As the Herkimer Central School District varsity football team played its first home game earlier this season, Herkimer head coach Michael Jory noticed some Herkimer 12U Pop Warner players excitedly talking about senior Michael Goodson and cheering for him on the field.
“You see these kids at 10, 11, 12 years old knowing and looking for Goody – that shows you the impact he has not only on his own team but the modified and Pop Warner teams too,” Jory said.
Goodson, a Herkimer senior who plays right guard on offense and middle linebacker on defense, remembers growing up and looking up to his brother and other older Herkimer students playing football. He welcomes the role of now being someone who can inspire and help motivate younger students.
“It feels good,” Goodson said. “You want that feeling. You want to be that person for somebody. Maybe they don’t have that person in their life. To be that person is nice.”
Goodson was named as an official nominee for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award, which is presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants. The award honors high school student-athletes in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for demonstrating the following characteristics on and off the field: commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication.
“He obviously has all five,” said Jory, who nominated Goodson for the award.
After Jory’s nomination of Goodson was accepted, Goodson had to complete an entry to advance to the next stage. He is now in an online voting competition at usafootball.com/hoagvote through Oct. 15 with a chance to become a finalist if he receives the most votes in his group.
All finalists in the Tri-State area receive a $1,000 football equipment grant for their school district. The grand prize winner will receive another $9,000 football equipment grant for their district and will be presented with a Heart of a Giant trophy on the field during a New York Giants home game in December.
Jory said the main reason he nominated Goodson was because of Goodson’s leadership and the growth he has shown. Jory first knew Goodson when Goodson was in seventh grade and has seen him improve every year including a breakout junior season last year and now as a senior leader this year.
“I’ve seen how much he has matured as a young man,” Jory said. “He truly does lead by example.”
Last season, Goodson led the team in tackles, was named to the first team of Section III all-stars and won Herkimer’s Defensive Player of the Year Award and Leadership Award.
Jory said Goodson puts in maximum effort to excel on the field.
“He raised his bar, and he expects others to do the same for themselves,” Jory said.
Goodson said he was honored to be nominated by Jory.
“It felt good,” Goodson said. “It felt like a great privilege to know someone you look up to and respect, respects you in the same light.”
Goodson said he knows he is in a leadership role on the team, but he looks at himself more as a teammate and friend to the other players on the team who sets a good example with the way he plays.
“You want to stay level-headed. Just play football and let your play speak for itself,” Goodson said. “You just make sure your guys stay the same on the field – that they stay motivated, stay focused.”
Goodson also keeps an eye on other football players off the field – such as reminding them of the importance of being on time to school so they don’t miss practice or games.
“Get to school,” Goodson said, of what he tells students who run late. “It’s not that hard.”
Goodson knows what true challenges are. Growing up, he had relatives on his mother’s side of the family die of cancer, and then his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“I was pretty young when my mom got it. You kind of hang your head and think the same thing is going to happen,” Goodson said. “When she beat it, it always inspired me to be optimistic.”
His parents, Tracy Goodson and Michael Goodson Sr., have been active with the Herkimer football teams and boosters for years, and the younger Goodson has kept that feeling of optimism with him. For example, Goodson said that coming off of two football seasons with losing records, some doubt the team, but he and some of his teammates still believe they’re capable of making it to the JMA Wireless Dome and winning a sectional championship.
Through it all, the community support for the team has been great to have, Goodson said. When you run out onto the field, you don’t want to see empty bleachers, and that isn’t the case in Herkimer, as people come out to see relatives or friends play – or just watch a local football game, Goodson said.
“Having those people there rooting for you and cheering whenever you score or make a play on defense, it’s nice,” he said.
Herkimer Central School District senior Michael Goodson (No. 54) poses with his parents and his girlfriend on the football field. Goodson has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award. From left: Michael Goodson Sr., Tracy Goodson, Michael Goodson Jr. and Little Falls student Julia Frasier.
Herkimer Central School District senior Michael Goodson (No. 54) attempts a tackle during a football game. Goodson has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award.
Herkimer Central School District senior Michael Goodson on the football field. Goodson has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award.
Herkimer Central School District senior Michael Goodson on the football field. Goodson has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award.
Herkimer Central School District senior Michael Goodson (No. 54) attempts a tackle with his teammate during a football game. Goodson has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award.