Patrick Bailey
San Antonio, Texas
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Patrick Bailey is tall, rangy at 230 pounds, down to earth, and he loves football and horses. He uses the word "shoot" when most folks would say "well," as in: "Shoot, that was nice!" to describe what it was like to get a long-awaited upgrade to PlayStation 2 in high school. He belongs to a Facebook group called "Don't Mess With Me, I'm From Texas."

Typical Texan? Only if the typical Texan also excels in math and science, scored a 5 on the BC calculus advanced placement exam, majors in engineering and attends every class -- and plays Division I-A football.

When it came time to choose a college, he had certain Ivy League schools and a dozen others recruiting him. His choice came down to two schools. Playing time was more likely at Duke, he says. "The football team plus academics brought me here."

The junior defensive end has excelled. He was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III football team and was an all-ACC academic team choice as a sophomore. He was a preseason nominee for the Lott Trophy. Named for NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, that trophy goes to the college football student-athlete who best exhibits the qualities of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. With one game to go in the 2006 season, Bailey ranked first on the Blue Devils in quarterback sacks, third in total tackles and second in tackles for loss.

He's enjoying life on campus. His most recent engineering class, with assistant professor Rhett George, involves adapting a Volvo to run on an electric motor. "I love that class; you see the actual implementation of your ideas."

Bailey has found friends on his team and in his classes. Athletes in season don't have a lot of free time, but a good chunk of his goes to small group Bible study sessions through Athletes in Action and Campus Crusade for Christ. He praises the speakers who have addressed the groups and their message of "playing with your heart." He attends a Methodist church at home and a Baptist church while at Duke. "Shoot, religion is a big part of my life," he says simply.

It's a combination that makes Sunday the best and worst of fall days. There is God and fellowship, yes, but also "all the aches and pains" from Saturday's game.