University of North Carolina Athletics
Inside The Locker Room: Switzer's Steadfastness
July 31, 2015 | Football
As I finished lacing up my cleats in the locker room, I glanced at my phone and checked the clock: 9:15 a.m. Good, I think to myself as I let out a yawn, I still have 15 minutes before I have to meet him at the field for routes. It was a gray Saturday morning in Chapel Hill with everyone still sleeping off Friday night. As I head out through the tunnel, I can hear music blaring throughout Kenan Stadium. Crazy to think on September Saturdays this place will be packed with thousands but, for when I emerged onto the field, there was only one person out there now.
He runs hard for over 15 yards, stops on a dime, and plants back to where he catches an imaginary pass before turning up field. Part of me felt badly for the imaginary defender, who wouldn't have stood a chance.
I yell to him, “I thought we were meeting at 9:30!?” How long has he been here this morning? Based off his gray shirt that had been darkened by perspiration saying at least an hour would've been a safe assumption.
He smiles, shrugs and says, “Yeah we are, I just wanted to get in a little extra.”
This is both our third year on the football team, and this is the Switz I've come to know. The one to leave the facilities after everyone just to go on the ball machine more. The one who in between classes watches whatever film he can get his hands on. The one who will do an extra rep in the weight room because he knows his opponent won't. When we go out in the fall, Ryan practices as if he was playing for the ACC Championship every time. His work ethic is contagious to the rest of the team. Personally, my favorite part of practice is seeing him and Austin Proehl try to one up each other with crisp routes during 1-on-1s vs. the defensive backs.
The Tar Heel wide receiver gets his motivation and persistence from his family. Switzer's dad, Michael, instilled in Ryan a work ethic that has grown him into the player he is today. Growing up, Ryan saw how his dad went out every day to find work and provide for their family. As a graphic designer and photographer, those tend to be occupations cut when money is tight. However, his dad worked exceptionally and, more importantly, relentlessly. Switzer said that seeing Michael grind made him want to live up to those standards and be a man and father like his dad.
Those who achieve great things are the ones who aren't scared off by how great they possibly could be. There's one dream that has fueled every decision Ryan Switzer has ever made: playing in the NFL. That goal is all he has ever known. From a young age, people doubted him due to his size and stature.
“Knowing I'm that much closer to making my dreams a reality pushes me to the limit,” Switzer says. “That I can walk across that stage to the commissioner for myself, my family, and the few people that believed I could continues to push me.”
Growing up in West Virginia, he became close to Tavon Austin and Bruce Irvin, two Mountaineers who were drafted eighth and 15th, respectively, in the NFL Draft. As a result, seeing both of them make it and go so high has made his dreams more realistic. Knowing he could soon follow in their footsteps has intensified his motivation.
Throughout all levels I've played in sports, coaches have always emphasized the saying “You will play how you practice. “ If that's the case, it's no surprise as to why Ryan has achieved both first-team All-ACC and first-team All-America already. He's not great by accident.
You won't see him again until September 3 in Charlotte, but I promise you this, somewhere out there Ryan Switzer is working right now to get better.
Junior wide receiver Taylor Vippolis is a native of Stony Point, New York, and joined the UNC football team as a walk-on in 2013.
