Bowers is 'The Face of Y'all'

Joey Bowers' college football career at the University of South Carolina covered a spectrum of emotions, an experience that should prepare him well for life as a lawyer.

In his very first game, the Gamecocks broke a 21-game losing streak with a win over New Mexico State. In his last game, the Gamecocks were involved in a terrible brawl with Clemson. In between, South Carolina won back-to-back bowl games.

"It was a very interesting time for Carolina football and I was fortunate to be a part of it," said Bowers, who, as a kicker for coach Lou Holtz, got to experience the highs and lows of playing college football on a big stage.

"Being on a college football team is like being part of a large corporation," said Bowers, a Summerville native who recently finished USC Law School. "You have different departments, and at the end of the week you have to pull it all together and make a game out of it.

"It's tough when you first come in as a young adult. I was 17 years old when I went to Carolina. People lose sight of that fact. It's very much a job and you quickly learn to do what you need to do or they'll find somebody else. The pressure is definitely there to perform."

Bowers did his job on the field for the Gamecocks from 2001-2004, majoring in public relations before going on to law school.

Recently he was awarded the Compleat Lawyer Bronze medal at the USC School of Law, an honor only bestowed on three graduates. He finished in the top 10 percent of his class. He was a member of the S.C. Law Review. Come September, he will begin a federal clerkship for U.S. District Judge Mike Duffy here in Charleston.

Not bad for a football player.

Successful citizens

Like you, Bowers tends to cringe when athletes get in trouble. They're the ones who make the headlines while the others go about their business in the background.

But for every troublemaker, there are many more student-athletes who get a good education and go on to be successful citizens.

"I think the general student-athlete is an extremely motivated, driven individual," Bowers said. "This day and age, it's so competitive, both academically and athletically. To compete on both levels takes a lot of hard work and a lot of discipline.

"So the average student-athlete is out there working hard, getting things done and positively contributing to society."

Bowers' vision is backed up by a recent release of grades from his alma mater whereby the grade point average for all athletes at USC was above 3.0 for the third consecutive semester.

Unfortunately, smart guys like Bowers aren't always the ones interviewed on television. It's usually the guys who can't quite complete a sentence.

"I definitely cringe sometimes when I see that," Bowers said. "That's what you have to learn when you come into college athletics. You are young, but you really, quickly have to grow up. It takes a mature person to really be successful at it.

"Because you not only represent yourself, but you represent your family, your hometown and your university."

Your best shot

It's no surprise, therefore, that Bowers is one of five finalists being considered by USC for a campaign called, "The Face of Y'all," designed to find two representatives of the school's alumni from the last decade.

"I'm a former football player and I'm kind of tired of seeing everybody get a bad rap," he said. "There are a lot of us who are good out there."

Bowers believes some athletes, unfortunately, are sold short by their coaches who steer them toward certain majors in order to ensure eligibility on the field.

"I think today's athletes want more," he said. "I think most understand that for most of us there's going to be life after football and you need to prepare yourself for that."

Bowers is a good example of what's behind the helmets and facemasks that we watch on television on football Saturdays.

Too often we forget how young they are, how talented they are, how vulnerable they are and how soon they will move into the mainstream of life.

Joey Bowers learned about highs and lows while playing football for the Gamecocks. Life's lessons don't always come easy.

"My parents always taught me to study hard, train hard, work hard and hope the opportunity comes," Bowers said. "If it does, give it your best shot."

So far, so good for Joey Bowers, and all y'all.

Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.