Tascosa running back Major Everhart made an official visit to the University of Notre Dame on Saturday. [Provided photo]
Most teen-agers can’t wait for Saturday to arrive. Time to sleep-in and no school.
Major Everhart is not like most teen-agers.
Last Saturday morning, hours after stepping off the playing field at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon helping Tascosa dismantle San Angelo Central 46-28, Everhart boarded a plane in Amarillo and eventually found his way to South Bend, Ind.
Yes, home of Notre Dame.
“I played on Friday, of course, and got on the plane early, early Saturday morning,” Everhart said. “So I’m kinda tired. As soon I get there it’s energetic and you quickly wake up and my eyes are wide open.”
Everhart is the senior bolt-of-lightning running back/defensive back for No. 9-ranked Tascosa (3-1). His skills have meant he has been highly-recruited over the past two years. Recently, the recruiting process has included taking what recruiting people term “official visits” to colleges.
That’s why Everhart was on the sidelines for the Purdue at Notre Dame game Saturday afternoon.
“It was unbelievable,” Everhart said of being inside Notre Dame Stadium. “It was crazy, loud and energetic. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Of course, Notre Dame bubbles over with college football history – Touchdown Jesus, Knute Rockne, “Win one for the gipper,” Heisman winners, the gold helmets, even the movie Rudy.
Everhart not only felt the Golden Domer vibe when he visited, he was chatted up on the sidelines by former Notre Dame legendary quarterbacks Joe Montana and Joe Theismann.
“It is different from other places,” Everhart said. “All the legends that have been through that college. I’ve definitely never been to another college like that. It makes it just a spectacular place to be at. It definitely out-reached my expectations.”
Everhart was pictured in front of the iconic Notre Dame sign that says “Play Like A Champion.” All the Notre Dame players touch it before going out to a home game.
“They say you hit three times and then walk out,” Everhart said. “That’s a great feeling walking out of there.”
Everhart, like on all of his visits, dressed up in full Notre Dame gear and took photos.
“I mean everything there was like a ‘wow, aww, moment,” Everhart said. “When I put the uniform on I was like, ‘Wow, this is a crazy.’ To be at Notre Dame, that’s a special place.”
Tascosa running back Major Everhart, right, visited with Purdue running back and Tascosa great, King Doerue, following the Boilermakers game at Notre Dame on Saturday. [Provided photo]
One of the treats Everhart experienced was former Tascosa running back King Doerue played for Purdue against Notre Dame. The two chatted after the game and took a photo that was popular on social media.
“King just told me how happy he was for me and how hard I’d been working,” said Everhart, a freshman when Doerue was a senior at Tascosa. “He told me not to stop working and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Everhart, polite as all get-out to interviewers, will be in action Thursday night playing in the Rebs District 2-5A, Division I opener against Palo Duro. He has carried 17 times this season for 359 yards and four touchdowns. That’s an eye-opening average of 21.1 yards per carry.
Everhart has an official visit planned in the next two weeks for Texas Christian University. But, know this before he makes his much-anticipated decision on where he will play his college ball.
“Definitely, Notre Dame is in the mix,” Everhart said.
