Over the years, Virginia Tech football has become known for its talented group of players exhibiting a strong, ?lunch pail? mentality, playing every down to the whistle and making it a point to never take any plays off. These players, no matter the circumstance, come to work hard each and every day, giving it their all and after a hard day?s work, hang their helmets having gotten the job done.
Cary Wade is one of these players.
A fifth-year senior at strong safety, Wade currently serves as one of Tech?s most committed workers, displaying his puritan work ethic in a program he has come to love.
?Our mindset here is all about the lunch pail and what it represents,? Wade said. ?We all have a dedicated, hard-working mentality to get better, especially myself. Everyday I come to practice to work hard and take care of business. I just love being a part of this program and doing what I have to do to get better.?
Wade, currently serving as a backup to starting rover Aaron Rouse, may go under the radar by some in terms of notoriety and fame. Those around him though, such as his position coach Jim Cavanaugh, know exactly how important he is to the team.
?Without a doubt, Cary is a very valuable guy for us,? Cavanaugh said. ?He?s got a lot of experience and gives our secondary added depth. He brings the strength of a leader not only to the field but to our meeting room as well.?
Adding to Wade?s value for the Hokies is the rover?s ability to perform at numerous positions on the field. Wade, who was converted to cornerback following his freshman year, added yet another position to his on-field r?sum? for the Hokies after having spent time this past spring at free safety.
?Earlier in the year, when (free safety) Cam Martin was out (with an injury), Cary was actually backing up both safety positions, at rover and at free safety,? Cavanaugh said. ?With as many reps as he has was able to get in, he was really able to get comfortable with our defense. That?s what makes him such a valuable commodity to our program, because he?s versatile enough to play both spots.?
In addition to seeing playing time amongst the defensive secondary, Wade has served as a leading member of head coach Frank Beamer?s special teams, particularly as a standout of both the kickoff and punt return units.
?Cary is one of our biggest weapons on special teams,? Cavanaugh said. ?Just a few weeks ago against Northeastern he blocked a punt for us. He?s done a lot for us out there. I guess you can call him Coach Beamer?s ?Ace in the Hole.??
Despite receiving complimentary words for his contributions, Wade has remained adamant in finding such titles unnecessary for personal motivation.
?With whatever I do, I don?t expect much praise,? Wade said. ?I don?t need it either. I just go out there on the field and try to be the player who all my coaches have put their faith in ... they all know what I?m capable of.?
That being said, no one knows more of Wade?s true capability than himself. Heading into his final season as a Hokie, not only does the redshirt senior want to live up to the expectations of his coaches, but to his very own as well.
?With this being my last season, I don?t want any regrets,? Wade said. ?I?m just going into every game with the mindset to let it all out (and) to not hold anything back.?
Off the field, Wade, a double major in communication and sociology who is expecting to graduate this December, has been keeping the exact same state of mind in handling his academics.
?I prioritize my schedule down to every last, little detail and that includes schoolwork and all my classes,? Wade said. ?Basically, I?m not trying to waste any of my time. I know when I need to wake up, what I need to do, where I need to be, you name it. I just try to be prepared ahead of time for whatever I do so I?m ready and focused for that individual task.?
Even with a tightly structured schedule, however, Wade has seen the passage of time increase dramatically with each and every passing day.
?This year, the time has been flying by,? Wade said. ?I?m just trying to enjoy every bit of the time that I?m here (in Blacksburg). To be honest, I?m not too anxious for December to come around. Leaving is going to be tough.?
As that moment is set to arrive, Wade stresses the fact that much of the season is still here for the redshirt senior to enjoy, and that football at the next level isn?t just an afterthought.
?There?s still a lot of the season left, so for now, I?m not ready to hang up this VT helmet just yet,? Wade said. ?I?m living it up; every week here is just another experience with Coach Cavanaugh and this defense. I?m just trying to embrace every moment of it, until the moment to leave comes. Hopefully after that, I won?t have to hang up these pads for too long.?
