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Bulls defense enjoys Hay ride for 4 years

Defensive end may not be flashy, but he's proven to be a durable player.

By SHARON GINN

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 27, 2000

TAMPA -- In 1997, when freshmen made up most of South Florida's starting lineup, coach Jim Leavitt cautioned that some of them eventually would lose their jobs as stronger, faster and more talented players joined the program.

Even USF's former defensive ends coach thought Shawn Hay likely would end up on the bench. The nondescript Jupiter High graduate didn't dazzle anyone at first -- still doesn't, in fact. It's not his style.

But after he 12 sacks and 84 tackles in his first two seasons, Hay's old coach, Kevin Patrick, had to confess.

"Kevin said ... "You know, we didn't really expect you to turn out like this,' " Hay said.

He isn't the hardest hitter, the biggest playmaker or always the first to the ball. But more than three years later, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Hay is a fixture at defensive end.

The reason why has as much to do with pride as athleticism.

"I'm not going to come here and sit on the bench," Hay said. He hardly had to. Suddenly Hay is heralded as one of the most durable Bulls. He has played all 40 of USF's games, starting 38. A tender ankle has slowed him this season, forcing him to miss a start against Southern Miss, his first time coming off the bench since 1997. But he has five tackles for a loss, including two sacks, and a key interception and fumble recovery.

"I'm a competitor in a quieter way," he said. "I hate to lose. I don't like it when players talk trash and think they're better than me.

"I'm not the best athlete. I'm not the strongest guy. I take it upon myself to get better in other areas."

When he arrived at USF, there was plenty of work to be done. Hay had little experience; he did not play football until his sophomore year in high school -- he grew up playing baseball -- and didn't start until he was a senior.

He made the most of that 1995 season at Jupiter High, recording 68 tackles, three sacks, nine tipped passes and eight fumble recoveries. He wasn't widely recruited, but USF made him a member of its first signing class in February 1996.

"When I got to college, I seriously probably had 12-15 games of total experience," Hay said.

Fortunately for him, keeping up with the Bulls' breathless pace was the biggest requirement.

Not only did the team spend all of 1996 practicing without playing, but Leavitt desperately looked for leaders who could accept the rigorous schedule and help build the program. Hay was one of those who met the challenge.

"(Patrick) worked us to death," Hay said. "He was really a perfectionist, and it was hard on us. (He emphasized) pride in our program, pride in ourselves and pride in our position."

And Hay kept improving. Though he hasn't matched his school-record total of eight sacks from the 1997 season, his play has improved as the opponents have gotten tougher.

He easily is USF's career sacks leader with 17. Against Division I-AA then-No. 1 Georgia Southern in 1998, he had a career-high nine tackles. Against I-AA then-No. 1 Troy State this season he had an interception, the first of his career.

One of his bigger regrets is missing much of the Oct. 7 Southern Miss game because of his ankle injury. Against the then-No. 17 Golden Eagles, "I almost had two sacks in 10 plays, so I wonder what would have happened if I was completely healthy."

So does Leavitt.

"He gets better every year," Leavitt said. "He's just an awfully good defensive end.

"I think he's still waiting to have the game of his life. We don't have many more opportunities."

Hay has been thinking about that, and expects his final game Nov. 18 to be emotional, even if the opponent is a dreadful Austin Peay team. The I-AA Governors are 1-6, including losses to Jacksonville and Cumberland. Hay will be there even if he is limping.

"He just doesn't want to leave the field," defensive coordinator Rick Kravitz said. "He worked hard to become a starter and now he's going to finish."

A player who has reliably plugged holes for four seasons will leave a big one when he is gone, Kravitz said.

"Next year it's going to be strange," Kravitz said, "because we'll say, "Oh, we've got Hay again at defensive end.' But we won't."

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Gary Shelton