Carrollton, GA – As the spring semester draws to a close, most college students can’t wait for summer break to begin. Many head to the beaches of Florida to get some sun, let loose with friends, and maybe find a summer romance. These relationships are often described as “summer flings” because they are as short as the summer is long.
West Georgia senior safety
Trey Wilborn and junior tight end
John Weatherford were also among a group of students that went to Florida this summer in pursuit of a relationship. Only for them, it was to learn and grow in their relationship with their heavenly father.
Both Wilborn and Weatherford attended the Summer Beach Project in Destin, FL. It is a nine-week program designed to help college students learn and grow in their Christian faith. During the day, the students work in the community at local businesses, and their evenings are devoted to bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians.
The Summer Beach Project also features a program called Athletes In Training. AIT offers student athletes the opportunity to not only grow in their faith daily, but also train with other athletes in the same sport to stay in great physical shape throughout the program.
Ben Weber is the local director of Campus Outreach for the University of West Georgia, and he describes the program as a “spiritual greenhouse.”
“The goal of the program is to set students up for spiritual success for the rest of their lives,” said Weber. “We want to help students not only deal with the distractions of college life, but also prepare them to be successful husbands, fathers, and businessmen.”
It was the challenge to be better, not just as an athlete, but also as a person that drew Wilborn to the project.
“It was really important for me to grow in my faith and learn how to live my life for God,” said Wilborn. “I saw the temptations of college life and the path I could head down, and I wanted to rise above it.”
For Weatherford, a junior from Land O’Lakes, Fla., the experience challenged him to be a better teammate on and off the field.
“I learned a lot from interacting with so many people from different schools and backgrounds, but we were all there for the same reason,” said Weatherford. “Our team is also made up of people from different backgrounds and beliefs and we have to come together for a common goal to be successful.”
In taking his spiritual walk to another level, Wilborn has seen a difference in his outlook on the game of football.
“Before the project, I was focused on personal goals, making individual plays or getting interceptions,” said Wilborn. “When you play for yourself, you worry about things like how hot it is during practice or not working hard if you’re not getting playing time. When you play for something bigger than yourself, you think about how you can make the team better and help teammates play their best.”
Making the team better is something that both Wilborn and Weatherford have in common. Weatherford played linebacker in his first two seasons at West Georgia and was asked by the coaching staff to switch positions to tight end.
“We had a need at that position and I wanted to do what’s best for the team,” said Weatherford. “The coaches felt I could make a difference on offense and I was excited about the idea of playing and practicing with my brother.”
Wilborn also knows what it’s like to switch positions and play on the other side of the ball. He played his first two seasons of college football at Brevard as an option quarterback. When he transferred to West Georgia, Wilborn had to earn his spot on the team as a safety.
“I knew coming here that they didn’t run the option system,” said Wilborn. “I loved what Coach Dickey was doing with the program and felt this is where I needed to be. I was willing to play wherever they wanted me to.”
Their commitment to the team and passion to represent the program the right way has excited head football coach Daryl Dickey.
“Those are two outstanding young men,” said Dickey. “Their commitment not only to academics, but also to their families, their football team, and their community is exceptional. We are proud to have them here and to be associated with them.”
Both Wilborn and Weatherford believe that pushing themselves to be better in life will translate to
success this football season. Both want to be a part of the class that brings winning football back to West Georgia.
“We are not the little dog in the corner anymore,” said Weatherford. “Winning is definitely in our future and I know we are going to have a good season this year.”
Wilborn, a senior from Etowah High School in Acworth, Ga., shares the same confidence and outlook on the upcoming season and is looking forward to a fresh start.
“We can’t worry about what’s happened in the past,” said Wilborn. “This is a new team and as long as we believe in each other good things will happen. Team morale is really high and I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year.”
Wilborn and Weatherford have the same enthusiasm about choosing to attend West Georgia as they do about the upcoming season. They both feel it’s a special program that has made a significant impact on their personal life.
“I definitely made the right decision coming here,” said Weatherford. “This is a great school to be a part of. I love playing for Coach Dickey, the rest of the coaches are amazing, and so are the new facilities.”
For Wilborn, his experience at West Georgia has changed his entire life.
“My experience at West Georgia has made me a better person,” said Wilborn. “I wouldn’t be on the path that I am now without my teammates, coaches, and my experiences with Campus Outreach and Summer Beach Project.”
Both student athletes have great aspirations when their time is done at West Georgia. Weatherford is studying Accounting and hopes to have his own business one day.
“I would like to travel and see the world and maybe own a restaurant one day.” said Weatherford. “It’s also important to me to strive to be a better Christian each day of my life.”
Wilborn is also studying Accounting and wants to get involved in the world of business.
“I would like to be a successful businessman and maybe have my own business,” said Wilborn. “But I could also see myself coaching high school football and passing the life lessons that I have learned to kids who need direction.”
To those that know Wilborn and Weatherford, it's clear that they will be successful in whatever they do in life. They are dedicated to living a life of faith and don’t believe in taking short cuts.
Their legacy as football players at West Georgia is still being written, but they will be remembered for playing the game the way it is supposed to be played. They have been great ambassadors for the sport of football and the university.
“When it comes to character, work ethic, and commitment, they don’t come any better than those guys,” said Dickey.