While speaking with Shane Carden for this article, the recording device temporarily malfunctioned, thus delaying the interview briefly. The East Carolina quarterback was not phased, bothered or at all irritated by the unfortunate mishap and waited patiently to ensure everything was accurately recorded. The composed and polite leader of the 21st-ranked (AP) Pirates even offered a quick apology despite doing nothing wrong.
That’s the kind of individual that Shane Carden is.
Shane grew up in a sports-driven family. His father, Jay, played professional baseball for eight years in the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos organizations while his mother, Scoti, played college volleyball at Cal Poly. Additionally, Shane’s uncle, Gordon Adams, played college football at USC and his two brothers, Austin and Chris, pitched collegiately at Rhodes College and UC Davis, respectively. The pedigree was there but not without an army of life lessons to accompany it.
“Our parents used sports as a way to try to reflect upon life’s central tendencies and teach your children to come to terms with that,” Chris Carden said. “It wasn’t so much about playing a sport to be great at it or playing sports to get us out of trouble. Sports is a way to try to better understand your life.”
The best fans out there, don’t know what I would do without these two, love my parents pic.twitter.com/6zCD7yrygB
— shane carden (@Capn_Carden5) September 22, 2014
Shane was raised in Newport Beach (Calif.) before moving to Houston in the 7th grade, where he blossomed into a two-sport baseball and football star. During an illustrious career at Episcopal High School (Bellaire, Tex.) the 6-3, 205-pound two-star recruit received minimal interest from FBS programs and instead fielded calls for preferred walk-on status.
Carden did not receive a single FBS scholarship offer until two weeks before signing day when Central Michigan came calling. That breakthrough was followed by an offer from East Carolina one week later. The 18-year-old quarterback made a snap decision to sign with first-year head coach Ruffin McNeill and ECU over opportunities at CMU, Harvard and various FCS programs despite knowing very little about the program, school or area.
East Carolina University sits in Greenville, a city of less than 90,000 in eastern North Carolina about 90 minutes east of Raleigh. Don’t let the unsuspecting size or the Research Triangle’s mystical lure fool you. The folks of Greenville love their college football and it remains one of the most enthusiastic and underrated fan bases in the country.
I didn’t really know too much about ECU or Greenville before I got here. It’s a great town. People have a lot of pride and passion for this school here. Before I was even playing, I had people wishing me good luck on Saturday. There’s just a ton of pride.
Carden will soon depart Greenville as one of the most prolific players in program history. The senior took over the reins as the Pirates starter in 2012 and entered his final season with over 7,200 passing yards and 56 touchdowns. He has already thrown for 400-plus yards on four occasions in 2014 while leading ECU to the best start in program history (6-1) following last week’s home win over UConn, a game in which he punished the Huskies for 445 yards and two scores.
I don’t think I understood what I was completely capable of at the quarterback position (in 2012). I knew the opportunity was there, but didn’t fully comprehend what I could do.”
Despite this uncertainty of future success as a student-athlete, there was always a quiet confidence and curious awareness that he had the mindset to do just about anything and it all comes back to the values instilled by good ‘ol mom and dad.
His parents preached the importance of remaining humble, kind and loving regardless of athletic success.
“He’s never felt the need to go out and make a statement verbally or physically that would provide some kind of answer or awareness for his peers, teammates, or opponents at school, on the field or at home,” older brother Chris said. “There were plenty of times were Shane could have got in fights and he never did. There were plenty of times where he could have easily hurt people and he never did. He would much rather laugh and have fun.”
Young bro, Austin Carden discussed this mindset for all of the Carden children (including Shane’s sister, Chelsea), saying “Our dad taught us young that anything worth having, you had to work hard for and that hard work will eventually translate to success. Hard work shows a level of commitment and caring that attracts people, giving them the confidence to follow.”
Shane, a humble and hardworking young man who would love to meet Will Ferrell and enjoys Breaking Bad, Batman movies, duck hunting and the outdoors will likely have a great opportunity to play at the next level, but what happens after football? As he chuckled at the notion of pursuing a career as a professional duck hunter, he spoke of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach and desire to leave all doors open.
Maybe a tour guide for backcountry snowboarding or an ESPN analyst. But I really do enjoy the game of football. I love game-planning every week for different defenses and seeing how much preparation goes into that…potentially something in coaching.
Regardless of where Shane Carden lands after leaving Greenville, he’ll always appreciate these moments. He appreciates where he’s been, how he’s landed in national headlines and what it will mean to leave ECU in the spring after four very successful and selfless years both on and off-the-field.
