By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
NEW ORLEANS – Defensive end Ty Shelby remains as a household name for a ULM football program undergoing a major overhaul.
Shelby’s status as a sixth-year senior is one of the reasons first-year coach Terry Bowden invited him to represent the Warhawks at Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day.
“Ty represents all the blood, sweat and tears that this team and this program has been through,” Bowden said. “He represents the returning players who have made a commitment to buy in to whatever we want to do, to buy into our system, which is different and to say, ‘We want to win.'”
Shelby, who arrived at ULM in 2016 out of Friendswood, redshirted his first season and then received a COVID-19 season of competition waiver to return in 2021. He’s weathered a lot during his college career, including the winless 2020 campaign that led to a coaching change.
“I learned from my dad that adversity is going to come at you in different ways,” said Shelby, who also played for the ULM basketball program during the 2018-19 season. “Last year with the hurricane, power outages, living in hotels, you learn you just have to focus on the main goal. Going back to football, you have to try to win games and have a positive outlook no matter the situation you’re in.”
ULM football’s reset brought in Bowden, a veteran coach with a history of rebuilding. After his last stint as a head coach at Akron, Bowden went to Clemson as a graduate assistant.
“When he brings us to meetings, he says to never forget your notebook,” Shelby said. “Always bring a paper and pen and always think about what you’re going to leave that day with. What he learned from Clemson and all the universities he came from, he made sure to bring it down to us.”
Overall, Shelby said the new staff is breathing new life into the program.
“They’ve brought energy and excitement,” Shelby said. “Especially by bringing in some younger new coaches. You can tell by the way they talk to the players a little different. They know what we’ve been through as collegiate athletes, especially since they just graduated themselves not too long ago.”
Shelby has seen a lot of players come and go in Monroe, Louisiana, a process still ongoing as ULM coaches work the transfer portal to add talent to the roster.
“Initially it was a little weird,” he said. “Every time, I’d step in the meeting room, it’s like there was a new face. But at the end of the day, everybody is fighting for the same goal. I respect the decision they made to bring in new guys. At the end of the day, we want to be a successful program. Anything Coach Bowden does, I accept the changes he’s making.”
Life lessons have come along with a traditional education for Shelby, who already has his finance degree and is working on a master’s in business administration.
“I normally take what football teaches me and put that toward life,” Shelby said. “The different situations I’m in, successful or not successful, I’m always going to try to find the next leg up.”
Shelby listened to his parents, who both received their master’s later in life. His lengthy football career afforded him the opportunity to earn his advanced degree before entering the work world.
“It should be by the end of December,” he said. “I’m trying to get these classes situated right now.”
A preseason All-Sun Belt selection by Pro Football Focus (third team) and Athlon Sports (fourth team), Shelby has appeared in 44 career games, including 19 starts at defensive end. He has recorded 108 career tackles, with 16.5 resulting in losses (58 yards) including 6.5 sacks (27 yards).
“As a career, the NFL is my first priority,” Shelby said. “Anything to get there. My back-up plan is to be a financial advisor to anyone who seeks help trying to get their life situated. Looking at all these football guys and being around them makes we want to say, ‘Hey, I can help you along with the next step and get you prepared for the real world.'”
