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Johnathan Haslup
Around 7 o’clock in the morning on a summer weekend day, Stephens County football manager Johnathan Haslup pulled up to the SCHS football stadium to perform his normal duties for the team. When Haslup arrived early before the SCHS football practice, he wasn’t expecting to be offered a college football scholarship. But on that day, Indian football coach Wesley Tankersley informed him he was offered a scholarship by the Eastern Kentucky University football program for a team manager position.
“I think it’s awesome,” the senior SCHS football manager said. “I am glad that I am finally seeing results for my hard work. I think it’s going to push me to work harder.”
That morning, Tankersley saw his senior manager come in early on a Saturday morning to prepare for the practice that day. When Tankersley saw Haslup it made him grateful that he is part of his program. Tankersley took a photo of him and posted about him on Facebook.
“I tell you what,” Tankersley wrote on Facebook. “This is what football and team is all about. Johnathan Haslup has been a manager for us since he entered high school. He is a senior this year. He is so dedicated to this team that he meets me at the fieldhouse on a Saturday morning for the setup of a practice. “No, he isn’t a player. No, he isn’t a superstar, but man he is an important member of our team nonetheless. Proud of this kid.”
After the SCHS football coach posted that at 7:20 a.m. Garry McPeek, director of football operations at EKU reached out to Tankersley and offered Haslup a scholarship. At 7:32 a.m., Tankersley made a post about how in less than five minutes from the time of his previous post, Haslup was offered a scholarship. Tankersley told Haslup the exciting news.
“I was really excited. I really did not believe it at first, but now it feels really awesome to know I am working hard and it is getting noticed,” Haslup said.
Haslup said he felt appreciated that day.
“I really was not expecting it,” Haslup said. “I was just really showing up and doing what I was supposed to do for that day and it really made me feel appreciated.”
Tankersley said Haslup is very deserving of this offer.
“Oh, he was excited about it, letting all the other kids know about it, seeing it on Facebook and that sort of thing,” Tankersley said. “You can tell he was really excited.”
Entering his fourth season at SCHS, Tankersley has noticed Haslup’s work ethic. Tankersley is proud to have him as a part of his program.
“He has done a really good job for us and he is here every day. He helps us out every day,” Tankersley said. “He is very reliable and that is a great reward for him so we are really excited about it for him,” Tankersley said.