JONESBORO, Ark. (8/15/13) – Arkansas State continues its “Throwback Thursday” segment on its athletics Web Site, AStateRedWolves.com, with former football standout Andy Shatley as the ninth former student-athlete to be profiled.  “Throwback Thursday” highlights former A-State student-athletes and their current endeavors.  The segment provides readers with biographical information on the former student-athlete and features a question-and-answer session, including questions about their time at Arkansas State and their current career.

Shatley originally signed with A-State to play football out of Nettleton High School (Jonesboro, Ark.) in 1994, but chose to play professional baseball after being drafted in the 37th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.  After playing four years in Toronto's minor league system, he came back to ASU to play football.  While at ASU, he played quarterback and punter, serving as ASU's starting punter in 2000.  As the starting punter, he punted 65 times for 2,455 yards, which was an average of 37.8 yards.  He had a long punt of 58 yards and had 10 land inside the 20.  As a quarterback, he completed 46 passes for a total of 587 yards and 5 touchdowns during his career.

Q & A Session with Andy Shatley

What stood out about Arkansas State to you when you originally committed to them to play football?

I grew up watching ASU football and idolizing players like Fred Barnett, Dwayne Brown, Rickey Jemison, and Charlie Fredrick.  It was a dream of mine to play on that same field.  It was also super exciting to be able to play in front of a home crowd since I was from Jonesboro and graduated from Nettleton High School.

What was the reasoning behind choosing to play pro baseball after being selected in the 37th round by the Toronto Blue Jays?

I played several sports growing up; however, baseball was my true passion.  Baseball always came so much easier for me and I was definitely more successful as a baseball player.  I had the prototypical baseball frame and skillset so naturally it was my first choice.  I could have waited before turning pro, but I didn't want to chance an injury that might deter my baseball career.

What was it like to play pro baseball and any highlights from your career?

Playing pro baseball was awesome.  I loved every day of it.  The only bad part about it was being away from my family and friends.  It was mentally taxing to persevere alone with other players wanting the same thing I was battling to become.  I had several baseball career highlights that included making the playoff championship series twice out of my 4 and a half pro seasons.  The biggest highlight of all was meeting lifelong baseball heroes in spring training and throughout my career like Reggie Jackson, Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, Will Clark, and so many more.

What were the reasons you picked to come back to ASU after you decided to stop playing pro baseball?

After my baseball career began to stall and it looked like I was going to repeat a level or even switch to pitching, I decided to start my college education.  I feared becoming a lifetime minor leaguer which would make getting my non-baseball career difficult to establish.  So I called coach Joe Hollis and coach Scott Durham at ASU and asked them if they could still use a quarterback or punter or whatever.  They graciously said yes and I hopped on a plane back home to start the next phase of my life.

What were some of your highlights from your playing days at ASU?

Our punt team won an award for the Most Unusual Play of the Year against Ole Miss where I threw the ball up in the air to simulate a punt and our bullet, Robert Kilow, caught it acrobatically on the 9 yard-line for first and goal.  That play is now illegal.  I remember the road trips, the grueling practices, and the fun I had with all those "young" guys.  We played at Minnesota and almost beat them.  We were narrowly defeated by Philip Rivers and company at N.C. State and gave LaDanian Tomlinson and TCU all they wanted here at Indian Stadium.  There is nothing like playing college football and I will never forget those experiences.

Do you remember a particular game that stands out to you, maybe a personal best performance?

My last game of my football career at ASU against North Texas in 2000 stands out.  We lost our inside receiver to a hamstring strain that week and the coaches asked me if I was interested in playing receiver. I said yeah!  So I got myself some receiver gloves, strapped my cleats up and had a blast!  I caught four passes for around 50 yards and a TD and was the starting punter!  I kept the TD ball even though the refs told me it would be a penalty.  I told them to flag me and tossed the ball to my wife in the stands.  Still have it today.

What did you major in at ASU?

For my undergraduate degree, I majored in biological sciences with a pre-med emphasis.  I graduated in 2002 with that degree, and then went on to get my master's degree in physical therapy in 2004.

What do you do now?

I am a Physical Therapist.  I'm a board certified Sports Clinical Specialist and the Director of Sports Medicine at St. Bernards' Medical Center.

How did your time at ASU help to prepare you for your career now?