(Chief Sealth’s Daniel Davis explains why the team’s Oregon trip last week [Clatskanie 21, Sealth 14] was fun)
By Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publisher
When Chief Sealth High School varsity-football captain Daniel Davis was a freshman, he thought the best way to go about the first week of football practice was to not say much and get the lay of the land.
That changed a couple of days into that week, when he and another player decided to throw the ball around. Near the end of practice, Daniel launched a pass to a friend that covered almost 40 yards. “Coach ran over to me, ” he said, “and asked, ‘Freshman, did you throw that ball?'” After he said he did, the coach asked, without hesitating, “You want to play quarterback?”
15 years old at the time, Davis found it to be a pretty daunting question. But after talking to cousins who had played not only high school but college ball, he decided to give it a try. At his very first game as the freshman starting quarterback he remembers his first series as being nothing to write home about, but the next time he got the ball he found a receiver on the sideline and managed to put together an 80-yard pass play that led to a touchdown. Near the end of that same game he threw another touchdown pass to his friend and fellow freshman, Greg Wilson.
He’s never looked back … though his high-school accomplishments overall are worth reviewing and celebrating!
Daniel Davis is now a senior and in his fourth and last season as Sealth’s starting quarterback. He’s one of those rare kids who’s spent his high school years as a starter. That means he’s gone through any number of playbook, player, and coaching changes, but one thing’s remained constant: “You have to be a consistent leader, “he says, “you have to work on convincing others and motivating them. When I was a freshman it was easy, there were upperclassmen to help.”
He’s not only involved in football – Daniel also is a multi-year letterman on the basketball court (power forward) and on the baseball field (first base). He maintains a 3.6+ GPA, takes International Baccalaureate classes, and is a member of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Plus, he’s Senior Class Vice President and Vice President of the Black Student Union.
Back to football: Once he became a sophomore, Daniel said it was clear he had to step up and take charge of the quarterback role, a role he says that includes getting the players to believe in the system and the coaches. Daniel smiled after talking about all that and said, “My mom says I’m here for a reason.”
Whatever that reason is, it keeps him on track. So how does he think Sealth will do against Franklin tonight?
By the way, he’s got even more going on than academics, organizational leadership and athletics: He has a weekend job at Salty’s on Alki, and last summer, he interned with the Seattle Mariners.
Next winter, his leadership challenges will move to a new level: Daniel will coach the freshman basketball team as part of the Senior Project that’s required for graduation. But first – tonight, it’s Homecoming.
Chief Sealth High School plays Franklin tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex (2600 SW Thistle), 7 pm. Also tonight, West Seattle High School plays Rainier Beach at Southeast Athletic Complex (8815 Seward Park Ave. S.), 6:30 pm. Tomorrow, Seattle Lutheran High School is on the road, playing a 2 pm game at Naselle.
| 18 COMMENTS