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WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT:
Former Bishop Nathan Hackney set
to begin AIFA pro football career
 Rocky Mount, NC
- The North Carolina
Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that
former Battling Bishop Nathan Hackney (pictured) has signed
a professional football contract with the Fayetteville
Guard, an affiliate of the American Indoor Football
Association (AIFA). Hackney, who was a member of Wesleyan's
inaugural senior class in 2007, currently serves as a
graduate assistant coach at the University of North Carolina
at Pembroke.
During his Bishop career, Hackney was a
two-time All-Conference performer for Wesleyan on the
offensive line. The Fayetteville, NC native was an
instrumental part of football's first USA South
Championship, a 2007 season that saw NCWC become the only
team to ever go undefeated in league play. That same
season also saw the program earn its first NCAA Tournament
berth and playoff win.
Over
the course of Hackney's tenure, Wesleyan posted a 23-17
record and averaged better than 180 yards rushing per game.
In 2006, NCWC ranked sixth nationally and first in the USA
South Conference with 443 yards of total offense per game,
including a 495 yards per game average against league
opponents. As a senior, Hackney again helped Wesleyan boast
conference’s best offense, as well as earn a spot in the
NCAA DIII Top-20 national poll.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in
Exercise Science from NC Wesleyan in May of 2008, Hackney
took his talents to the sidelines at UNC Pembroke, where he
helped the Braves to an impressive 9-1 record in the
program's second season. He was happy to take time to answer
the questions below for this week's Bishop Spotlight.
NCWC: Will
you continue your graduate assistantship at UNCP
while you’re playing for the Guard?
HACKNEY:
Yes, I will
continue my Graduate Assistantship with the Braves.
It will definitely make my schedule a little hectic
sometimes, but I'm not ready to give up playing the
game just yet.
NCWC:
Is your signing with the Guard a paid contract?
HACKNEY: As of right now, I am
on the 30-man roster but considered a practice
player. This means that I am not paid; you are only
paid if you are a member of the 20-man travel squad.
However, if I continue to work hard and show them I
can play on Saturdays, my contract will change.
Hopefully, I will work my way up the ranks!
NCWC:
How do you think you’ll adjust to playing indoors?
HACKNEY: Other than some of the
defensive rules, such as
where guys can blitz from, the game does not change
much for an offensive lineman... just block and be
as physical as possible. The speed of the game is
much different because everything happens very
quickly.
NCWC:
Do you know if any players from the AIFA have gone
to play in any other higher leagues?
HACKNEY: I'm sure there have
been guys to move on to the next level. There are
two members on our team who have played in the NFL.
Also, many of the teams we will play have ex-NFL
players or higher level arena players on their
teams.
NCWC:
What are your goals past this?
HACKNEY: Well, I will take this
as far as it can take me, but I am just very excited
to be playing football again. You sometimes forget
how fun it is being a member of a team and the
bond of the Fraternity of Football. Remember that
I'm a D3 athlete... we mainly play for the simple
love of the game.
For more
info on the AIFA and/or Fayetteville Guard, please
visit
http://www.fayettevilleguard.com/.
2008-09 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
2007-08 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
2006-07 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
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