A Twist of Fate for Student Matthew Mainville
Sometimes dreams come true, but sometimes they do not.
Consider the story of Matthew Mainville — a Bluefield College student who was left feeling helpless after being told that his football career was over.
Mainville, a Bluefield College junior psychology major, is currently a manager for the Rams football team, a position in which he takes great pride. However, he once played football for the Rams until his dream to play football throughout his college career was crushed when his health became a major concern.
Mainville’s love for football began in middle school. As a seventh grader, he worked hard each day until his senior year of high school to become the best player he could be, all while hoping to be recruited to a four-year university. When Bluefield College contacted him, he knew it was the opportunity that he had been waiting for.
“I needed a college experience where I wouldn’t feel like I am just a number,” Mainville said about his choice to attend Bluefield College, “so I chose a small private college where I could explore my faith more deeply.”
Mainville was more than excited to start a new chapter of life as a student-athlete at Bluefield College. That all changed during football camp in the fall of 2016. Mainville was tackled and suffered a concussion that would cost him his entire first college football season. He had experienced concussions before in high school football, but little did he know that this concussion would be his last on the field.
“I was told by the athletic trainers that if I got one more, I would never be able to play again,” Mainville said. “The next fall, I went to football camp again hoping to be able to play. I was told to speak with Josh, the athletic trainer, before I could pick up my football gear. I was brought to a room where I waited for a doctor. The doctor came in and told me that I was not allowed to play any contact sport ever again. I was extremely upset and didn’t understand why this would happen to me. I don’t know why they couldn’t give me another chance like they promised they would the previous fall.”
To this day, Mainville said he has still not received an explanation. Luckily, he would not have to say goodbye to football completely. Shortly after hearing the bad news, head football coach Dewey Lusk offered Mainville a football manager position that also came with a football scholarship. Mainville was more than happy to take the position.
“I am blessed that Coach Lusk gave me the opportunity to still be a part of the team even if it wasn’t the way I hoped,” Mainville said. “I enjoy it more than I thought I would. Everything happens for a reason, so I believe this is the path God planned for me.”
Although not a player, Mainville still gets to do many things with the football team. He also enjoys the duties of his new role.
“Being a football manager means that I film practices and games,” he said. “I travel with the team to away games. I make sure that all equipment is ready for each game, and I assist the coaches with coaching.”
Although Mainville’s dreams may not have been fulfilled exactly as he had expected, he still gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help coach and manage the Rams football team. Mainville will always remember his days as a football player, but is determined to make his days as a football manager just as memorable with the realization that sometimes God will not lead you in the direction that you want to take, but instead in the direction that you need to take.