Tom Petty may have said it best – “Waiting is the hardest part”.  For Hilltopper senior offensive lineman Greg Ryan, the wait for the 2008 season became a growing process.

Ryan, along with senior kicker Tanner Siewert, stood tall in a decision.  When WKU football made the announcement of a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, head coach David Elson approached all of the team’s 2007 senior with an option – redshirt their fourth season on the Hill, and be part of history in 2008.  Initially, the entire class was on board, but as spring ball approached, the lure of the gridiron proved to be too much to overcome for most.  However, Ryan in no way regrets his decision to take a step back.

“It took a lot for me to actually say I was going to redshirt, but once I made that decision, there was no way I was going to back out of that commitment,” said Ryan.  “We had already gone through spring ball, and our Red Dawn conditioning.  With all that behind us, I think there were a lot of things I would have changed, or done differently if I knew it was going to be my last time around.  At that point, I couldn’t go back on the reasons I redshirted in the first place for the temptation of playing in 2007.”

Those reasons?  Well, they are pretty simple.

“It was for this,” said Ryan as he stood and looked around the newly renovated Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. “I did it to play in this place – against this kind of schedule – and help out the team.  It also gave me a year to get my academics in order so I can graduate in December.  I was going to be here four and a half years anyway, so I might as well be playing football.”

A year on the sidelines provided a lot of different opportunities for Ryan.  First, it allowed him to get adjusted to a change from playing on the inside of the line at guard, to moving to the outside at left tackle.  It also gave him new perspective on the work and preparation that goes into game week.  And, for the Hilltoppers, it gave them an All-American on the scout team, running the opposition’s plays every day in practice.   

“Having a guy like Greg out there on the scout team was good for our defensive line, and I think it was also good for Greg,” said Elson.  “It made him appreciate what those guys on defense do, and also made him appreciate playing on Saturday with the preparation that goes into it.  It was a rare thing to be able to use a guy like that on scout team, but I think it was good for our whole team.”

It also allowed Ryan to take over the role of “coach” on the sidelines on Saturday.

“I got a chance to watch the other team’s offenses and study their defenses, so I was able to get more into the game from the sidelines, and recognize the formations the other team’s offense was running.  That way, I was able to help out our defense to recognize what they were trying to do against us.”

With the move to the spread offense, Ryan also took the time off to get adjusted to a whole new system – both on the practice field and in the film room.

“I was able to get the kinks out in that year off, and get a good grasp of the offense.  I watched some film on (2007 starting left tackle) Zack Thuney, who did a great job last year.  So I was able to see how he played the game, and emulate some of his techniques,” Ryan remembered.  “With the change in the position and the way we run our offense, I had to learn to play with a little more finesse, but at the same time use my power – so it’s been a bit of a balance.”

Another part of Ryan’s development during his time off was taking over the reins as a senior leader – a position Elson was convinced he was ready for.

“I’ve said it before, when Greg speaks, people listen.  He’s so well respected,” stated Elson.  “He had to have confidence in himself, and believe what I was telling him – people will follow when he leads the way.  It really started in the spring.  Greg has just really accepted the leadership role, and taken the different opportunities to step up and be vocal with his teammates and us coaches.”

Ryan has more than demonstrated his leadership – and his abilities as a football player – during the first three weeks of the 2008 season, but it didn’t come without some hurdles early on.  Ryan is the first to admit that he had to work his way back into the routine as the season-opener approached.

“Honestly, it was kind of a slow start,” admitted Ryan.  “I was eager to jump into it, but also knew I had to get back to game speed and get my mind set to practice for a cause.  It took me a little bit, but by Eastern week I really felt I had the rust knocked off.  We’re getting into a rhythm now as we get further into things.”

“It’s just good to have him back in the mix.  I know he feels like he can be more of a leader now that he’s back on the field on Saturday,” added Elson.  Greg’s got the full package — he’s got God-given ability to go along with a great work ethic and an amazing attitude.  That combination has really helped turn him into one of our best players.”

That package also helped him earn a reputation heading into this season.  Before taking a year off, he was known as one of the top offensive linemen in the Gateway Football Conference, earning all-league honors and taking All-America recognition from Hansen’s Football Gazette in 2006. 

Now with just a handful of games left in his college career, Ryan is ready to take it all in and enjoy every snap he plays.  And, just the thought of running out of the tunnel for the first time on Saturday brings a smile to his face. 

I can’t wait to see this place on Saturday,” Ryan said.  “To see this stadium being built since 2006, it’s been a long time coming, and we can’t wait to get the lights turned on and get our fans in here.”

And this one holds extra special meaning since Ryan grew up in the shadow of Murray State University.  A graduate of Calloway County, his family ties lie in Racer country.  His grandfather – Johnny Reagan – is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and served as both baseball coach and athletic director.

“It’s exciting for me to be able to play Murray State in the first game here.  Pretty much if you go to Calloway County High School – and you go to college  - 90 percent of the people go to Murray State.  I’ve got a lot of ties there.  I was a bat boy for the baseball team and a ball boy for basketball over there for five years growing up.  So for me, there’s a little more motivation this week, and I can’t wait to kick it off.”

However, Ryan has built his own legacy as WKU – one that will be permanently embedded in this current chapter of the Hilltopper Football history books.

“We talk a lot about how, in order to be successful, you have to control the things you can control.  You can outwork people and do the extra, but at the same time stay humble and sacrifice for the team,” said Elson.  “All you have to do is tell the story of Greg Ryan, and how much he‘s grown both physically and maturity-wise, and just how much he’s come into his own as a leader.”

And now that the year-plus wait is over, Ryan certainly seems to have things under control up front for the Toppers.