Nash glad he's back in Georgia, opposes former team
Published on February 21, 2007 under World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA, February 21 -- Wait a second, Musa Nash! Don't head to the Daytona Beach Thunder's locker room when you arrive at the Ocean Center Monday evening -- you're a Columbus Lion now!
There's really no danger that the 6'2", 250-pound Nash will forget who he's playing for, because after a stellar career with the Fort Valley State University Wildcats, he's happy to be back where his mom can see his games. Musa is very close to his mother, whose job transferred her from Detroit to Atlanta not long before he started college.
Nash is a Gary, Indiana native who attended Mumford High School in Detroit. In 1999, he was All-State with the likes of Derrick Mason (Tennessee Titans) and Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers). He was recruited by every Big 10 and MAC school, and committed verbally to the University of Minnesota before backing out at the last minute.
Because of her strong maternal influence, Nash's mother's relocation made him realize he wanted to attend school near enough so that she could see him and follow his career, and he chose Fort Valley State after researching historically black universities in the South. He injured and had surgery on his right shoulder early in his freshman year and was redshirted. He started in 2000 and was in on an SIAC-record 22 tackles against Albany State in the annual Fountain City Classic held at Memorial Stadium.
A horrifying experience set Nash back that year, as he was robbed at gunpoint while making a pre-curfew trip to the store after practice. The incident happened on campus, and he said "The experience upset me, but made me wiser, not so trusting. It shocked me into realizing that not everyone is kind-hearted. The university used it as an example that athletes and students needed to be more alert as to their nighttime safety."
As a sophomore, Nash was moved to tight end, largely due to his size, but didn't fare well. He told the coaches he "needed to get back on defense" his junior year, but was told he was too big for defensive back or linebacker, and that the only open position was defensive end. He did well until he injured his left shoulder, requiring surgery again and costing him his senior year. In his fifth season, a new coach "didn't play any players he didn't recruit," according to Nash, who said once again, his mother helped him retain his focus.
After his final season, Nash worked out at several combines and was an assistant defensive line coach at Peach County High School in Fort Valley. The Arena Football League Orlando Predators told him they'd sign him once he had arena experience, which he tried to get with the af2 Macon Knights and South Georgia Wildcats. Ultimately, he wound up with Daytona Beach, where he played the 2006 season in the American indoor Football League.
Last fall, he attended the Tampa Bay Storm's camp and on his own, found the Georgia Force tryouts. That's where he ran into Coach Gibson and Lions defensive coordinator Norbert Sullivan, who remembered playing against him while with the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers. They signed him for 2007 and he hasn't disappointed in the least. Few of his Daytona Beach teammates are back from last season, however.
"I chose to come to Columbus because I felt the coaching staff and facilities were better than I had last year," said Nash. "What's more, I played at Fort Valley with (Lions teammates) Cedric Ware, Joe Kegler and my close friend Michael Stewart, guys who want it as badly as me. My mother and uncle can come see all my games.
"I'm getting closer to my father, too, who I pretty much grew up without. He's back in Gary, and I was the best man at his wedding recently. He's a good guy, but we have more of a man-to-man relationship than father-and-son. We're working on it, and being a family-oriented person, the reconciliation has been good for me." Nash is single, but is very close two two brothers, a sister and several nephews.
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from February 21, 2007
- Nash glad he's back in Georgia, opposes former team - Columbus Lions
- Billy returns to Lions following two Arena tryouts - Columbus Lions
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