BLACK HISTORY IN SPORTS

Colorado County’s very own

LaAdrian Waddle

As it is Black History Month, it is a good time to take a look at some Black athletes from Colorado County that made big strides in their athletic career.

LaAdrian Waddle played football for the Columbus Cardinals and went on to win two Super Bowl Championships. Waddle won both his Super Bowls with the New England Patriots but let’s look back at how he got there.

In the 2006-07 football season Waddle cracked the Cardinals varsity roster as a sophomore. He played in every game for the Cards, but they posted a 3-7 record and a 1-6 record in district play.

So, in his first year of varsity he did not get to see playoff action but in his junior season that changed. In the 2007-08 season Waddle in his junior season anchored the offensive line for the Cardinals and helped them have a 9-2 record and 6-1 record in district play.

In the 07-08 season the Cards won the district championship which was just the start of Waddle’s championship resumé. In his senior season the Cards posted a 5-4 record, 1-4 in district, so it was another season of no playoff action for Waddle.

Everything turned out alright though for the 6’6 lineman as he ended up committing to Texas Tech.

In 2010 Waddle’s first start was met with a very big challenge for the now freshman in college. He was up against the leading sack leader in the NCAA at the time, some guy named Vonn Miller.

So, in his first start, Waddle was up against a guy who would go on to become an eight-time pro-bowler, three-time All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl Champion, a Super Bowl MVP, Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-2010s team. Talk about being welcomed to Division 1 football.

Waddle had a strong career with Texas Tech, which was capped off by being selected to the All-Big 12 team. At the end of his time at Texas Tech Waddle set his sights on the draft and after his name was not called, he received a phone call from the Detroit Lions and his dream of being an NFL player was finally coming true.

He spent around two and a half years with the Lions and impressed the coaches enough to be named the starter by Week 8 his rookie year. In 2015 though the Lions cut Waddle, and his career took a turn for the better when he was claimed off waivers by the Patriots.

The Pats were eliminated in the playoffs by one of Waddle’s familiar foes, with Vonn Miller and the Denver Broncos beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

In 2016, the following year Waddle won his first Super Bowl in the now infamous 28-3 lead blown by the Atlanta Falcons. In 2017 Waddle and the Pats went back to the Super Bowl only to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Only, to bounce back in 2018 to defeat the Los Angeles Rams for Waddle’s second Super Bowl ring in three seasons. He signed with the Buffalo Bills on a one-year contract, unfortunately he suffered a torn quad which ended his season.

That was the end of Waddle’s career and after winning a district championship, shutting down Vonn Miller as a freshman in college, to winning two Super Bowls in three years. It’s safe to say Waddle had a great career.