Anderson carries on tradition
Rice players look to make a statement — and end a three-game losing streak — when Army comes to town on Saturday. It would be a win that that puts them back on track for their postseason goals. It also offers one Owl the chance for some serious family bragging rights.
Devry Anderson manned Army’s secondary as a cornerback from 1992 through 1996.
After a stint in medical school, he served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Anderson, who’s fiercely competitive, said his medical and service experience has been a great way to give back to others directly.
So it’s no surprise that his son, Calvin Anderson, is Rice’s starting left tackle and an All-Conference USA performer from the blind side.
The rubber match
Rice has played Army twice in the younger Anderson’s time, splitting the games. Saturday represents a rubber match for the Anderson family
“It’s cool to play them every year; it’s a different life out there,” Calvin Anderson said of Army. “Talking after the game is really cool because they have a different perspective. Even different from my dad because he’s 20 years removed.”
The Andersons discussed Army as a potential option in high school but Calvin ultimately opted to stay in state. Still, West Point’s influence remains.
“The same characteristics he developed at West Point are the same that he put in me. A lot of persevering through things, a lot of being obedient, a lot of rule following; so I feel like I learned a lot of that really early,” Calvin said. “But after I graduated high school I got to see more of the football influence on it. He talked to me a lot about what it’s like to be a Division I player and what that means for your professional career.”
His success is a reflection
of his father’s work ethic. In fact, it’s almost premeditated.
“Whether it be football or my approach to academics, I was thinking about what I was doing to overcome whatever challenges I was facing and thinking about the possibility of a child following this path,” the elder Anderson said. “So having a son created the perfect opportunity to build a pathway that would lead to the right bridges to get across.”
Honors coming in
That attitude has helped Calvin protect Rice quarterbacks this season. It’s also earned him a spot on the Pro Football Focus AllConference USA team of the week twice this year.
He’s also elevated his
performance against his father.
“Calvin and I have always been in competition. I like to work out and I like to do well in the classroom and we don’t let people win. We tend to compete in pretty much anything we do. But since the beginning of the year, he’s started to soundly beat me at things, particularly in the weight room,” Devry Anderson said.
“We had a little triceps lift competition and I ended up beating him,” Calvin added. “He tried to do my weight and pulled something, so it was a big moment for us because it was like he passed me the torch of being the strongest Anderson.”