"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Quarterback Selected

"Sequoyah Senior Nathan Stanley,
the school’s first All-American football player."

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Nathan Stanley, senior quarterback for Sequoyah Schools has been selected to play in the 2008 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Miami, Florida. Stanley is the first Sequoyah football player ever to be chosen as an All-American and only one of 88 that have been selected nationwide.

“It feels really, really good to be selected,” said Stanley. “I feel like I’ve worked really hard for this and I’m glad that it is paying off. Not many players get to participate in something like this.”

Stanley’s hard work is paying off in more ways than one. He is currently the number one college quarterback recruit in the state of Oklahoma according to the Daily Oklahoma and number nine in the nation according to www.rivals.com. He has had numerous college scholarship offers from division one colleges and has even been contacted by a National Football League (NFL) talent scout.

“It’s overwhelming, but it makes me feel good that they are interested in me,” Stanley said.

The 6’5” high school senior refuses to think about the next step after high school until he wraps up his senior football season and won’t be happy unless his team makes it all the way to state. The team is currently undefeated in their district and is 7 and 1 for the season.

“We’ve got a good shot this year,” said Brent Scott, head football coach at Sequoyah. “Our team has come together well and there’s a very good chance that we could make it all the way. Nate knows how to handle the huddle and those guys believe in him. That’s a big piece to the state playoff puzzle, right there.”

The humble quarterback credits his coach for getting him where he is today and for instilling the fundamentals in him that every good player needs.

“He’s a great coach and none of this would be happening for me, if it wasn’t for him,” Stanley said. “He’s taken a lot of time with me.”

Scott and Stanley both arrived at Sequoyah at the same time in 2004. One as a freshman and the other as the new head coach, each one was eager to do a good job and to see where their hard work could take them. Four years later they both hope that hard work will lead to a state title.

“Nate was our only quarterback for two years,” Scott said. “There was no back up, if he would have gotten hurt, I don’t know what we would have done. We depended on him fully.”

His health and throwing arm have both remained in shape and will not only lead the Sequoyah football team, but also Team West in the Offense-Defense All-American bowl where he will play the quarterback position in front of a packed house at Orange Bowl Stadium on January 4, 2008. The game will be broadcast live nationwide by Fox College Sports. In addition to the honor of playing in the All-American bowl, he will be treated to tickets to the Orange Bowl on January 5.

“Nate has a lot of fans here in Tahlequah that can’t wait to see him on national television,” Scott said. “It’s going to be a big deal for a lot of people.”

Stanley, 18, of Terasita, is the son of Gina Stanley and Eric Stanley. He has earned the titles of District Newcomer of The Year twice, the Muskogee Phoenix All-Area Team and has been selected as a pre-season All-State player. He is currently enrolled in college classes at Northeastern State University while completing his high school credits at Sequoyah.

“He would be an asset to any college football program,” Scott said. “He’s talented both on and off the field.”

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now, it is known as Sequoyah Schools, named for Sequoyah, a scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation assumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 high school students every year. From its humble beginning as a school with one building and 40 acres of land, Sequoyah has grown into a modern institution covering more than 90 acres with a dozen major buildings nested on a beautiful campus, five miles southwest of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. For more information call (918) 453-5400.