Not to mention, he’ll never forget the appreciation for local burger joint Sup Dogs every weekend.
I’ve thought about it a little when this time will be up. I’ve completely fell in love with it. I think I will miss everything about this…the brothers that I’ve played with…guys not here anymore taught me what this program is about. And the guys I’m playing with now. I won’t miss these relationships because I know that we will stay in touch and continue these friendships. Also, the coaches that have brought me along and taught me so much. The times I’ve had with Coach Ruff talking, whether it’s about football or life.
Ruffin McNeill (above, right) arrived back at his alma mater in 2010 following ten successful years at Texas Tech where the former ECU defensive back served in a variety of roles since 2000. Coach McNeill and his staff’s passion, commitment and love for the state, city and school is not lost among the hundreds of football student-athletes that have represented the Pirates over the last five years.
The relationship they have with this team is incredible. It’s really a family atmosphere. It’s something that Coach Ruff stresses and as college football becomes more a business, it’s nice to be at home while you’re here. We’re here so much, almost year-around, and to have position coaches that truly care about you and a head coach that definitely cares about you, we all follow his lead.
It appears that the staff’s genuine concern for those around them has meshed well with Shane’s desire to be involved in off-the-field community programs that carry significantly more weight than the game of football. He has contributed to numerous initiatives and events during both his time at ECU and Episcopal High School and found it nearly impossible to point to one that stands out the most, but certainly remembers all of them.
One of my favorite was a really cool event at my high school. There was a football game for children with autism and other life-altering diseases. Being able to interact with them and just seeing the joy on their faces on our game field was amazing. I love being a part of those type of events.
That selfless nature and tireless attitude prompted a Senior CLASS Award nomination this season and allowed him to complete his bachelor’s degree in sport studies last fall before pursuing a master’s in instructional technology in 2014.
Tom McClellan, Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations at East Carolina, has seen this unrelenting attitude first-hand and cannot speak highly enough of the young man, saying “What he does on the field pales in comparison to how he treats people and how folks gravitate toward him from a leadership perspective.”
Unsurprisingly, the gravitational pull of respect, leadership and affection can all be attributed to family, family, family and love, love, love. “He just oozes love,” said Chris with an energetic tone.
Great win tonight for our team, whatever it takes to win, and no better way to celebrate than with my mom on her bday pic.twitter.com/hbyS9KmRhH — shane carden (@Capn_Carden5) October 12, 2014
“There was always a lot of love at home,” Chris continues. “My dad was stern and often quiet but there was always, and to this day, every time we talk to him on the phone he says how much he loves us. Every time we see our family there’s a lot of hugs. We always give a lot of affection and love towards one another. Whenever I talk to Shane after a game, first I say I love you so much. You need to know you’re a great football player, but more importantly you’re a great uncle.”
Growing up as a baseball player in southern California, there were loads of stereotypes forced upon their family, as is the unfortunate case in many athletically talented families. Those labels only followed Shane when he became an elite football player in the ultra-competitive landscape of Texas high school football and upon being named starting quarterback at ECU.
It didn’t matter, says Chris.
“At the end of the day, he’s a tremendously kind, very thoughtful and totally void of boastfulness kind of human being. Someone who will be a wonderful father, a wonderful companion and a remarkable son and brother. He’s just a good human being and I think because of that, the idea that there’s somehow stereotypes labeled upon, it doesn’t even cross his mind. It’s never been something that he’s thought about because he’s been self-confident enough his entire life that labels and judgments have never affected him.”
Tom McClellan wants others to realize just what kind of student-athlete Shane Carden is, one that embodies teamwork, respect, discipline and character, saying “Folks in our business aren’t blessed too often to have the opportunity to work with someone like him – a young man who honestly gets it, can see the big picture and is of incredible character. Sure, I might be a little biased, but I also see what most others don’t.”
Shane Carden has racked up the accolades both on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He’ll lead the nationally ranked Pirates north to face Temple this weekend in a game that could further cement his legacy as one of the best, yet widely unknown, quarterbacks in the country over the last decade. However, regardless of the result, he will always be a student-athlete and he will always be respected, appreciated, and revered as a result of the genuine care he has poured upon those along his journey from a quietly confident unknown 2-star recruit to a potentially future NFL quarterback.
How did this all happen? It was not by mistake.
Family is just so important to me. No way I’m here without my entire family. I love them so much and owe everything to them.
Follow Andrew Doughty on Twitter @adoughty88
Photo Courtesy: Gerry Broome/Associated Press, Star News Online
