Hard Work, Family ... A Football Love Story

By Joe Corley
ECUPirates.com

If Chris Love is walking a little taller or has a little more pep in what already is a pretty peppy step, he has good reason.

In an East Carolina football team meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, the senior defensive back was told that he has been awarded a scholarship.

His role with the Pirates has come a long way since he joined the program as a walk-on in 2013. He redshirted that season and didn't get into any games the next year, but saw action in four games in 2015 and 11 last season.

With this year's season-opener coming up Sept. 2 in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium against James Madison, now he's being counted on for more key contributions.

"He's worked his way right into that starting lineup, worked really hard," coach Scottie Montgomery said. "And then also he can help us in our return game, a lot of versatility.

"But what I really like about Chris Love is the way he's been able to bring the defensive-back room together. He's the guy that can joke with everybody, and everybody likes to be around him. I'm really, really proud of the football player he's become, but also what he's done for the locker room."

Those players around him went a long way toward making the announcement even more memorable.

"It feels great," Love said. "It took a lot to get to this point. Looking back, I still try to look with those same eyes at what got me here. Coach Mo gave me the scholarship (Tuesday) in the meeting, and everybody jumped on me. It was something I've always dreamed of."

Love, who owns the program's positional record in the 40-yard dash with a sub 4.3, really started to come into his own last season as he saw action in all but one game, the finale against Temple. In his last six games, he took over duties as the kickoff returner, with a season-best return of 42 yards against Tulsa.

Love has quite a football pedigree. His father, also named Chris, played football and ran track at South Carolina, and his uncle, Reggie, was a letterwinner in football for North Carolina.

Perhaps the most accomplished member of the family is Love's younger brother, Bryce, who is a running back for Stanford. Last season, Bryce was honorable mention All-Pac 12 after rushing for 783 yards and three touchdowns on 111 carries.

"It all starts with my dad," said Love, who started off at ECU as a receiver and running back, but was moved to defense during spring practice in 2015. "My dad is the oldest brother. The way he and my uncle grew up, it was just hard work, hard work, hard work, outwork everybody. My dad was actually more of a track guy than football, but it's just constant hard work. I can't tell you how many times my dad got me up in the morning and said, 'All right, let's go do something.'

"And I remember the first time being in the huddle with my younger brother in a varsity high school game. I remember the nervousness on his face, and I just grabbed him and said, 'Come on, man.' Now to see him at Stanford, they play their first game this Saturday in Australia (against Rice), and I see him on the Heisman watch list. I tell him all the time he's lucky we don't play Stanford. But it's just amazing the things you can do with hard work and practice."

It's an ethic he uses every day.

"I just try to work within technique and do everything technically sound and not rely on speed," Love said. "I just use my speed to help."

Players Mentioned

Chris Love

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