SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: McAlester's Zac Rogers thankful for brotherhood of football
Nov. 17—Zac Rogers knows the power of tenacity, commitment, and tight bonds.
The McAlester senior said his football journey began in the fourth grade, and he's grown up playing the sport.
"I've always been invested in football. My dad played football. So it has just been in the family," Rogers said. "(And) my favorite part is just getting to enjoy it.
"There is something special — especially in this town — about Friday nights out on the Hook, man."
Rogers had an injury over the summer that kept him out of the first few games of the season. But he wasn't going to let that stop him from being a leader both on and off the field, and coming back strong.
"I just want to instill that in these younger guys, because I'm worried about them not having that mentality. Because a lot of them don't yet," he said. "But yeah, that's something I know."
Rogers said he'd been spoiled in the game of football in his time as a Buffalo, and is thankful for the journey he has been taken on the last few years. But he's also had plenty off the field keeping him busy as well, from outdoor activities to playing the drums and teaching a class at church.
"I mean, I've got to try and keep a full schedule," he said. "So I stay busy, and I don't get sidetracked."
After graduation, Rogers plans to go to college and get a business degree so that he can take over and continue the family business — Pepsi-Cola Bottling in McAlester.
"I'm very fortunate in the fact that I have a family business to fall back on. So that's my Plan A. So my Plan B doesn't matter because my Plan C is the same thing as A," he said. "So I'm gonna buckle down, and try and climb the ranks and be a big part of it."
Rogers pointed to many people in his life who have been there and supported him every step of the way, from his parents, to his sister, to every one of his teammates.
And although he'll be graduating and moving into the next chapter of life, Rogers had some advice for the next Buffaloes up.
"Trust the process, embrace the process," he said. "(The coaches) know what they're talking about. And they're gonna try and steer you the right way because they wanted to see you succeed — because they're living their life through you, believe it or not.
"They're trying to see themselves succeed by making you the best you can be," Rogers continued. "And as soon as (players) understand that, the sooner they will buy in and that's all they have to do — buy in and give effort."
