Finishing What I Started

By Isaiah Ford

I’ve been goal-oriented my entire life.

I set receiving records in college and played professionally for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

But there’s one goal I was never able to cross off my list, until now.

When I left Virginia Tech after my junior year to pursue a career in the NFL, I promised my mom I’d return to school and finish my degree.

I took a class during my rookie season, but it was challenging to study while adjusting to playing in the NFL.

Over the past few seasons, I’ve chipped away at it, and then this year, I became a free agent. My schedule felt more flexible, so I realized this was my chance to go back to Virginia Tech and finish what I started.

Learning from my Parents

I want to coach at the college level after I officially retire from playing football, and I recognized that I will need my degree to reach that goal. However, more than anything, I wanted to graduate to make my parents proud.

My dad, who chose the military over college, has always encouraged me to chase the opportunities he didn’t have, and nothing means more to me than fulfilling his dream of seeing me graduate.

My mom taught math at my middle school, and even though she wasn’t my direct teacher, she was always checking in on my brothers and me. 

She loved watching us compete, but she made her priorities very clear.

Grades come first. 

If I didn’t earn high grades, I couldn’t compete. 

She always instilled in me the importance of a degree to reach the next level because she understood the value of a college education firsthand. 

She was a first-generation college graduate, and I’m so grateful she paved the way for me to reach that milestone, too.

A Special Place

It’s such a cool, full-circle experience to be back in Blacksburg.

I think back to when I was that 18-year-old kid arriving on campus.

I was just a skinny, quiet kid who didn’t know anybody.

I had no idea what was in store for me, but I was beyond excited to play football for Coach Beamer at Virginia Tech.

One of my favorite memories was playing in Coach’s last game. 

I needed about 70 yards to pass 1,000 receiving yards.

Beamer never had a wide receiver reach that mark before, so celebrating him and playing that career game was such a special feeling.

Some of my best friends to this day were my teammates in college.

I’ve played against many of them in the NFL. 

From day one, it was always iron sharpens iron.

When coach Justin Fuente took over the program, he reinforced the importance of “taking care of business.” 

We ran actual NFL-style concepts, so the transition into the pros was easier for me conceptually.

But, looking back now, I can say wholeheartedly that I loved my time at Virginia Tech.

Not just football — every part of it.

Returning “home”

Blacksburg has always been more than just a college town to me.

When you’re in the middle of college, it goes by so fast, and you don’t get a chance to appreciate it.

I fell in love with the town and its people.

Blacksburg not only gave me a community of lifelong friends, but also introduced me to my best friend who is now my fiance. 

I had some of the best professors and got along well with the other teams’ coaches, including Coach Buzz Williams and Coach Charles “Chugger” Adair, the women’s soccer coach. 

The community was so vibrant, too, including the restaurants.

My friends and I always went to Joe’s Diner and Bull & Bones.

To all the student-athletes in college now - savor this moment. 

Despite the recent changes, college football is still the purest form of the sport.

I had the opportunity to play the best sport at the best place.

And I’m grateful to earn my Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the same great school.

People used to jokingly call me a dropout.

But not anymore.

I’m grateful to finally close this chapter of my life and take the lessons I learned into my next season — on and off the field.