Protecting His Family

Steven Coda, Offensive Tackle for Towson Tigers

It’s fourth down and 5 yards to go with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter.  Your team is down by six points, and a touchdown will win the game.  The entire 60 minutes you attempt to complete the grueling task of protecting your quarterback’s blindside from a 250 pound defensive end. 

You’re held, thrown to the ground, and tackled all year.  But this is the last game of the year, and your team is fighting for a playoff spot.  Your heart races, but time stands still as the ball is snapped.  The defense has left the starting gate and they have one thing in mind…get to the quarterback. 

Fifteen seconds left.  Sweat drips down your forehead, and your legs can no longer support your body as the defensive tackle looks to break through your grasp.  Ten seconds left.  You use all your might on that final play to make sure the man you’re guarding doesn’t make the game saving tackle.  Muscles are wearing thin and you’re low on energy.  The quarterback has no open receivers, and yet you are still holding your ground.  Five seconds left.  The quarterback scrambles and decides to make a run for the end zone.  You leave your man in order to catch a lead block and clear the way for your quarterback to make it safely to the end zone.  TOUCHDOWN!!! 

There is only one problem.  The quarterback looks like the hero, and you get no recognition.  No recognition for keeping your team safe, protecting their backs, and standing your ground.  Sounds like the life of an offensive tackle.

Offensive Tackle is a very underrated and unrecognizable position, especially to fans.  However, 6 foot 5 inch, 295 pound Steven Coda played it, and played it well.  Steve Coda, senior and Offensive Tackle at Towson University always made sure he had his quarterback’s side.

“A football team is a family,” Coda said.  “I have one job, and that is to protect my quarterback.  I have his back at all times.  We build off that relationship.”

The 22-year-old wasn’t always into football.  In fact, he made the switch from soccer to football at 12 years old, just a year before high school.  His friends convinced him to play because of his large size.  Coda grew up in a small town called Cranford in northern New Jersey where sports were extremely competitive, but Coda came out and surprised everyone. 

His next 4 years at Cranford is something he will never forget.  Coda received awards from across the state: 1^st Team All Conference, 1^st Team all County, Captain of the All-Star team for North New Jersey, Super 100 All-State, and in his junior year his team won the Conference Championship for the first time in school history since 1972.

“Steve gave Offensive Tackle a new name, and new recognition,” said former teammate Dan Bridges.  “He put in so much effort, and he truly loved every aspect of the game.”

The once forgotten position was now being looked at differently thanks to Coda.  Towson University certainly looked at his talent closely enough to offer him a full-ride.

His talent and passion for the game followed through to Towson where he continued to impress.

“Steve is a really talented guy, and you can really tell he cares about his team,” J.T. Levendusky, former Towson teammate said.  “You could always see in practice and in workouts that his dedication was so strong, and that he has a huge heart.”

The Towson Tigers went 7-4 in Coda’s rookie season, and although the Tigers have not been too impressive the past two years, Coda has never given up, and continues to have the love for the game, and continues to protect his “family.”

“I always looked up to players like Brett Favre and my former teammate Jermon Bushrod,” said Coda.  “Favre is 40 years old and still plays like he’s 25, and Jermon is now starting Tackle for the undefeated New Orleans Saints.  If I continue to have the drive and the passion, I can make it all the way too.”