There’s not a day where I don’t reflect back and think about the guys I lined up with and think about the great times we had at Arrowhead Stadium, the great times we had in St. Louis at the Dome, and here at Faurot Field.
Sean Weatherspoon
Former Mizzou linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will be inducted into the Mizzou Athletic Hall of Fame. He is one of six former Mizzou athletes to be inducted in the 2017 class.
“Spoon’s” career at Mizzou started in 2006, as he was one of four true freshmen to play for Mizzou that season. After his freshman season, the linebacker became a starter and saw a massive improvement in his game as the season progressed. He recorded 75 total tackles, a significant increase from his freshman total of seven.
Weatherspoon’s experience with Mizzou dates back well before his time actually suiting up for the Tigers. The 29-year-old is originally from Jasper, Texas. His decision to commit to Mizzou was a little unorthodox. Weatherspoon officially committed to Mizzou after purchasing a Mizzou sweatshirt in the local Jasper shopping mall.
“I knew all along during the recruiting process that Mizzou was a place that would be great for me, but you still have a really difficult choice to make and choosing a college is such a big life decision, you can have a hard time picking,” Weatherspoon said.
Of course, Weatherspoon did end up choosing Mizzou and he still thinks about how that decision has affected him today.
“It really is pretty wild when you think about it though,” Weatherspoon said. “You end up in this here, and Mizzou up ends up being one of the best places you’ve ever been, a place that really made a difference in my life.”
Weatherspoon was fortunate enough to play on some of the most competitive teams the Tigers have had in the last 15 years. In his sophomore season, the Tigers captured a Big 12 North title. After the Big 12 Championship Game, Spoon led the Tigers to a 38-7 rout over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 72nd Cotton Bowl.
That 2007 team holds a special place in Weatherspoon’s heart because of the success that they had. However, Weatherspoon felt like the Tigers did not receive as much love as other National Championship contenders from that season.
“The 2007 squad, we were a team that felt like we weren’t respected,” Weatherspoon said.
“We got together in the summer and conveyed our thoughts about the perception of the program and what we could do to change things.”
In addition to the success that the Tigers had on the field, Weatherspoon still thinks about the actual experiences that he and his teammates had in that 2007 season.
“There’s not a day where I don’t reflect back and think about the guys I lined up with and think about the great times we had at Arrowhead Stadium, the great times we had in St. Louis at the Dome, and here at Faurot Field,” Weatherspoon said.
While there is no denying that Weatherspoon’s individual performance is why he will be inducted into the Mizzou Athletic Hall of Fame, he believes that there is more to his induction than just his personal statistics.
“I look at the honor as a testament to my teammates and the coaches and the support staff that was here, and everyone who helped me during my time at Mizzou,” Weatherspoon said. “I’m just grateful to be part of this unique group.”
My job is just to be ready and remember that I’ve been blessed to play in this league for seven years, and no matter what happens there, I’m already blessed with a beautiful wife and two awesome kids who give me everything I need.
Sean Weatherspoon
Weatherspoon’s humbling reaction to his induction stems from the leaders that taught him many important life lessons while competing in the Mizzou program.
“I think the leaders who were here helped me to become a better leader,” Weatherspoon said. “That’s what you want to see at this level, coaches can only do so much.”
Weatherspoon’s legacy within the program is driven by his passion for football. He believes that because the coaching staff showed that same passion for football as his teammates, the Tigers were able to have success.
“When I first got here, it didn’t matter if you were the top recruit or the bottom recruit, everybody was competing, everybody got the chance to go out and show what they could do, and everybody was held accountable. Football was what brought us all here, but they wanted to instill in us things that we could carry throughout the rest of our lives,” Weatherspoon said.
Accountability is a key component to the Mizzou football program. Like Weatherspoon said, it doesn’t matter if you are a five-star recruit or a walk-on. You are responsible for everything that you and your teammates do. After having that idea instilled into his mind while with the Tigers, Weatherspoon still thinks about accountability today.
“I think it’s something that I’ll always remember… not taking anything for granted, you keep the game as the game, and in other facets of your life, you have to grow as well. If you work at being a better person, then it just translates to what you see on the field,” Weatherspoon said.
Weatherspoon was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the team before joining the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 season. After his one-year stint in Arizona, Weatherspoon went back to Atlanta in 2016. The 29-year-old is currently a free agent, but is optimistic that he will return to the playing field.
“My job is just to be ready and remember that I’ve been blessed to play in this league for seven years, and no matter what happens there, I’m already blessed with a beautiful wife and two awesome kids who give me everything I need,” Weatherspoon said.
The 2017 Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame Class will be inducted during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20, at the Hampton Inn & Suites. Tickets are on sale now here.