Michigan State University Athletics
Ross Weaver: Engineered to Persevere
9/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2009
By Jessica Taylor, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Perseverance is a trait that many strive for but few actually achieve. Through his time playing for the Green and White, senior cornerback Ross Weaver has shown that he is one of the few.
The Southfield native came in and played right away as a true freshman in 2005, quickly proving that he deserved his playing time. He showed potential in his nine games of action, recording eight tackles while compiling 38 production points on special teams.
But Weaver's promising beginning was quickly put to a halt during preseason camp the following year when he suffered from a serious ankle injury prohibiting him from playing during the 2006 season. Where many would lose hope, Weaver kept his head up and took all the positives he could from the situation with the help of his closest teammates.
"It humbled me a lot," Weaver said. "When I broke my ankle, that really brought me back to reality and showed me that nothing is going to last forever. My teammates, Otis (Wiley), Javon (Ringer) and A.J. (Jimmerson), visited me all the time back when it happened. We were really close my freshman year and they kept me company and told me to keep my head up."
Weaver recovered in time for the 2007 season but was once again put to the test when a foot injury caused him to be sidelined for five weeks just two games into the year.
"It took faith," stated Weaver. "Knowing that if you really believe you can come back, you can come back. And also knowing that nothing is guaranteed. I was expected to come back, but at the time, I just wanted to walk again."
Weaver did much more than just walk that season - he started five games and became a playmaker on a Spartan defense that led MSU to its first bowl game in four years. Playing against No. 14 Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl, Weaver recorded three tackles, including a one for a 1-yard loss, and also broke up a pass.
Given the obstacles that were put in Weaver's way, it isn't hard to see why he chose a topic that was familiar to him when speaking to a second grade class for community service - perseverance. Weaver spoke to the kids about how important it is to never give up and helped one girl realize that the same persistent attitude he has on the field could help her in math class as well.
"Sometimes when you are talking to a younger class you don't always know what the outcome is going to be or what their feedback will be," said Weaver. "For them to say that I helped them, that felt really good. I took my ankle injury and used the experience to talk to them. I told them I got injured and since they're young, to not start giving up now."
The classroom setting is as natural a place for Weaver to be as the football field. Whether it's enlightening second graders or tackling an ambitious engineering degree, Weaver has worked just as hard when it comes to hitting the books.
"I didn't really know what I wanted to do my freshman year," Weaver admitted. "But I was good at math so I decided to give engineering a try and I stuck with it."
The mechanical engineer major creatively found a way to relate his studies to what he does on the field.
"In engineering there are so many different people with different ideas and they bring these ideas together to make it one," said Weaver, who is on track to graduate in May. "It's kind of like football. There's so many people with different ideas and we bring our different talents and make it into one as well. They both make the best product in the end."
Not only is his ambition apparent to everyone through his choice of major and his ability to constantly overcome challenges, it is also apparent to the entire Michigan State football team. Along with Kirk Cousins, Greg Jones and Blair White, Weaver was elected one of four team captains to lead the way through the 2009 season.
"I was surprised," Weaver said. "When they told me it kind of struck me like, `Wow, I'm really a captain'. It made me feel like I can bring something more to the table other than just football. That tells me that they didn't pick someone that was just going to be a playmaker. It lets me know that they think I have leadership qualities and that is a great thing to know."
Weaver has already proven to be an invaluable weapon to the Spartan football team over the past four years. His talent, in perfect combination with his ambition, tenacity and leadership skills, has him in line for a big senior season.
"I'm really looking forward to playing and maximizing my potential," Weaver said. "Most importantly I'm looking forward to seeing this team play with everything we have and to play how we know we can. There is a lot of talent and people are really starting to step up. I can't wait to see what we can do."
This feature was originally published in the Sept. 12 edition of Michigan State Football Gameday Magazine.
GETTING TO KNOW Ross Weaver
FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken, broccoli and green beans.
DREAM JOB: "I love talking to kids and helping kids out, so running an organization helping the youth."
FAVORITE MOVIE: Any of the Austin Powers movies.
FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTISTS: Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne, Truth.
FAVORITE CLASS: ME 471. "It was a design class and the professor made the class a lot of fun and very interesting."
