THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030527
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: THE CLASS OF '92
It was probably the best group of recruits ever to come out of
Virginia Beach. Brandon Noble took off for Penn State, Tony DeSue for
Clemson, Lamonte Still for Virginia and Shawn Wilson for Florida. They
left with dreams of the big time, of national championships, maybe
even of Heisman Trophies. But a lot can happen in five years.
Today: Tony DeSue's story.
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CLEMSON, S.C. LENGTH: 117 lines
A photo in the Clemson media guide captures the defining moment of Tony DeSue's college career.
DeSue is striding forward, head up, eyes alert. His right hand is extended, but not to throw a stiff arm. His left hand holds something close to his body, but not a football.
It's graduation day, and DeSue is receiving his degree. His right arm is extended for a handshake. In his left hand is a diploma.
It's probably the best action shot of DeSue in the Clemson archives. Certainly the most telling. The other shots, the ones everyone was sure would be made, of DeSue rumbling through defenses for big gains, were never taken.
Because that never happened.
Football did not work out the way DeSue expected when he left Kempsville High in 1992. But because he was prepared, nearly everything else has.
DeSue will leave Clemson with not one but two degrees: a bachelor's in marketing, and a master's in human resources and development. He plans to open his own business one day.
``When reality hit me, I was able to deal with it,'' DeSue said.
Reality has hit hard and often during DeSue's Clemson career. He's endured three knee injuries, including the one he's playing with now.
``I'm really getting used to it,'' he said. ``I'll probably have it scoped during the off-season.''
He's also endured a broken finger, a coaching change and a position change. Unless he moves up on the depth chart, he'll leave Clemson with twice as many degrees as starts.
Recruited as a can't-miss tailback, DeSue is finishing his career as a reserve linebacker.
But DeSue has no regrets. He said from the start that he chose Clemson for its academics.
A lot of players say that. DeSue proved he meant it when he took 18 credit hours during his first semester. He took 16 the next semester.
``I got a 3.0,'' he said. ``It was one of the hardest things I ever did.''
And one of the wisest. Because already there were signs that DeSue's football career would not be an extension of high school, where he rushed for 3,756 yards and was named the second-best athlete in America by SuperPrep magazine.
DeSue entered Clemson as damaged goods. He pulled ligaments in his knee during practice for a high school all-star game, and came in a step slow.
``It was one of those injuries that never really healed, and that put me behind,'' he said.
DeSue was redshirted. He spent the next year on special teams, mostly, and then tore cartilage in his knee and had to have surgery.
The following year, coach Ken Hatfield, who had recruited DeSue, was replaced by Tommy West. Many of the players that had entered school with DeSue transferred, but DeSue stuck it out. He found himself buried on the depth chart, and carried the ball just once in 1994 for three yards.
``I felt I was improving,'' DeSue said. ``But that's how things happen when a new coaching staff comes in. Things happen, and you've got to move on.''
So DeSue moved to linebacker at the request of the coaching staff. He won a starting job in the spring, and made his only career start on opening day, against Furman. But he broke a finger on his left hand the next week, and missed two games. After returning, he played just 80 plays over the final 10 games.
Not one to pout, DeSue pushed himself even harder in the off-season. DeSue had already added 20 pounds of muscle since high school - he has forearms the size of bowling pins - but last summer, he really pushed himself. It showed. In pre-season, DeSue did 40 chin-ups in one minute, the second-best ever by a Clemson football player.
It's an appropriate achievement for one who has never let his chin drop.
``He's been really unselfish,'' said Ellis Johnson, Clemson's defensive coordinator. ``For him to be a fifth-year guy and have the attitude he's got has really been good for our football team.''
DeSue had a good spring and was contending with freshman Rahim Abdullah for a starting job. Ironically, he may have lost his job because Clemson was short of running backs, forcing him to practice with the offense until some players came back from injuries.
``That got him behind,'' Johnson said. ``He played some defense in high school, and fundamentally, he's pretty good. Our outside linebackers have to make a lot of adjustments. They rush and cover. Tony's a very intelligent player, but he doesn't have great physical tools. He's a good athlete, not a great athlete. He really plays off of heart.
``I think Tony's gotten the most out of his ability.''
Maybe so. Maybe SuperPrep was wrong. But DeSue knew the odds coming in. His father had stressed to him that only a small percentage of college players ever make it to the NFL.
DeSue saw the writing on the wall sooner than most. He's ready to move on.
``Just because you don't make the NFL doesn't mean you can't be a success,'' DeSue said. ``I plan on making a lot of money regardless of what I do. I've always wanted to go into business.
``When I look back, I feel good about myself. I feel good about playing football, and I've got my education. Everything that's happened, it's just made me a better all-around person.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by KEN RUINARD
He has started just once in his Clemson football career, but Tony
DeSue will
Photo by KEN RUINARD
``Just because you don't make the NFL doesn't mean you can't be a
success,'' said Kempsville High graduate Tony DeSue.
Graphic
DeSUE AT A GLANCE
College: Clemson
Position: Outside linebacker
Size: 5-10, 211 pounds
Major: Pursuing master's degree in Human Resources and Development
High school: Kempsville
Personal: DeSue is Clemson's unofficial ``team barber.'' He cuts the
hair of many teammates and plans on getting a barber's license.
Saturday's big game: at Florida State. by CNB