Benjamin Cruz has never played “American football,” as he calls it.
But if you want to know at least one reason the recent Ooltewah High School graduate was named one of the University of Tennessee’s four Peyton Manning Scholarship recipients for 2016, his description of the newly retired Manning’s quarterback skills may help.
Said the chess whiz when asked something he admired about the two-time Super Bowl champ, “Peyton played the game like a computer.”
Cruz’s four years at Ooltewah sound a little like something only a computer could have handled. Outstanding grades and test scores. President of Ooltewah’s Interfaith Society. Beta Club. National Honor Society. Chess Club.
Mark WiedmerAsked about the interfaith group, the 18-year-old Cruz said, “People are taught to respect each other. Religion partly defines who we are, but at the end of the day we are all human beings.”
Of the Ooltewah chess club, he said, “Kids from all backgrounds can come and be part of this club.”
If Volniacs need another reason to point to Manning’s greatness far beyond football, Cruz winning one of these scholarships is a good example. He’s a bright, principled young man but not a great athlete, which means he was selected for all the reasons colleges should choose students.
“I’ve never been to a college or professional football game,” he said without the slightest hint that he may have missed something. “But American football is my favorite sport. It’s kind of a chess game with moving parts.”
Manning first introduced the scholarships 19 years ago. This year’s four winners bring the total number of recipients to 29.
“This is always a fun day for me,” Manning said during Monday’s presentation. “(Wife) Ashley and I have been really fortunate and made a gift to UT two years ago to up the scholarships to four a year. We’re proud of all of our recipients, they’re all Haslam Scholars and all great Tennessee Volunteers. This is a special day, and we hope to continue it forever.”
According to a UT release, the award covers nearly the full cost of attendance for the students for their academic careers. In exchange, Manning asks that the students continually write letters to keep him updated on their progress and experiences at UT through their academic careers and beyond. Should the Manning recipients later wish to pursue grad school, the program also makes money available for that.
Said the five-time NFL MVP of his scholarship program, “There are great causes out there but the gift of education might be the greatest gift that there is.”
Cruz intends to use that gift to major in biosystems engineering, which includes agricultural engineering.
“I would really like to be on the front stage of designing systems that would create quality food with great sustainability,” he said Wednesday.
Few professional athletes ever enjoyed sustained success more than Manning, who is the only quarterback in history to start, and win, Super Bowls for different teams (Indianapolis and Denver) over a dazzling career that spanned 18 seasons and included four total appearances in the Super Bowl.
“It was surreal,” Cruz said of the experience of being introduced to Manning. “When you meet him, it hits you, ‘This guy’s a living legend.'”
But then he actually got to talk to the biggest legend in UT football history.
“He’s just a really nice guy,” Cruz said. “And for him to have enough faith in you to award you this scholarship is really special.”
Though his father, Eric Cruz, and his 20-year-old brother, Manuel Cruz, couldn’t make it to Knoxville for the presentation, Benjamin’s mother and stepfather – Madeline and Matthew Hollis – as well as his grandfather, Paul Hollis (who’s actually a big Georgia fan), were all there.
“You had to give a two-minute speech,” Cruz said, “and you got to have Peyton sign two things for you.”
He thanked Manning and his parents in his speech, then had the retired quarterback sign a Tennessee football helmet and a Denver Broncos jersey.
“I expect to keep those for a very long time,” Cruz said.
He also expects to attend his first UT football game this fall at Neyland Stadium.
“I’m going to jump on the bandwagon,” Cruz said with a laugh. “I’ve heard the football team is going to be pretty good this year.”
And thanks to the Manning Scholarship, the Vols will have at least one pretty good biosystems engineering major from Ooltewah cheering them on to another American football victory.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.