“Satiir raises the level of play for the entire team,” said sophomore quarterback Matt Pawlowski in an email interview. “You don’t want to let a guy like that down.”
Junior football player Satiir Stevenson’s work ethic and determination helped him earn First Team NCAA Division III All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Third Team D3football.com All-American, First Team All-South and First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors.
“Satiir was focused during the season,” said junior fullback Josh Williams. “He became the perfect player.”
“He listened to everything that Coach said, (he) didn’t miss film sessions, (was) never late, and he produced on the field. He is an inspiration.”
The safety’s four interceptions topped the ODAC while he compiled a career-high of 81 tackles that led the Quakers.
“During the season, Satiir can almost always be found in the coach’s office watching film on our opponents,” said Pawlowski.
Stevenson is not just a talented player for the Quakers; he is also a leader for the team. “Satiir is not a vocal leader, he is a leader by example,” said Williams.
Moreover Satiir’s father, Lonnie Stevenson, said that when Satiir was young, he was a natural leader. Lonnie was the coach of Stevenson’s first peewee football team.
“The coaches and I talked about needing a leader for this team, and we choose him to take the role,” said Lonnie in an email interview. “He took the role and did an excellent job with it.”
Stevenson learned at a young age that to quit was unacceptable.
“I never forced him to play a sport,” said Lonnie. “But once he started the season, there was no quitting.
“The rule was to finish it to the end.” Assistant Football Coach and Offensive Coordinator Chris Barnette ’07 was the last Guilford recipient named as an AFCA All- American.
“It’s all about preparation,” said Barnette in an email interview. “It starts with dedication and discipline during the offseason, never missing a workout, giving 100 percent effort, and you must be willing to work when no one else is watching.”
Stevenson did just that. The summer before the 2013 season, he was selected into the Guilford’s Cadre Program.
“Because of that, I was able to workout everyday, whether it was in the weight room or doing fitness outside,” said Stevenson. “I owe a lot to Alex Smith, Josh Williams and Kevin Tiller.
“We all pushed each other this summer.” Stevenson knew that becoming an All- American would be the high honor, but he does not want to stop there. Stevenson is focusing on the big picture for the entire team.
“It feels amazing to be an All-American,” said Stevenson. “I feel rewarded for all of the hard work that has been put in these past years. The ultimate goal is to win a championship.
“Nothing is better than having the entire team be successful.
” Stevenson also emphasized that community support is very important to the team’s success.
“Robert Smith, Hunter English and me are starting to get more recognition defensively,” said Stevenson. “Really the whole team is. Teachers and students would come up and say good job and cheer us on. “And really that’s what it is all about.”
Barnette knows personally the dedication and work it takes to become an All- American, and he knows that Stevenson wants more for himself and his teammates.
“You have to stay humble, strive to work harder, continue to be coachable and understand that no individual achievement can be reached with out the rest of your teammates,” said Barnette. “I had the luxury of recruiting Satiir, and his most prized goals are team-oriented.
“He wants to win a championship.”
