his Indian River Braves meet C.D. Hylton in the Division 6 state championship game in Manassas.
Football is the one selfish luxury Hardy has allowed himself in a hectic schedule that begins shortly after 6 a.m. and doesn't end until his head hits the pillow sometime close to 1 a.m.
He attends school from 7:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., often trying to complete his homework before the last bell.
The football team is required to be on the practice field at 3:45 and doesn't get off until dusk.
That leaves just enough time to race home and shower and eat. Then it's off to work at Food Lion where he spends the next five hours ringing up groceries and bagging them, then sweeping and mopping until the doors are locked at midnight.
``This goes on every week,'' Hardy says. ``You can bet I look forward to weekends.''
The sweetest part of those weekends are the football games.
Hardy played on region championship teams as a sophomore and junior while patiently awaiting his shot at stardom.
Recognition has come slowly but this season he's the Braves' second-leading receiver and fourth-leading rusher as well as a sure-handed tackler in the open field.
Hardy could have simplified his life by forgoing football, but that was never a serious option.
``I don't know what I'd do without football,'' he says. ``If I had given it up this year it would have been like dying internally. I've just got the heart for it.
``My family would rather I had given up working, but there are little material things I need now.''
Hardy and his wife, Armee, have saved up enough to buy living room furniture.
``I think it's kind of amazing to be our age and be looking ahead,'' he says. ``You have to keep a positive mind, I believe, to make it.''
Sam and Armee, who graduated from Indian River in 1994, are both 19 and dated for two years before marrying July 22.
They already were living together with Hardy's family and it just seemed like the right thing to do, he says.
Their 2-year-old daughter, Ciara Smith, is Armee's from a previous relationship.
``So it's not like we were forced or anything,'' Hardy says.
The announcement caught Indian River coach Bob Parker by surprise.
``He just popped it on me,'' Parker says. ``I've never had a player in that situation.''
Hardy's unique situation required a unique set of rules.
``I told the team right up front that we weren't going to hold Sam to the same rules,'' Parker says. ``He's a husband, a father, a student, an employee and a football player, in just about that order.
``He had to miss a day of practice last week when his wife's grandfather was in the hospital. It was pretty serious, I guess, and she needed him to be there.''
Both Hardys hold jobs. Armee is in telemarketing for Sears and with football ending, Sam will probably pick up more hours at Food Lion, she says.
They still live with Sam's family, but plan to move out next year. Armee talks about house-hunting in January; Sam mentions an apartment in June.
``Everybody told me marriage is hard and it's been a task,'' Armee says. ``Other than Fridays after games and Saturdays we don't spend much time together. But I think it will be fine after he graduates.''
Marriage has injected Hardy with a new sense of urgency about his work in the classroom and his search for a career.
``He's really buckled down,'' Parker says. ``He's got a goal and he's excited.''
Hardy has applied for admission to Newport News Apprentice School, where he can learn a trade while getting paid. And yes, he hopes to play football.
Another place where Hardy has put on a new face is the locker room. Where once he regaled teammates with tales of girlfriends and parties, now he talks about buying furniture and changing diapers.
That's made him the butt of jokes from teammates James Boyd and Anthony Cason.
Boyd, the Braves' quarterback and All-Tidewater defensive back, said he's learned a lot from Hardy.
Like what?
``Like not to get married,'' he says.
Hardy shares in the laugh.
``They know how I used to be,'' Hardy sayd. ``But it only takes one person. She changed me.''
Hardy remains friends with his teammates, but when he has a problem he's more likely to consult Parker or defensive coordinator Scott Johnson.
``When I have a problem at home I can't talk to the guys,'' he says. ``They have no idea. So I talk to older people who have been married a while.''
What if someone came to Hardy for advice about getting married?
``First of all you've got to be in love,'' he says. ``And you couldn't be lazy. I wouldn't recommend it.
``But everybody's different.''
Sam Hardy is proof of that. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN\ The Virginian-Pilot
Having worked until midnight, Sam Hardy, above, squeezes the last
ounce out of his sleep time before beginning his school day, at
right, in goverment class promptly at 7:20 a.m. ``This goes on every
week,'' Hardy says. ``You can bet I look forward to weekends.''
Ciara sneaks a peek at the TV during lunch with mother Armee and
Sam, who made a quick dash home from Indian River High - a
five-minute drive away. Ahead on Sam's afternoon schedule is a
two-hour algebra class and a football practice that would last until
nightfall. Says Armee: ``Other than Fridays after games and
Saturdays, we don't spend much time together. But I think it will be
fine after he graduates.''
In the Indian River locker room, where once he regaled teammates
with tales of girlfriends and parties, Sam now talks about buying
furniture and changing diapers. That's made him the butt of jokes
from some teammates. James Boyd, the Braves' quarterback and
All-Tidewater defensive back, says he's learned a lot from Hardy.
Like what? ``Like not to get married,'' he says.
What little time he has with wife Armee and her 2-year-old daughter
Ciara is precious to Indian River High School senior Sam Hardy.
``I don't know what I'd do without football,'' says Hardy, Indian
River's No. 2 receiver and fourth-best rusher. ``If I had given it
up this year it would have been like dying internally. I've just got
the heart for it.''
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB