Andre the giant
Darren Zancan
Issue date: 12/10/09 Section: Sports
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If you stare at him, you may run away. According to teammates, his eyebrows make him look angry all day, every day.
Yet for those who know him, senior left tackle Andre Barbour's unique traits and interests help make him who he is.
"He is one scary dude," senior tight end Josh Turner said, "…but he's really a giant teddy bear."
Turner said Barbour often brought Diesel with him to meetings, walkthroughs and even summer workouts.
"I'm a little unique, a little creative," Barbour said. "I have out-of-the-ordinary ideas, but they are logical. Nothing about me is an average thing. I want to be my own person."
Barbour transferred to Eastern from North Carolina in 2008. He did not see much playing time as a Tar Heel.
After visiting Tennessee State and Eastern, his decision was to become a Colonel.
"The coaches here care about me as a person and a player," Barbour said. "They do a lot for their players. Things changed at North Carolina. At first I felt the same feelings there, but a new regime came in, and it all changed."
Turner played on the defensive side of the ball early in his career, and would go against Barbour in practice. Turner said that's how the two became friends.
But he also said their relationship didn't get close until Turner took Barbour home for Easter. Barbour, whose nickname is "ATL," is from Atlanta, Ga. and couldn't make it back home for the holiday.
"He participated in everything, especially the Easter egg hunt," Turner said. "He got so into it, diving for eggs. He would see kids running for them, so he would get there and dive faster. That's just how he is."
Whether it is hunting for eggs or protecting his quarterback, Barbour takes what he does seriously. He said football is no exception.
For Barbour, life after college is football.
"Football is business," said Barbour. "I have to treat it like a business. It's an opportunity that benefits you in the future."
He started playing at North Springs High School in Atlanta and was primarily used as a tight end, but Coach Dean Hood saw potential as an offensive lineman at Eastern.
In 2008, Barbour saw action in all 12 games, starting the last five games at right tackle.
Offensive linemen don't have a lot of spots on a stat sheet. You never see a spot for the dirty work, and Barbour had just one career reception for a yard and a touchdown at North Carolina.
His job at tackle is to strengthen the offensive line, protect the quarterback, block and make holes for running backs. It's inglorious work, but it can separate the strong teams from the weak.
This season saw the emergence of Colonels' red-shirt freshman quarterback T.J. Pryor, who finished with more than 2,000 passing yards and earned the OVC Newcomer of the Year Award.
Barbour's role in Pryor's emergence cannot be underestimated.
Barbour graduates in May with a degree in general studies. With his college career over, he has his sights set on the bigger prize: a phone call from an NFL team on draft day.
"I love playing football and I'll do anything to play it," Barbour said. "I have the ability and the chance to excel as a player as long as I develop. I know I can make an impact."
Barbour said he doesn't care where he plays; he just wants to get a chance to show what he can do for a team.
Secretly, though, he said he favors one team.
"I'd love to play for the Indianapolis Colts," Barbour said. "I would learn a lot and would get to protect one of the best quarterbacks in the game."
In four years of college football, Barbour has already learned a lot. What he gained off the field, he said, was more valuable then what he learned on the field.
"I've become a better man and person - not just a better player," Barbour said. "I came here to play football, but I leave here a better man."
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