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Bears' road block

Senior DB prides himself on being the stopper

Alan Rogers

Barry Tate of Lenoir-Rhyne University grabs a pass during drills at practice on Wednesday.

By AARON BURNS

Record Sports Correspondent

Published: October 2, 2008

HICKORY - A quick route to Lenoir-Rhyne University goes through Tate Boulevard.

But to get a quick route in the Bears' Moretz Stadium, it takes going through L-R senior cornerback Barry Tate.

"(The stadium) is my house, my stage," says Tate. "And the receiver in front of me is in my way of providing for my family and being successful."

The next opponent trying to challenge Tate and the Bears (3-2, 1-0) arrives Saturday, when L-R meets Tusculum (3-2, 0-1) in a 2 p.m. game on Homecoming Day at L-R.

Tate (6-foot, 190 pounds) harbors hope of being an NFL star. But on his pathway to greatness, he has experienced setbacks.

As a wide receiver at Burlington's Cummings High, Tate said he attracted scouts from East Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.

"I had a knee injury that scared off a lot of scouts, and all of a sudden I didn't know if I would play college football," Tate said.

After one of the Cummings coaches talked with a friend at L-R, Tate ended up in Hickory.

"(The assistant coach) knew I wanted to get out of Burlington and play football. And L-R was the one school that gave me a real shot."

Tate said he received offers from Fayetteville State and Morgan State after deciding to come to L-R, but stuck with his choice.

"I told them I was committed to L-R because they stuck with me," Tate said. "And knowing so many people in Burlington that were good at sports that never did anything with their lives, I knew I wouldn't be like them."

Tate spent two years at wide receiver for the Bears before making the move to cornerback. He's made his presence known despite having limited experience at his new position.

After finishing with 30 tackles, three interceptions and a SAC-leading 11 pass breakups as a junior, Tate was named second-team All-SAC this preseason.

But individual accolades don't mean much to Tate, who wants to see the Bears succeed.

L-R, which started 2-0 for the first time since 2000 this year, improved to 3-2 overall last Saturday with a SAC win at Brevard.

With 15 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups in five games, Tate's last season is off to a strong start. He expects it to only get better.

"We're a good team, and I give a lot of the credit to Coach (Fred) Goldsmith, because he's got a way to (motivate) us," Tate said. "But it's not just on the field. Coach wants the best for us no matter what."
On the field, Tate beats his chest every time he makes a tackle or grabs an interception in an effort to fire up his teammates.

"It's my fire, it's 'The Animal' coming out," Tate said. "And my mindset is that I've got to make stops and help my team win however I can."

The Bears haven't had a winning season since 1994, when Tate was in elementary school, but the frustration surrounding the program's inability to thrive doesn't faze the lanky outspoken veteran.

"We're not the same Bears," Tate said. "And we have high expectations. We don't play for the doubters.

"If somebody's negative, I don't listen to it. I just play."

Tate is from a football family. His younger brother, Brandon, is a star wide receiver at North Carolina who also aspires to play in the NFL.

"Guys in schools bigger than L-R, like my brother, still have to impress the NFL scouts like I do," Tate said "And I believe I will show them what I can do."

As Tate's career at L-R winds down, he awaits his moment in the sun, and says his faith in God and hard work will help him achieve his dreams.

"With His help, I can do anything," Tate said.