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The incredible journey of Auburn's Prince Tega Wanogho
Posted on 8/19/19 at 1:55 am
Posted on 8/19/19 at 1:55 am
ESPN
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Wanogho couldn't name a single college football player. Nor did he know of any of the coaches blowing up his phone. Someone asked him at one point whether Nick Saban had offered him yet. His response: "Who is Nick Saban?"
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It took a while, but eventually Wanogho picked himself back up and returned to school. He started four games that season and became a fixture on the offensive line. Last season, he was named to the All-SEC First Team by Pro Football Focus.
To this day, he's struck by the the throngs of Auburn fans who support him and the team. How they wake up early in the morning to tailgate. How they line the streets before games. The first few times he went through Tiger Walk and heard people shouting, "Prince!" he thought, "Do I know this person?"
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But there's more: In the next few weeks, his two younger sisters will go to the embassy to apply for travel visas. If all goes well, they'll be able to visit their brother and attend a game.
No one in his family has ever seen him play before. They're vaguely aware, through Facetime and photos, of what he does, but it's clear they don't understand, he said.
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One day Wanogho hopes to return to Warri and sponsor camps like the one that sent him overseas. Who knows -- maybe he'll even pick out a few football stars in the making.
He knows that home will never look or feel the same. The road back is almost unrecognizable. But he's come this far, and there's no stopping now.
This post was edited on 8/19/19 at 2:09 pm
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Posted on 8/19/19 at 7:54 am to AUFan2015
Teaser from link:
I really hope this year is great for him and he goes on to a long productive NFL career.
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It all happened so quickly. One minute, he was practicing his jump shot in a barren gym, and the next he was pooling money to rent a van and drive seven hours to a camp where basketball coaches from the United States might be watching. He thought he was playing poorly until the camp's organizer, Eyo Effiong, pulled him aside and asked for his contact information.
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The 6-foot-5 Wanogho, the seventh of nine children from the Nigerian city of Warri, had always viewed basketball as his way out. To where, he didn't know. He couldn't locate Alabama on a map if his life depended on it. When he found out he was flying into Montgomery Airport, he immediately thought of one of Edgewood's administrators, Susan Montgomery. In what would later become a running joke, he'd ask Todd, "Does Susan own the airport?"
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When Wanogho reflects on his journey, a certain wistfulness bleeds through. The Taylors notice it, too. They realize what he's given up to get here and what he's lost along the way. It's why they supported him putting the NFL on hold and returning for his senior season. Christy's eyes well up thinking about it. Given everything he's been through, he deserves to be a kid a while longer, she says.
I really hope this year is great for him and he goes on to a long productive NFL career.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 7:55 am to AUFan2015
Damn man, hit me in the feels this morning.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 7:57 am to AUFan2015
Great read. Really powerful that our coaches visited him after he broke his leg to let him know he had a scholarship whether he played football again or not. 
Posted on 8/19/19 at 8:00 am to Aubie Spr96
I hope he can get his sisters over here.
I teared up when I read his mom never got to see a game here.
I teared up when I read his mom never got to see a game here.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 8:49 am to AUFan2015
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it was off to Waffle House. Overwhelmed by the size of the menu, Wanogho copied Todd's selection: the All-Star Special. It's the only thing he has ordered since
Smart kid. This is my favorite line of the story. He sounds like a great guy and I hope he balls out this season.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 9:44 am to JamalSanders
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Damn man, hit me in the feels this morning.
Man Im telling you. Thats a great/tuff read. Do it alone.
Funny part
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Wanogho, for his part, was absolutely clueless. When he visited Auburn, his only request was that Aubie the mascot be in attendance. "That's a first," Malzahn said, laughing.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 10:17 am to higgs_boson
Excellent story about Prince. I wish him the best so he can one day reunite with his family and provide for them.
This is one of the reasons I like Gus Malzahn. Integrity and character.
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It was around that time when Wanogho got a sense of who truly cared for him. Auburn, which had already visited him once in the hospital, followed up by sending Malzahn, Garner and Will Muschamp for an in-home visit during which they said their offer stood no matter his recovery. A week later, he committed to the Tigers.
This is one of the reasons I like Gus Malzahn. Integrity and character.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 1:44 pm to LanierSpots
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Funny part
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Wanogho, for his part, was absolutely clueless. When he visited Auburn, his only request was that Aubie the mascot be in attendance. "That's a first," Malzahn said, laughing.
Aubie is code for bagman.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 2:32 pm to Awesome Dave
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Aubie is code for bagman.
Really what Prince said was "Have that little tiger dude bring me my money"
Posted on 8/19/19 at 2:36 pm to RockyMtnTigerWDE
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This is one of the reasons I like Gus Malzahn. Integrity and character.
Certainly no shortage of that in our locker rooms either. Will always admire him for that.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 2:47 pm to jangalang
Inspirational story and makes me appreciate the Auburn coaching staff......... and Aubie.
Posted on 8/19/19 at 4:10 pm to OlGrandad
Will someone please say something bad about Gus. Three good things said about him in one thread could melt the board down
Posted on 8/19/19 at 4:46 pm to LanierSpots
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Will someone please say something bad about Gus.
Kinda looks like he’s crapping here
This post was edited on 8/19/19 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 8/19/19 at 5:49 pm to TheJones
He does. But Gus has slimmed down and is at his fighting weight
SEC fricked
SEC fricked
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