By Jonathan Housand
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. – As a walk-on for the Auburn football team, senior Chase Cramer admits that being a student-athlete hasn't always been easy. But he also wouldn't change it for the world.
"I'm getting to experience things a lot of people don't get to and I have to remind myself of that at times," Cramer said. "I am lucky to be where I am when I take a step back and look at the big picture because it is zooming by right now."
Originally from Orlando, Cramer was a standout on and off the field. He earned the Coaches' Award for football at his high school, The First Academy, and he also lettered in track and was an FCA leader. At Auburn, he is working toward his degree in business management and is on track to graduate in the spring.
"It's weird," he said. "I feel like I was a freshman not too long ago."
It was by chance that Cramer ever stepped foot on Auburn's campus. His older brother, Curt, was a student during the 2013 season, and Chase visited for the Georgia game and what turned out to be the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare." The passion from the fan base during that game and especially at the end sold him on becoming a Tiger.
Their younger sister, Abby, is now at Auburn as well, and it's safe to say that Chase and his family are all in with Auburn and all in with the Auburn family.
"This will be a place I come back to for the rest of my life," Chase said.
As a senior now and a veteran on campus, Cramer has been that positive influence and leader for some of the underclassmen who are on the same path that he was once on. He knows the work that went in and the drive that it took to get to where he is now, especially as a walk-on, and he's eager to share his experience to the other players.
"As a freshman, you might not get a chance in the beginning," Cramer said. "But if you continue to persevere, you'll get your chance."
The senior fullback still has hopes and dreams of his own for his last season at Auburn.
"My one big goal is that I don't want to have any regrets," Cramer said. "I want to work as hard as I can to prepare our team for success. I don't want to look back and say I could have done that better, or we could have done this better. I believe we have a great team and there is no room for any complacency. I want to give it everything I have.
"I'm a walk-on. I came here for school, so I had to work hard just for try-outs. I did not think I had the chance to make the team, but it shows that hard work paid off and now I'm able to maintain that mindset throughout college."
There was no better feeling – being part of the team – than last year's Iron Bowl when Cramer stood on the sidelines with his teammates and witnessed Auburn knock off No. 1 Alabama and the fans rushing the field after the game. It was the second time in three weeks that the Tigers knocked off a No. 1 team inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"It's hard to see what goes on behind the scenes, but our players and coaches really appreciate the fans more than we can say," Cramer said. "We play amazing at home, and I believe that's a tribute to our family and how we feed off the fans."
As special as that month of November was for Auburn last year, Cramer believes this year's team is just as capable of doing great things. He was there in August for fall camp – his first fall camp as a player – and he saw the hard work that was put in during those two-and-a-half weeks. It was football all day, everyday. But he also saw the bond that was forged among his teammates.
"I think we are as close as we've been since I've been on the team," he said. "Everybody likes each other, and everybody can talk to each other. It really helps on the field.
"We also have some great coaches. One thing that I value is that they all are believers and I am, too. That helps me because they all are someone I can look to and see that even in this tough college football world, they maintain that mindset. They are great role models, and they are tough coaches because you have to be. But they are quality men."
The coaches and players are among the things Cramer will miss about Auburn when he moves on to the next chapter of his life, but that's only the beginning.
"I will miss so many things," Cramer said. "How nice people are, the passion that people have here, the beautiful campus, the Auburn sunsets, going to other sporting events, being a student, and the relationships that I've built here that will last forever.
"The Auburn family to me is just a community of people who are passionate about everybody that's part of that family. It's not about people only being passionate about football or basketball or the school. They are passionate about everything Auburn."
Jonathan Housand is a student assistant in Auburn athletics communications.
‘Everything I have’ - Chase Cramer senior spotlight
