Houston Proves Perseverance Pays Off
November 13, 2014 | Football
Nov. 13, 2014
A clang of metal echoed throughout the first floor of UGA Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. Only one weight bench was occupied in the football weight room where Kolton Houston was working out alone. He had been withheld from playing for nearly three years because in high school, he unknowingly received a banned NCAA steroid during the recovery process of shoulder surgery. After failing over a hundred drugs tests, Houston was starting to give up hope that he would ever get to play.
"I just got to the point where we had just done it for so long," Houston said. "It's sorta looked like there was no more hope. We had just done it for so long it just looked like it was going to a dead end. We thought we had enough belief that I was never going to get cleared, so we just sort of put it on a rest."
However, he did not "put it on a rest." Houston continued to train because he still had hope that all of his hard work would pay off so that he could follow in his father's footsteps and play where he belonged - Between the Hedges.
"I had a small glimpse of hope," Houston said. "You know I pretty much wanted to shut it down but (UGA Senior Associate AD for Sports Medicine) Ron (Courson) and my mom they were the two main people that were just like don't completely give up hope. That's why I worked out a little and stayed in shape just enough in case I did need to come back."
On July 25, 2013 - Houston's 22nd birthday - he received a phone call.
"I was in the process of moving out of the house," Houston said. "I remember when Ron called me I was sitting on the back porch. You know, for three years every time I got a phone call from him it was just bad news."
Courson worked tirelessly on Houston's behalf. He attempted prove that the amount of the steroid Norandrolone in Houston's body was consistently declining and did not give him a competitive advantage. Of all the administration staff at UGA, Houston says that he is closest to Courson.
"When I got that call, I was just expecting to hear the same thing…" Houston said.
However this call was completely different. Courson told Houston that he finally passed the drug test, so he was now eligible to play.
"I just started breaking down crying on the back porch but yeah that was a fun day. I will always remember that," Houston recalled.
On September 7, 2013, Houston's dream came true when he played his first game Between the Hedges, where he helped bring a 41-30 win over No. 6 South Carolina. In that season, he played in 13 games, six of which he started. After the season, Houston received UGA's David Jacobs Award, which is given annually to the player "who shows courage to overcome adversity and 'Finish the Drill.'"
This year, Houston consistently starts at right tackle. Last week at Kentucky, he served as captain for the first time in his career.
"Kolton has gotten better each week," offensive line coach Will Friend said. "He had those years off, but you can tell he's getting back into the groove. He's got to continue to improve, but he's really played well the past couple of weeks."
Although Houston's three-year ban is a huge part of his story at UGA, he wants people to remember his story as an example of perseverance.
"I want my story to be for little kids just to never give up," Houston said. "I know I didn't give up for three years. I started to give up but you know I really didn't give up. If something is your dream, don't let someone try to keep you from it - keep fighting and be persistent. "
Houston will start as right tackle this Saturday as No. 15 Georgia hosts No. 9 Auburn. This could be his first win against Auburn as an eligible player; however, no matter the outcome of the game, being on the field alone makes Kolton Houston a winner.
SK Bowen in sophomore from Tifton, Ga., who is majoring in digital and broadcast journalism and marketing. Bowen, who was recently accepted in the Grady Sports Media certificate program, is in her first year as a student assistant with the UGA Sports Communications office.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson) September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
By SK Bowen
A clang of metal echoed throughout the first floor of UGA Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. Only one weight bench was occupied in the football weight room where Kolton Houston was working out alone. He had been withheld from playing for nearly three years because in high school, he unknowingly received a banned NCAA steroid during the recovery process of shoulder surgery. After failing over a hundred drugs tests, Houston was starting to give up hope that he would ever get to play.
"I just got to the point where we had just done it for so long," Houston said. "It's sorta looked like there was no more hope. We had just done it for so long it just looked like it was going to a dead end. We thought we had enough belief that I was never going to get cleared, so we just sort of put it on a rest."
However, he did not "put it on a rest." Houston continued to train because he still had hope that all of his hard work would pay off so that he could follow in his father's footsteps and play where he belonged - Between the Hedges.
"I had a small glimpse of hope," Houston said. "You know I pretty much wanted to shut it down but (UGA Senior Associate AD for Sports Medicine) Ron (Courson) and my mom they were the two main people that were just like don't completely give up hope. That's why I worked out a little and stayed in shape just enough in case I did need to come back."
On July 25, 2013 - Houston's 22nd birthday - he received a phone call.
"I was in the process of moving out of the house," Houston said. "I remember when Ron called me I was sitting on the back porch. You know, for three years every time I got a phone call from him it was just bad news."
Courson worked tirelessly on Houston's behalf. He attempted prove that the amount of the steroid Norandrolone in Houston's body was consistently declining and did not give him a competitive advantage. Of all the administration staff at UGA, Houston says that he is closest to Courson.
"When I got that call, I was just expecting to hear the same thing…" Houston said.
However this call was completely different. Courson told Houston that he finally passed the drug test, so he was now eligible to play.
"I just started breaking down crying on the back porch but yeah that was a fun day. I will always remember that," Houston recalled.
On September 7, 2013, Houston's dream came true when he played his first game Between the Hedges, where he helped bring a 41-30 win over No. 6 South Carolina. In that season, he played in 13 games, six of which he started. After the season, Houston received UGA's David Jacobs Award, which is given annually to the player "who shows courage to overcome adversity and 'Finish the Drill.'"
This year, Houston consistently starts at right tackle. Last week at Kentucky, he served as captain for the first time in his career.
"Kolton has gotten better each week," offensive line coach Will Friend said. "He had those years off, but you can tell he's getting back into the groove. He's got to continue to improve, but he's really played well the past couple of weeks."
Although Houston's three-year ban is a huge part of his story at UGA, he wants people to remember his story as an example of perseverance.
"I want my story to be for little kids just to never give up," Houston said. "I know I didn't give up for three years. I started to give up but you know I really didn't give up. If something is your dream, don't let someone try to keep you from it - keep fighting and be persistent. "
Houston will start as right tackle this Saturday as No. 15 Georgia hosts No. 9 Auburn. This could be his first win against Auburn as an eligible player; however, no matter the outcome of the game, being on the field alone makes Kolton Houston a winner.
SK Bowen in sophomore from Tifton, Ga., who is majoring in digital and broadcast journalism and marketing. Bowen, who was recently accepted in the Grady Sports Media certificate program, is in her first year as a student assistant with the UGA Sports Communications office.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson) September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
Georgia Football - Quintavius Johnson Pre-Alabama Press Conference
Tuesday, September 23
Georgia Football - Kirby Smart Pre-Alabama Press Conference
Tuesday, September 23
Georgia Football - Oscar Delp Pre-Alabama Press Conference
Tuesday, September 23
Georgia Football - Kirby Smart - Oscar Delp - Press Conference
Monday, September 22
