Where are They Now Wednesday - Joe Ross
Where are They Now Wednesday - Caroline Bevillard
Where are They Now Wednesday - Everett Teaford
Wednesday of each week during the football season Georgia Southern Athletics will catch up with a former coach, administrator, student-athlete, trainer, cheerleader, etc. to see where they are now and how their time at Georgia Southern helped get them there.
Everett Teaford
Pitcher in the Kansas City Royals System
Everett Teaford was a three-year letterwinner for the Eagles from 2004-2006 and finished his career with a 26-13 record and a 4.00 ERA. His junior year he led the Southern Conference in innings (120 1/3), strikeouts (122) and complete games (4) while tying for second in wins. Teaford was named to the 1st-team Southern Conference in 2005 and 2006 and finished his career ranking second among the Georgia Southern career strikeout leaders with 353. His freshman year Teaford posted a 7-6 record with a 4.07 ERA in 20 games. Teaford made 15 starts that season and struck out 113 batters. In 2005, Teaford improved to 9-3 with a 3.99 ERA and 118 strikeouts. In his junior campaign, Teaford topped his sophomore numbers and went 10-4 with a 3.96 ERA while striking out 122 opposing batters. Teaford was a 12th round selection of the Kansas City Royals.
Q: What are some of your most memorable moments as an Eagle?
ET: "Getting to know the guys I played with and meeting the people that I have come to know through the university along with the friendships that I have now are probably the most memorable moments I have had as an Eagle. As far as on the field, taking two of three from Georgia my sophomore year and playing in the Southern Conference finals that year was a great moment. Most importantly, the relationships that I have had with people and being able to go back to Georgia Southern and enjoy my time, that is probably the best memory."
Q: How did your experience as a student-athlete at Georgia Southern prepare you for life after college?
ET: "Coach Hennon makes guys earn spots. I think it is very indicative to things in life that you have to earn everything. Whatever you want to be in life whether it is a doctor, lawyer, businessman or a professional baseball player you are going to have to go out and earn it. That was how it was at Georgia Southern and that is how it has been in professional baseball. I had to earn my opportunity to get up to the big leagues. Coach Hennon and the work ethic that he instilled in myself really gave me an advantage going into professional baseball because I knew I was going to have to work hard to be successful."
Q: Give fans an idea on what you are doing now?
ET: "Professional baseball is kind of a microcosm of life. You start at the lowest level just like an entry level job. You start there. It is a production based business. If you don't produce, you don't move up. Fortunately every year I have gotten better and been able to prove something. I was fortunate enough to get to the big leagues in 2011 and stayed there for most of a year and a half. This year I have been in Triple-A for almost all of the season. Minor League baseball is not all that fun, but the day you make your major league debut is worth every terrible bus ride, every awful hotel, every garbage meal you had to eat. It is all worth it for that one day you get to play in the big leagues."
Q: Favorite road story?
ET: "One of the funnest moments was when we were playing Western Carolina my sophomore year and it was snowing. We went to McDonald's for breakfast, and I think we had split the first two games so it was before a big game three. Coach Hennon came running out of the McDonald's through the snow with no shirt on and came running on the bus to get everybody fired up. It worked, and we won."
Q: Favorite place you played?
ET: "Going to Athens and playing at Georgia. I won the Saturday game there, and I think it was in front of one of their larger crowds that they have ever had at that time. That was probably the most fun place to go because nobody liked us. Georgia fans there wanted to kick our butts, and fortunately we got the best of them that day."
Q: Do you keep up with anyone from your playing days at Georgia Southern?
ET: "I talk to Dustin Evans a good bit. I was with him basically every single year I was at Georgia Southern. He is now scouting with the Seattle Mariners. I also talk to Greg Dowling, who just got a promotion and is working in Boston. I see Josh Lairsey quite a bit since he now lives in Atlanta. Every time I go down to Statesboro I see Kevin Bowles. I haven't talked to Chris Beck much since the off-season, but I saw he is doing great and got up to double-A so hopefully next year will be his break out year."
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