When the University of Central Arkansas Bears play the McNeese State Cowboys on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Conway, Ark., it will mark the final time that Jeremy Ford straps on the shoulder pads.

Although Ford has no aspirations of playing professionally, the senior left guard has had a solid career at UCA.

“It’s time to move on. I’m getting old and the injuries are starting to take a toll,” said Ford, a 6-1, 284-pound guard who has started 38 of 46 games, including all 11 contests this season, during his college career. “I wouldn’t trade my time here for the world. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Every dog has his day and my football days will end Saturday.”

Ford has prepared himself for life without football. Scheduled to graduate from UCA in December with a degree in finance, Ford plans to move to Tulsa and enroll in graduate school. In March, he will be married to Karla Tyler.

As for the present, Ford is busy preparing for his final football game.

“You always want to leave your last game as a player with a positive taste in your mouth and fond memories,” Ford said. “We’re 25-3 at home since I’ve been here, so we want to keep that going.”

When Ford plays his final  game on Saturday, rest assured that his parents, Jake and Carolyn Ford of Bastrop, will be in the stands.

“My parents never miss a game — home or away,” Ford said.

Ford’s final game will be a meaningful one as the Bears (9-2, 5-1) are unofficially playing for the Southland Conference championship.

Having moved up to the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) from Division II in 2006, UCA is still in the transitional phase. Consequently, the SLC would forfeit its automatic bid by recognizing the Bears as conference champions.

“As far as we’re concerned, we’re playing for the outright conference championship,” Ford said. “Although the conference will not recognize us, we know who won the games on the field.

“The Southland Conference could still recognize us as champions in 2010 or later on down the road.”

UCA will have its work cut out against traditional power McNeese (7-3, 4-2), which hammered the Bears 41-14 last season in Lake Charles. UCA enters the game ranked No. 12 in the FCS, while the Cowboys stand at No. 13.

“McNeese is a great team,” Ford said. “They’re the benchmark for our program. We have always measured ourselves against McNeese. They have a lot of tradition.”
UCA has a strong football tradition, as well, and Ford has helped the Bears continue their success at a higher level.

With all 11 offensive starters returning from last year’s 6-5 squad, the Bears have averaged 36.6 points and 439.6 total yards (284.9 passing, 154.7 rushing) per game.

“UCA has a long tradition of being good offensively and we have kept that going,” Ford said. “We have great skill people. If you give them some space, they’re going to score.”

Still recovering from a back injury suffered during his senior season at Bastrop High, Ford was redshirted as a true freshman. The redshirt year enabled Ford to adapt to the pace of the college game.

“When you come from high school, there are usually two or three good players on every team,” Ford said. “When you get to college, everybody’s good. Everybody’s fast, big and strong.

“The speed of the game definitely changed. You have to use a lot more technique in college. Raw talent won’t get you very far.”

All-in-all, Ford adapted quickly to the college ranks. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, he started seven of 14 games as the Bears advanced in the Division II playoffs and has been a fixture on the O-line ever since.

“I was blessed to be put in a position where I was able to play early in my career,” said Ford, who is only one of four members from the Bears’ 2004 signing class to remain with the team. “It’s been a long run, but I was able to stick with it.”

Ford was unaware of UCA’s proud tradition prior to his senior year at Bastrop High.

“When UCA first started talking to me, I had never heard of them,” Ford admitted. “Outside of LSU and the schools around north Louisiana, I really wasn’t that familiar with a lot of college football programs. I found out that there are a lot more good programs out there.”

Ford, a three-year starter for the Rams, eventually chose UCA over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern Arkansas and Tuskegee.

“I’m glad I chose UCA. I played against (former BHS teammate) Rogers Loche (now a linebacker for Northwestern State) a couple of weeks ago and we played at Louisiana Tech last year,” Ford said. “I’ve had a lot of fun playing football.”

In the process, Ford had the foresight to prepare himself for a successful life beyond the gridiorn.