TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - When it comes to Godby football, hard work and patience are paying off big time.
"We've been working for this for a long time," said senior Tyler Pye. Godby football finished State Runner-up in 2014, Pye's freshman season. They've missed the playoffs the last two years, but are undefeated so far in his senior campaign. "To see it finally happening is a really good feeling for all of us."
Pye is doing his part to make sure that good feeling lasts all the way to a State Championship.
"You can't have a team without upperclassmen and seniors and kids that understand the process and what it takes to get to this moment," said head coach Corey Fuller. "Tyler is one of the hardest working, pound for pound toughest kids on this team. He embraced that from the time I got here, and that's what I love about him."
"We worked hard enough to be this good, so it's not really a surprise, so it's just executing and making it happen," added Pye. "That's the good part seeing everything happen come together."
As hard as he works on the field, Pye is working just as hard in the classroom - balancing a near 4.07 GPA.
"I was always taught to be a student athlete," he said. "I know that school comes first, so no matter how tired I am, I know when I get home, I have to do homework if I want to play on the field. I lead by example. I don't have to say too much because we all pretty much discipline ourselves."
"All these kids that play for us, they're doing a great job representing Godby, but most of all, representing the name on the back of their shirt," said coach Fuller. "He's a Pye, and his family should be ecstatic and elated for the kids they've raised and brought up."
As Pye and the Cougars gear up for a deep run in the postseason, they're looking to etch the name on the front of their jersey's in the history books.
"We're not done yet. At the end of the day, we want that trophy," said Pye smiling. "We want that banner. That's when we've left our mark. That's when we left the place how we found it."
How they found it, expect this time, finishing with a ring.
