For many athletes, tearing an ACL can mean the ending of an athletic season or even an athletic career. For Tullahoma High School (THS) senior football player Brandon Painter, it was an opportunity to persevere and excel.
Before his injury during the last game of his 2020 junior season, Painter was already a model player for his Wildcat team.
“Brandon was an individual that would work when everyone else took off,” said Tullahoma High School athletic director and former football coach John Olive. “He never missed a workout. He would ride his bicycle to practice. When the pandemic hit and we were shut down, there were days I’d go by the school, and he’d be out there pulling a sled.”
Olive added that after Painter’s injury, he and his staff were unsure of whether he would be able to come back as strong as he had been his junior year. However, as Painter had always risen to the challenge, overcoming his injury would be no different.
“He tore his ACL in the last game of 2020, and we weren’t sure he’d be able to make it fully back. He’d missed spring ball. But he did come back, and the extra work he put in was just incredible,” Olive said.
Painter said that he wanted to make a successful return to the game.
“After I tore my ACL and missed out on spring practice, I just felt like something was missing, and I really wanted to come back stronger and faster than I was before, to inspire others,” he said.
Inspire he did. After his injury, Painter became instrumental in helping the team by assisting the coaches with play calling. Something that current THS head football coach Coy Sisk said inspired both the players and the coaches.
“Selfless is a great word to describe that young man. I’ve been coaching football for 20 years, and I haven’t run across many like him. Brandon Painter can explain Tullahoma’s defense as well as I can,” said Sisk. “He took control of the defense and became the voice of our defense. He studied the defense and even diagnosed film. He did it like a coach.”
For the 2021 season, Painter and his teammates went on to make history. The Tullahoma Wildcats achieved a perfect 15-0 season and claimed the TSSAA Class 4A State Championship title.
Following that year, Painter and three of his teammates were named to the All-Region 1st Team.
Painter said that such a season was a great reward.
“Since we never lost a game, it felt like football never ended. But it definitely felt like all the hard work we put in had paid off,” he said.
Painter said he feels like the success and lessons from his time playing football will help him as he goes through life.
“I think it’s going to help me stay dedicated and to continue to work hard. Whether it’s work or even a hobby, I feel like it will help,” he said.
Olive echoed Painter and stated that success will follow him in whatever he does.
“He’ll make someone a great husband and be a great dad someday,” said Olive. “He’ll be a great employee someday, and when he becomes an employer, he’ll make a great employer for his employees.” -GN
