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Satiir Stevenson leads Quakers to a winning season
BY KELLI URESTI
Staff Writer
"Satiir raises the level of play for the
entire team/' said sophomore quarterback
Matt Pawlowski in an email interview. "You
don't want to let a guy like that down."
Junior football player Satiir Stevenson's
work ethic and determination helped
him earn First Team NCAA Division III
All-American honors from the American
Football Coaches Association, Third Team
D3football.com All-American, First Team
All-South and First Team All-Old Dominion
Athletic Conference honors.
"Satiir was focused during the season,"
said junior fullback Josh Williams. "He
became the perfect player."
"He listened to everything that Coach
said, (he) didn't miss film sessions, (was)
never late, and he produced on the field. He
is an inspiration."
The safety's four interceptions topped
the ODAC while he compiled a career-high
of 81 tackles that led the Quakers.
"During the season, Satiir can almost
always be found in the coach's office
watching film on our opponents," said
Pawlowski.
Stevenson is not
just a talented
player for the
Quakers; he is
also a leader
for the team.
"Satiir is
not a vocal
leader, he is
a leader by example," said Williams.
Moreover Satiir's father, Lonnie
Stevenson, said that when Satiir was young,
he was a natural leader. Lonnie was the
coach of Stevenson's first peewee football
team.
"The coaches and I talked about needing
a leader for this team, and we choose him
to take the role," said Lonnie in an email
interview. "He took the role and did an
excellent job with it."
Stevenson learned at a yoimg age that to
quit was unacceptable.
"I never forced him to play a sport," said
Lonnie. "But once he started the season,
there was no quitting.
"The rule was to finish it to the end."
Assistant Football Coach and Offensive
Coordinator Chris Barnette '07 was the last
Guilford recipient named as an AFCA All-
American.
"It's all about preparation," said Barnette
in an email interview. "It starts with
dedication and discipline during the off
season, never missing a workout, gi ving 100
percent effort, and you must be willing to
work when no one else is watching."
Stevenson did just that. The summer
before the 2013 season, he was selected into
the Guilford's Cadre Program.
"Because of that, I was able to workout
everyday, whether it was in the weight room
or doing fitness outside," said Stevenson. "I
owe a lot to Alex Smith, Josh Williams and
Kevin Tiller.
"We all pushed each other this summer."
Stevenson knew that becoming an All-
American would be the high honor, but he
does not want to stop there. Stevenson is
focusing on the big picture for the entire
team.
"It feels amazing to be an All-American,"
said Stevenson. "I feel rewarded for all of
the hard work that has been put in these
past years. The ultimate goal is to win a
championship.
"Nothing is better than having the entire
team be successful."
Stevenson also emphasized that
community support is very important to the
team's success.
"Robert Smith, Hunter English and
me are starting to get more recognition
defensively," said Stevenson. "Really the
whole team is. Teachers and students would
come up and say good job and cheer us on.
"And really that's what it is all about."
Barnette knows personally the dedication
and work it takes to become an All-
&:aV'V:v.:
(Top) Junior Satiir Stevenson has recently earned First Team NCAA Division 111 All-American
honors. He is proud of this accomplishment, and also hopes to win a championship. (Left) Although
Guilford lost a^inst Hampden-Sydney, Stevenson and the team went on to a 6-4 record.
American, and he knows that Stevenson can be reached with out the rest of your
wants more for himself and his teammates. teammates," said Barnette. "I had the luxury
"You have to stay humble, strive to of recruiting Satiir, and his most prized goals
work harder, continue to be coachable and are team-oriented,
understand that no individual achievement "He wants to win a championship."
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