By Carwyn Holland
As millions around the world affix their eyes to their television sets today to catch a glimpse of the American football spectacle known as the Super Bowl final, Guyanese at home and abroad will be hoping to one day to see one of their own in the final after Clay Nurse was cut from the New England Patriots.
The Patriots will clash with the New York Giants in today’s 46th Super Bowl final – one of the most eagerly-anticipated final in the history of the sport at the Lucas Oli Stadium, Indianapolis.
The abbreviated season has attracted lots of attention following a lockout on the players last year by the National Football League (NFL).
Nurse was signed by the New England Patriots on July 11, 2011 as a rookie free agent but was released after the training camp in August of that year.
Even though he missed out on this year’s selection, the 23-year-old star defensive line, who dominated High School football for the two years he played the sport there, is a serious contender for a spot on any leading Super Bowl team come next year.
“Right now I am a free agent waiting to be picked up by another team. When you turn a professional it’s like a waiting game, and I just have to be patient and wait on another team to pull the trigger,” the Guyanese star told Stabroek Sport yesterday after his daily workout at a Florida gym.
He says he works out daily and stays in great shape because no one knows what will come your way and it was best to be prepared for the unexpected call.
He is upbeat about his chances in the 47th edition of the Super Bowl.
“Throughout college, my goal was to make it to the NFL and now that I have made it there, my goal is to continue playing in the NFL,” he said.
Nurse told this newspaper that he has a great agent who is working around the clock to land him the best deal possible.
He added that he has a great support system and so far has quite a few offers on the table to play in the NFL, which he is assessing.
The former Queen’s College student sees himself in a good position for a bright future in the NFL and, after his playing days are over he said he intends to run his own health institution and become a physical therapist.
He currently holds a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Business Administration.
The six foot, three inches defensive end was born on August 1, 1988 to Guyanese Marcia Leitch and Charles Nurse of Georgetown and grew up in Broad Street, Charlestown.
He has a strong message for all his peers and youths across Guyana especially those from depressed areas.
“Don’t let your current situation keep you down,” was his message to them.
“I went to High School, worked my ‘butt off’ and made a name for myself playing football; a sport I knew nothing of before.
“Nothing is beyond your reach, you just need to work hard and be dedicated at what you are doing and you are bound to achieve,” he added.
Nurse is urging today’s youths to take his story as an example for he came from Broad Street in Charlestown without anyone knowing who he was and he gave it his best shot and has made it thus far.
Nurse left Guyana at the age of 15 to take up residence in the United States of America.
He now boasts an excellent record since taking up the game.
Though he will not be in today’s Super Bowl final, as was reported yesterday,
Guyanese all over the world await the day when they will be watching this son of the soil, playing in the Super Bowl final.
It would indeed be a fitting finale; a story book ending, to a storied career!
