Horned Frogs First Person: Josh Hoover
11/20/2023 1:50:00 PM | Football
Metroplex native living childhood dream at TCU
(as told to Lily Margaret Greenway)
Every morning when I walk into the facility, it's still dark outside. I like to stop and look at the field and think about how blessed I am to be here. The goodness of God just blows me away.
I grew up watching Big 12 games every Saturday, with guys like Andy Dalton and Patrick Mahomes on my TV screen, and I was probably five years old the first time I went to a TCU game with my dad. Growing up in the area, we'd make the trip over to TCU quite a bit. I always hoped and prayed I would have an opportunity to play on that level one day. Right now, I am living out my dream.
My parents raised my siblings and me to be people of character, integrity and faith. They modeled to us a strong and Christ-centered work ethic, doing everything with discipline and under the instruction of the Lord. They inspire me to strive to be that same kind of person in every interaction I have with others. Being on my own at college has only pulled me closer into my walk with God, as I make my own decisions to grow and develop spiritually, and physically.
I enrolled in TCU a semester early to start football, which was one of the most challenging seasons of my life, and shaped me into who I am today. All of my friends were still finishing high school, and I was one of only two incoming freshmen on the team who moved to campus early. I gave up my senior baseball season – and the opportunity to play on a team with my brother.
During spring practice that year, my body didn't feel good. I wasn't healthy, and it physically hurt to wake up every morning. But that struggle helped me figure out, "I'm going to have to get better at this." My redshirt year transformed me. I grew up mentally and started gaining confidence in what I was doing. Today, I'm 30 pounds lighter, and I value every single opportunity to grow and continue in my personal journey. Potential is just potential if you don't have the willingness to reach it. But knowing I haven't come close to my ceiling keeps me up at night, and working at our facility all day long, even in the offseason.
I find joy in appreciating what is happening in every season of life. It is so easy to get caught up in the negatives, but during both highs and lows, I appreciate what God is doing in the current moment. Even after this recent loss to Texas, I was walking through our tunnel on the way back to the locker room, beating myself up, and then I looked up. I saw those big letters on the wall that read, "Till Hell Freezes Over," and thought, good things are coming because of this, and I am blessed.
Like I told my mom the other day, when I'm 65 years old, I'll look back on this time and know exactly why God allowed everything to happen. Twelve-year-old Josh would have thought he'd be playing baseball at twenty, but God works so much good in transforming us.
I spend quiet time with God every day. His opinion is the only one that matters, so outside noise – good or bad – doesn't affect me. I already know what He thinks about each and every one of us. He has our back. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we know our worth because He has created us. Whether it be encouraging a teammate or saying hi to someone in passing, I strive to uplift others with this same truth.
Winning is the greatest, but ultimately, no one will remember the scores to our games. Life is about relationships. I am driven by the love I have for this game, and the love I have for people. It's fun to be out there throwing the ball, but I am here to grow with my teammates. I can be a loner sometimes, and there are days when I leave my phone at my house and just get away for a while (if I'm lucky, it's to hunt or to fish). But I am also focused on spending time with the guys around me and doing my best to help them continue along their path, and I don't want to let them down.
I joined the team as a little freshman who had to work hard to be the guy everyone can count on, do the right thing, and earn their respect as a leader – which is the highest compliment I could ever receive. Nothing can describe the love I have for our team and this place. I work to be the best player I can be, not only because this game means the world to me, but because I strive to make a lasting impact in the communities God places me to serve.
Every morning when I walk into the facility, it's still dark outside. I like to stop and look at the field and think about how blessed I am to be here. The goodness of God just blows me away.
I grew up watching Big 12 games every Saturday, with guys like Andy Dalton and Patrick Mahomes on my TV screen, and I was probably five years old the first time I went to a TCU game with my dad. Growing up in the area, we'd make the trip over to TCU quite a bit. I always hoped and prayed I would have an opportunity to play on that level one day. Right now, I am living out my dream.
My parents raised my siblings and me to be people of character, integrity and faith. They modeled to us a strong and Christ-centered work ethic, doing everything with discipline and under the instruction of the Lord. They inspire me to strive to be that same kind of person in every interaction I have with others. Being on my own at college has only pulled me closer into my walk with God, as I make my own decisions to grow and develop spiritually, and physically.
I enrolled in TCU a semester early to start football, which was one of the most challenging seasons of my life, and shaped me into who I am today. All of my friends were still finishing high school, and I was one of only two incoming freshmen on the team who moved to campus early. I gave up my senior baseball season – and the opportunity to play on a team with my brother.
During spring practice that year, my body didn't feel good. I wasn't healthy, and it physically hurt to wake up every morning. But that struggle helped me figure out, "I'm going to have to get better at this." My redshirt year transformed me. I grew up mentally and started gaining confidence in what I was doing. Today, I'm 30 pounds lighter, and I value every single opportunity to grow and continue in my personal journey. Potential is just potential if you don't have the willingness to reach it. But knowing I haven't come close to my ceiling keeps me up at night, and working at our facility all day long, even in the offseason.
I find joy in appreciating what is happening in every season of life. It is so easy to get caught up in the negatives, but during both highs and lows, I appreciate what God is doing in the current moment. Even after this recent loss to Texas, I was walking through our tunnel on the way back to the locker room, beating myself up, and then I looked up. I saw those big letters on the wall that read, "Till Hell Freezes Over," and thought, good things are coming because of this, and I am blessed.
Like I told my mom the other day, when I'm 65 years old, I'll look back on this time and know exactly why God allowed everything to happen. Twelve-year-old Josh would have thought he'd be playing baseball at twenty, but God works so much good in transforming us.
I spend quiet time with God every day. His opinion is the only one that matters, so outside noise – good or bad – doesn't affect me. I already know what He thinks about each and every one of us. He has our back. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we know our worth because He has created us. Whether it be encouraging a teammate or saying hi to someone in passing, I strive to uplift others with this same truth.
Winning is the greatest, but ultimately, no one will remember the scores to our games. Life is about relationships. I am driven by the love I have for this game, and the love I have for people. It's fun to be out there throwing the ball, but I am here to grow with my teammates. I can be a loner sometimes, and there are days when I leave my phone at my house and just get away for a while (if I'm lucky, it's to hunt or to fish). But I am also focused on spending time with the guys around me and doing my best to help them continue along their path, and I don't want to let them down.
I joined the team as a little freshman who had to work hard to be the guy everyone can count on, do the right thing, and earn their respect as a leader – which is the highest compliment I could ever receive. Nothing can describe the love I have for our team and this place. I work to be the best player I can be, not only because this game means the world to me, but because I strive to make a lasting impact in the communities God places me to serve.
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