Triumph in the Face of Adversity

While everyone may deserve a second chance, not everyone gets one.

A former Thomas Dale running back had to break more than tackles in his high school career, battling adversity to triumph on the field. As a senior with a nagging ankle injury, he rushed for 1,010 yards and caught the eyes of college recruiters. Like many Knights backs before him, he was destined for a scholarship.

There was one missing ingredient – grades. Finney did not meet the NCAA’s academic requirements to play college sports. However, an opportunity for redemption is knocking and Finney has answered. He’s getting his second chance from Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pa.

“It [Scranton] is a small, nice community,” Finney said. “There should be no distractions and I should be able to focus while I’m there.”

Distractions are something that Finney was all too familiar with. A product of a dysfunctional home life, Finney sometimes came home to an empty house. At its worst point, Finney said that sometimes he did not even know where he’d sleep at night.

“I’m most proud of the fact that Eric has done this on his own,” said coach Kevin Tucker. “He kind of raised himself, it’s quite an accomplishment for him to be going to college.”

As they say, it took a village. With the help of the Thomas Dale coaching staff, his aunt, Taka Gilmore and his grandparents, Robert and Tanya Finney, who lived in Maryland, Finney strolled across the stage to get his diploma in June 2014. The graduate also credited one of his favorite teachers, Dr. Teri Castelow, a history teacher at Thomas Dale as a major influence for success.

The 5’9”, 185-pounder endured many long days – waking up to attend class, then heading to practice, followed by working to support himself with hours as late as midnight – just to get up and do it again.

Finney’s athletic prowess was always undeniable. So much so, Bryant University cold-called him to offer him his first scholarship. The University of Delaware came along after, and recommended he attend a junior college and to keep in touch so they could track his progress since he couldn’t attend outright.

“It was embarrassing not to have the grades to go to school,” Finney said. “Everyone thought that I was going to play D-1 and it was a big disappointment to me and my grandparents.”

After graduation, Finney eventually moved to Maryland where he discussed joining the military with his grandparents. On one hand, it was a sure-fire way to develop a career that would sustain him as an adult. After much deliberation, Finney decided that he would play college football. After all, that’s where his love really lies.

“I told him that he didn’t want to be one of these guys who looks back and wonders “what if,” Tanya Finney said. “The military will always be there if he wants to pursue that.”

With an eye that only a grandmother possesses, Tanya Finney has seen a change in her grandson over the past couple of months. She said that he’s got a sharper focus, and has worked hard to scratch goals off a list he created. These goals are both short term and long term goals that ranged from filling out a FAFSA (for student aid) to graduating college and making the NFL one day.

“Eric has a great opportunity before him,” said Robert Finney. “Adversity is in everyone’s life, it molds their character and makes them the person they are without the adversity, you don’t understand the pleasure of being on top.”

The summer had its moments of fun, but Finney has focused on getting his mind and body in shape when he attends Lackawanna for the spring semester.

“I want to the best every second I’m on that football field, I’ve been working out as much as I can,” Finney said. “The only thing I’m thinking about is school and football.”

With a newfound focus and an insatiable appetite for success, the Thomas Dale community will look forward to the next time Finney steps onto the football field. This time, it will be in the college ranks.

Thomas Dale D-1 Running Backs

Henry Jefferson Richmond
William Henderson UNC^
Ken Oxendine Virginia Tech^
Rudi Johnson Auburn^
Jamar Gallon Arkansas
Nick Fleming Virginia State*
D.J. Reid Virginia Tech
Eric Finney Undecided
Trent Williams Richmond~

*Took full ride at VSU over walk-ons at D-1 program
~ on current roster
^played in NFL