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Linemen carry on tradition

Published Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:45 AM

By Roger Lee
Summerville Journal Scene ®

A Green Wave tradition seems to be paying off.

The starters on the Summerville offensive line, and their quarterback, are carrying on the tradition of getting together for dinner every Thursday night during the football season.

The dinners date back at least four years, when the family of Wave QB Reid McCollum hosted as a way of thanking the linemen for the protection they provided McCollum every Friday night.

When McCollum graduated, the family of QB Donny McElveen became the host.

When he graduated last year, Marcie Wagers volunteered to host at her house.

“It’s a neat ritual so everyone wanted to keep it going and I like to cook,” Wagers, the mother of Wave center Devin Taylor, said. “It’s just something fun for them to do.”

Current Wave QB Dalton Saunders said he is glad the tradition has continued because it has given him a chance to get to know some of his teammates better. The linemen say it has helped them bond.

“If we’re confused during a play, things usually don’t workout for the best,” guard Corley Bridges said. “We need to know what the other linemen are going to do and its important for us to have good chemistry because if the line messes up it can throw off the entire offense. The dinners bring us together. We talk about the game and what we need to do, but mostly it’s just a chance for us to hang out.”

The dinners are typically the last big meal the athletes have before a game, so the Wagers make sure the players get ample carbs and nutrients.

The main course varies, but there is always plenty to go around.

On BBQ night, the Wagers got 10 pounds of meat and large portions of the fixings.

Another evening they baked four turkey breasts, two family size bags of corn and four boxes of stuffing.

Penn Wagers, Taylor’s stepfather, said the group doesn’t get steak until the Wave wins its first playoff game. If the Wave advances to the championship game, he has promised them a Lowcountry boil.

After dinner, the group usually either watches college football or plays video games.

“It’s a time to relax after a week of practice and preparing for Friday,” Taylor said. “Though we have some pretty heated Madden tournaments.”

Whether it’s the chemistry they have developed or something else behind it, Bridges, Taylor, guard Nick Schweitzer, tackles Devin Smith and Tyler Lotz, tight end Parker Bridges, and Trey Goettee, who has split time with Schweitzer, are getting the job done.

With the help of their protection, Saunders has passed for 1,693 yards this season and the team has rushed for 1,871 yards. Summerville carries a 9-1 record into its Nov. 6 game at Colleton County.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.
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