One of the defining stories this college football season has been Tez Walker. The UNC receiver's long waiver appeal process received local and national support. Since being ruled eligible he's lived up to the hype and more. Pat Welter sat down with Walker to discuss the mental toll and the woman behind his motivation.
Before every game, Tes Walker takes a lap. Like I like to be calm before games. Like I know like when I was younger, I used to walk like the neighborhood, walk down the street, take walks clear my mind. So ever since I like my ninth grade high school, I just take walks. He's taken many steps to get here and for a long time he thought he'd only be able to watch, uh T Walker. We're trying to secure his immediate eligibility. Walker's eligibility is Walker and his eligibility. What was it like for you? Mentally? Just going through that? Will he won't he play that for all those months? Yeah, it was, it was hard, real hard, you know, trying to fake a smile every day which I did. Um I like, like people feeling bad for me like it makes me feel worse. So going through that every day, it was, it wasn't a good feeling at all. Tez came to UN C as a two time transfer. As difficult as his waiver process was. Carolina made sure he didn't fight alone as the appeal denials piled up, the support only grew from a letter to the NCAA by Governor Roy Cooper, to fans, celebrities and teammates wearing his jersey in protest. Need him out there. I know it's just something that means you got guys out there transferred three and four times playing and TED out here done it the right way and he's not getting rewarded. Taz had a strong case even in the face of tighter NCAA restrictions. Number one, he's only played at one school that's different than a lot of these other guys. There were legal reasons. There was also love, ok, we're doing over eggs and devotes favorite before Tez was ever cooking. College Defenders Kitchen butter. He was learning how to fry an egg they have. It. Devante is famous easy over egg that he loves. But the relationship is much deeper than that even though his grandma has been more like mom because, you know, he's been with me since he was born. Te grew up living in his grandmother's house in West Charlotte when he was in middle school, his mother and sister moved out but Ted stayed, I didn't wanna take him out of place and basically, you know, we keep him in a position because he was already settled and going his own way. So I didn't wanna take that away. Staying in his school was one reason taking care of. Loretta was another, you know, I had two hip replacements left and right, the knee replacement, left, knee replacement and I broke that knee like she couldn't do nothing on her own. Like she just had, she had to stay in bed so I would feed her, bathe her, you know, she used the bag and I had to go like, take it out and things like that. So I pretty much was, was her caregiver. He was becoming a man at home and a star on the football field all that time. Loretta never got to see him play. So when he transfers to North Carolina, what, what are you thinking? I get a chance to come. I get a chance to see him play clock will expire at North Carolina will win it. The first four games of the season went by and the moment never came, you know, didn't want to get out of bed some days and he wanted to go to school, you know, like everybody looking at me as the guy like, oh, he can't play because, you know, transferred that many times on October 5th. The family's fortunes changed. Matt Brown and UN C receivers coach Lonnie Galloway told Walker the NCAA had reversed its decision. A lot of pressure on my shoulders. I was glad it was finally over. That was my birthday morning. So that was like super exciting. I'm just yelling through the house since that moment, he's rewarded everyone that fought for him 6.5 of the quarter and a touchdown. Turns one, his first touchdown catch as a tar heel no one more thrilled than Loretta who finally got to see him play. Oh, it was like, wow, am I here? I said this is what this look like. Wow, it was energetic. You know, the uh the fans were so wonderful after they found out who we were and everything that was so, so kind. You've been through a lot, but now that you're here, would you change anything about it? I wouldn't. No. And I feel like, you know, everyone has a story and um I, I thank, I thank God for everything he's put me through. Still thanking him for what he's gonna still put me through. You know, it's gonna be adversity throughout your whole life. So I'm just thankful for, for it all. Pat Walter Wrl Sports.
