Photo Courtesy of Davidson Athletics
George Hatalowich ’20 was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. According to the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) official site, the award names twenty-three recipients; eleven from the FBS, eleven from the FCS, Division II, Division III, and the NAIA, and an honorary head coach.
The award recognizes student athletes for their commitment to community service. Potential recipients can be nominated by their Sports Information Directors. Among the judges who chose from the 137 athlete pool was former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow.
Hatalowich has been awarded this honor after his work in raising awareness of rare diseases. In particular, he has worked with the nonprofit organization Uplifting Athletes, served as the Vice President of Community Service for the Davidson chapter of Phi Delta Theta, worked with the South Dauphin Special Olympics, and tutored at South Hanover Elementary School.
Much of this comes from Hatalowich’s cognizance of the platform that is given to college athletes.
Said Hatalowich, “throughout the entire country, collegiate football programs and their players are put under a closely watched lens. For myself, I want to be bigger than just a football player. I aim to use my platform to shine light on service for the rare disease community, because of both the personal connection I have with this community and the awareness that needs to be brought to it.”
Hatalowich serves on the team as a captain both for his on the field and off the field performances. He has helped lead the team to a 4-1 start, with the team’s only loss coming in a close defeat on the road to Campbell College. It is one of the program’s best starts in program history and the team looks to continue to grow with Hatalowich at the helm of the Wildcat defense.
“We have the opportunity to do something that’s never been done in this program, which is to bring a PFL (Pioneer Football League) Championship and FCS playoff bid to Davidson,” said Hatalowich on the start to the season. “Personally, I just want to be the best teammate, captain, and player I can be. Whether that be on the field, through making plays and leading the team, or off the field as being a person my teammates can lean on. Overall, I just want to leave this program in a better position than when I came in.”
Hatalowich helped lead the way as a defensive linebacker with four solo tackles and one tackle for a loss in this past weekend’s win against Morehead State. On the season he has twenty-two total tackles. He has been part of a Davidson team that won just two games his first year, and a Davidson team hoping to compete for a conference championship.
Hatalowich noted that football and service have been defining parts of his time at Davidson, and that he is grateful for the opportunity to engage with both.
“Through football, I’ve learned so many life lessons about communication, teamwork, and leadership that has helped me become a better son, brother, teammate, and person.”
Football seemed to lay the groundwork for his involvement in service. Hatalowich commented on the impact service has had on him. For Hatalowich service has had the largest influence on shaping who he is.
“Through service, I’ve learned the importance of putting others first and being a part of something that’s bigger than yourself,” Hatalowich emphasized. “With that being said, I believe service has been the most impactful on my experience because of how it’s humbled me as a person, taught me to never take for granted the blessings in my life, and created lifelong relationships and memories.”
