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Tackling A New Opportunity

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2007

Each Monday, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference presents its Defensive Player of the Week award.

"You don't play for that," Bethune-Cookman University senior linebacker Ronnie McCullough said. "You play to win games. But it's a nice honor."

Here's a recap of the past month:

Oct. 22 - Ronnie McCullough.

Oct. 29 - Ronnie McCullough.

Nov. 5 - Ronnie McCullough.

Nov. 12 - Ronnie McCullough.

"What can you say? He has been phenomenal," Howard University coach Carey Bailey said.

McCullough, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder from Hillsborough High School, has 137 tackles in nine games to lead Division I-AA. He has eight double-digit tackle performances, including three games of 20 or more, and 17 tackles for losses.

But he would gladly surrender those gaudy numbers if the Wildcats (4-6) could defeat the Florida A&M Rattlers (3-7) at Saturday's Florida Classic in Orlando.

"You want to walk off that field for the last time as a winner," said McCullough, who originally signed with USF and played two seasons with the Bulls before transferring to B-CU in 2006. "You want to know you've given it everything."

With McCullough, who was featured last week in Sports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd," there's no doubt.

"Every weekend, I reach for the paper to see what Ronnie has done this time," Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia said. "He's putting up astounding numbers. But I can't say I'm that surprised. You couldn't tear him off the field when he played for us. I'm not sure he ever missed a snap in four years.

"He would really get after you. Apparently, that hasn't changed. He's still a warrior."

McCullough, who once had a 28-tackle game against Chamberlain, was progressing nicely for the Bulls as they made the transition from Conference USA to the Big East. But he grew impatient while serving in a supporting role to Stephen Nicholas, Patrick St. Louis and Ben Moffitt.

Hang in there, teammates told McCullough.

Your time will come.

McCullough wanted instant gratification - and a new opportunity. B-CU offered the chance to play right away.

"So many people were saying, 'Why would you want to go to a smaller school?'" McCullough said. "Now it looks like everything happened for the right reasons. I don't regret anything.

"Those guys at South Florida, they're still my boys."

McCullough attended USF's 64-12 win against Central Florida on Oct. 13 at Raymond James Stadium, and remembers a rush of excitement the next day when he heard the Bulls were No. 2 in the BCS standings.

Accordingly, he loves receiving congratulatory text messages from former USF teammates after his award-winning performances.

"I never dreamed of something like leading the nation in tackles," McCullough said. "In a way, it doesn't seem real. During the game, you don't think about the numbers. Usually the next day, you hear the stats and it's like a shock and a dream."

McCullough, who hopes for invitations to the postseason all-star games, has another dream. He wants to be drafted into the NFL. He wants to show that his decision to leave USF has paid off with a professional career.

Before then, though, there's another game, maybe his biggest game.

"I've got the stats, but I don't have nearly enough victories," McCullough said. "It's sweet and sour.

"That's why I want to beat Florida A&M so bad. This is our bowl, our championship. We want something to remember."

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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