Aug 29, 2013
SAN DIEGO -
This is the fourth installment of Laura Antonana Iriarte's "Aztecs A La Vista." Antoñana is a junior on the women's tennis team from San Sebastián, Spain. In her fourth article, she is profiling football player Adam Dingwell.
Vol. 1: Aztecs A La Vista: Getting to Know Amy Alston
Vol. 2: Aztecs A La Vista: Hunter Nicholas to the Service
Vol. 3: Aztecs A La Vista: Saying Goodbye to Rachel Boaz
The Power of Will
One date: Oct. 20, 2013
One game: SDSU at Nevada
One point: 39-38
And one hero.
He led his team to a victory very few people believed in. He only had seven career passes on his back. Very, very few for most. But enough for him. He came through under pressure, with the serenity and confidence typical of a starter, and resurrected the Aztecs.
The day after the breathtaking game at the Mackay Stadium, plenty of newspapers wrote about his accomplishment.
"Dingwell's era has begun for the Aztecs," highlighted the UT San Diego.
"The Aztecs inched out a 39-38 victory against Nevada and found a new hero in the process," stated The Daily Aztec.
Fortunately, this 'hero' did not come out from Aladdin's magic lamp, and it is not made of smoke. He is real, his name is Adam Dingwell, and this is his story.
Even though success as a San Diego State quarterback came to him in 2012, Adam Dingwell's journey as a football player started a long time ago in Rockwall,Texas. As a typical Texan, Adam first held onto a football at a very young age, and when he would run around with it, his dad once told him some words he has yet not forgotten: "You will never give up, nor quit, and if you start something, you've got to finish it."
At the time, young Adam was probably not aware of the importance of these words. Now several years later, he fully understands what it means to keep fighting for his goals, and to never give up on them.
Off the field, he loves to play jokes on people, especially on his roommates, who are his main victims of his pranks. You would think that behind his 6-4 frame, he would hide a serious personality. But you'd be wrong. Adam is kind, funny, and mischievous. As an example, a roommate of his once forgot to clean up his hair after shaving, and this SDSU quarterback decided to put all of it on the blades of his ceiling fan. Of course this is a nasty prank, but let's be honest, that's a 1st down for Dingwell!
All joking aside, on the field he is an unselfish hard worker whom, in words of his teammates, "Would die for his squad."
The journey to leadership has not been easy for him. His first year at San Diego State, he decided to redshirt in order to fully engage his time on learning and improving his game. His second year, he became the backup to the great Ryan Lindley, who now plays on the NFL. With this, Adam opened the door to 2012 with the expectation of hearing his coach call his number before a game.
However, destiny wanted to prove his patience and perseverance, and as Ryan Katz transferred from Oregon State to SDSU, Adam became the back up to the starting quarterback once again. Just as in the previous year, games were going to be an environment where he had not been selected to play the role of a main character.
But this Texan did not succumb to adversity, as his dad's words about not giving up still resounded in his mind.
It is not a secret that the athlete's greatness goes beyond the field performances. A great leader is one that knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. And Dingwell did all three.
"Adam doesn't have a rivalry," football strength & conditioning coach Adam Hall (also a Texan) said. "When the job was given to Katz, he did not change, he kept working."
"I was fine with it," Dingwell said. "It was my job to back him up and help him in whatever he needed. And if I had to go in, it was my job to be ready to play."
With these uncharacteristic personality traits that many athletes don't have, Adam demonstrated that in his eyes the team's success was more important than his own. Without words, but actions, he proved that he knew the way.
After some months and games went by, the game against Nevada hit the calendar. Katz had the misfortune of breaking his ankle during the game, and No. 6 was called to go on the field.
Philosopher Seneca once said that, 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.' On Oct. 20, the opportunity had just showed up in Nevada. Now it was a matter of the preparation to do its part of the job.
Fortunately it did. When his team most needed him, he did not disappoint anyone.
Adam threw three touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion in overtime that gave the victory to the Aztecs.
"Dingwell's era has started," and, "the hero who resurrected the team against Nevada," are some of the things you could hear about him the day after the game.
However, even if he could have easily succumbed to the arrogant and annoying personality traits that often follow athletes once they achieve an extreme accomplishment, Adam has chosen to maintain the modesty of a good winner and athlete.
"I wouldn't say is my era is more the team's," Dingwell said, remembering some of the things he learned from Lindley. "The seniors had a huge hand in it, and the coaches have done a great job. So I can't take all the credit by any means."
The 2012 season is part of the past now. What the upcoming season is going to bring to the Aztecs is still unknown, but what we can be sure about is that No. 6 of the Aztecs, Adam Dingwell, is going to keep up on what he knows to do best, being a hard worker, not giving up on his goals, and leading by example.
Somewhere in Texas, Mr. Dingwell must be really proud that his son never gave up. We hope he never does
LET'S GO ADAM!