University of Georgia Athletics
Former Bulldog All-American Thomas To Graduate Saturday
August 04, 2011 | Football
Aug. 4, 2011
ATHENS -- When Carolina Panther and former Georgia All-American Thomas Davis walks on the football field, he becomes a fierce and focused competitor. However, when Davis walks on the stage at Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday, August 6, he will officially become a graduate of the University of Georgia.
Six years after leaving school for a professional career in football, Davis completed his housing and consumer economics degree in a time that is normally filled with preparing for the next season. With the National Football League's lockout in place, the linebacker took advantage to finish the three classes he lacked online and become the first in his family to earn a college degree.
To finish what he started from 2002-2004 while playing safety for the Bulldogs was important to Davis. More importantly, though, by completing his degree requirements, Davis fulfilled a promise he made to his late grandmother.
"It's something that my grandmother, before she passed, wanted me to get done," Davis said. "I just wish that she'd been here to be able to see me do it. She's now with God, and I know she's somewhere smiling down on me and happy for me."
Keeping the promise came with hard work. The Shellman, Ga., native noted that one of the hardest parts about taking classes was that since he had been out of school for so long it was difficult getting back in the swing of actually doing class work. Davis turned to his off-the-field football skills to help him get back on track.
"I think the one thing that did help me out was the fact that we have to do so much studying for the game of football," Davis said. "We do a lot of work throughout the week, and by me continuing to do that stuff on this level, then it allowed me to make that transition a little bit easier. If I wasn't playing football and then tried to get back into it, it would have been really tough."
Although his personal reasons played a major factor in his decision to finish, his role in the community and his foundation, The Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation, also came into effect, as he wants to show children that education should be a priority in their lives.
"I talk to kids all the time about the importance of education and always harping on 'you need to get an education, it is the most important thing,'" Davis said. "Here I am being a hypocrite because I speak to so many kids and I didn't even have a college degree. Now I can go in front of those kids with confidence knowing that I know what it took to become a college grad."
Training camp for the Panthers will be in session, but Davis has been given permission to travel to Athens for the special occasion. There was no doubt in Davis' mind that he, along with all his family to watch, would celebrate by walking in the commencement ceremony.
"I think that defeats the purpose of actually going back and doing it if you don't take advantage of the opportunity to be amongst other students who have gone through the same thing and are actually graduating," Davis said.
With his degree completed and the NFL lockout over, Davis can now focus on his current career, as a new five-year deal keeps him in Carolina. However, with business opportunities already knocking on his door and a diploma soon in hand, what Davis becomes when he walks away from playing football can only be heading in a positive direction.