After his induction into the Hampden-Sydney College Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony Friday night, former Calhoun High School and University of Tennessee quarterback Nash Nance talked about the decision that changed his life.
Nance dreamed of playing in the Southeastern Conference as a kid and got that chance with the Volunteers after leading Calhoun to the GHSA Class AA state championship game as senior in 2009, a season in which he threw for more than 3,000 yards and earned all-state recognition. Nance, though, decided to transfer from UT in 2012 and sought a program that would both allow him to compete and also fulfill his academic needs.
In Hampden-Sydney, an NCAA Division III power in Virginia, Nash believes he found the perfect fit.
“Transferring to HSC was the best decision I could have made after leaving Tennessee,” said Nance, who is the president of sales at Nance Industries, a Calhoun-based flooring business. “When I get the opportunity to speak to high school football players, I explain to them the impact they could make at a smaller college versus going to a larger state school.”
That impact included 9,123 career passing yards and 80 touchdowns. He was a three-time All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2012 and 2013.