Tanner Hatten, a sophomore at Jones College and long snapper for the football team, has taken a life-altering situation and used it as motivation and drive for his future.
While attending Purvis High School, Hatten found his love for the game of football.
“I started playing football in 8th grade just because my friends were playing, and I had nothing better to do and ended up kind of falling in love with it,” said Hatten.
After high school, Hatten was given more than a couple of opportunities, but Jones felt the most like home.
Hatten said, “I love the Jones family, and out of everything I had, I felt like this would be the best fit for me. I really loved all of the coaches when I was getting recruited, and it just felt like home.”
Hatten said the opportunity to help further his education was his biggest drive for motivation, but the recent loss of his father only weeks ago ultimately changed his mindset.
“Two weeks ago, my dad passed away, and he was really big into me and into football. So now I have that pushing behind me, doing what he would have wanted me to do and keep playing,” said Hatten. “I’m trying to make him proud.”
Hatten’s father was a huge part of his son’s football career and became his biggest supporter from the very first moment Hatten stepped on the field.
“He was always willing to do whatever it took to support me,” Hatten said. “I remember when I was getting invited to a bunch of camps and universities, and we went all the way to Houston on a Tuesday, University of Troy that Thursday, and Tulane on that Saturday, all within the same week. Just so I could have the opportunities to be in front of those colleges, and although that week sucked, he hauled me around and stuck in there with me.”
Even though that was one of Hatten’s fondest memories, he cherishes smaller memories such as watching films on Saturdays or knowing his father would be waiting on the sidelines after the final quarter of each game.
“I remember on my signing day, just how proud of me he was, and how happy it made him,” Hatten said.
Facing college is not an easy task and facing college as an athlete on top of losing a loved one is even more challenging. So, when Hatten felt the urge to quit, to give up, especially during the grueling hours of summer practices, his father’s words gave him the motivation to keep going.
“He would always tell me where the mind goes, the body follows,” said Hatten. “So, if you are out there thinking about how much it sucks, it’s going to suck, but if you are out there just doing it and keeping your mind straight, eventually you’ll get through it.”
Those words also gave Hatten strength this summer while facing summer conditioning and watching his father grow sicker.
“Even this summer, we would do some hard running, and I would wanna give up. I would just remember, where the mind goes, the body follows, and that would give me the strength to push through it,” said Hatten. “This was when he was getting pretty sick and in a lot of pain. We would be running, and I would think, well if he can fight through that, then I could fight through this for him.”
Until the very end of his battle with cancer, Hatten’s father found a way to watch his son play the sport that bonded them.
“Even in hospice care, he said the highlight of his week was watching the live streams of our games this season up until he passed,” said Hatten.
Hatten’s plans after Jones are still up in the air. With a major in construction management and a hope to continue playing under stadium lights, Hatten will graduate from Jones in 2021 and has already received a few offers.
Head football coach Steve Buckley said, “You start with Tanner and what position he plays, and everyone thinks long snapper, deep snapper, not really important. But he’s just as important as our quarterback, and our whole system here. He’s been very consistent. He’s been an example to all of us, with all he’s been through with his father passing. We had a great tragedy when two of our kids lost their fathers during the same week, and to just watch those kids play that night and the team rally around them was just really touching.”
by Megan Matthews
