“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I �€
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.” �€Robert Frost

Reggie Scott is not regretting the choice he made after graduating from West VirginiaUniversity last May with a bachelors degree in athletic training.

He could have taken a job as an athletic trainer with the New England Patriots or accepted a scholarship to go to graduate school at FloridaInternationalUniversity in Miami.

Instead, Scott chose to serve a one-year, paid internship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Eight months later, he was in San Diego, cheering on the teams players �€and tending their cuts and bruises �€as Tampa Bay defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21 Sunday, Jan. 26, in Super Bowl XXXVII .

“I think I made the right choice,”he said.”The goal of many in my field is to work in the NFL . Next, they want to be on a team that makes it to the Super Bowl. For this to happen to me my first year out of school was unbelievable. Its been an awesome experience.”

To be on the winning team in the Super Bowl is icing on the cake, added Scott, who will likely receive a ring and partial bonus as a member of the teams athletic training staff.

“What athletic trainers do every day is critical to how the team performs on Sunday,”he said.”So when you make it to that Big Dance and win, and the fans go crazy and throw the confetti, you kind of feel like the players feel.”

The Dover, Del., native joined TampaBay two weeks after earning his undergraduate degree from WVU s School of Physical Education. He had served a summer internship with the Buccaneers in 2001 while still a student, and the impression he made then led to his current association with the team.

His responsibilities at Tampa Bay include assisting in the daily treatments, rehabilitation and health care of athletes; helping with the athletic training budget and supplies; making sure there is enough water and other supplies on the sideline before games; and seeing that players stay hydrated and assisting with on-field care during games.

Scott credited the education he received at WVU with making his dreams come true. The faculty and staff in the undergraduate athletic training program provide excellent instruction and networking opportunities for students, he said.

“I give two thumbs up to the WVU athletic training program,”he said.”Whatever you want to do with your degree, I guarantee you someone on the faculty and staff knows a contact person in that area. Through these contacts, I have been able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge I learned at WVU .”

Vince Stilger, associate professor and director of WVU s undergraduate program, described Scott as a hard-working, outgoing student.

“Reggie was really focused and applied himself,”he said.”He had a great rapport with the athletes and coaches. He is very much a people person. Im very happy for what he has done.”Scott is just the latest graduate of WVU s athletic training program to go to work in the NFL , said Stilger, who has overseen the program for nine years. In fact, WVU has produced more professional football athletic trainers than any other institution. Nine other University graduates are working as trainers for the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Houston Texans.

While the NFL alumni bring a lot of exposure to the program, Stilger said he is proud of all of the WVU graduates who go on to graduate or medical school, become physical therapists or work at sports medicine clinics. There are 38 students in the athletic training program, another 35 in the pre-program, and nine faculty and staff. It is one of about 185 accredited athletic training programs in the nation.

As for Scott, he will complete his internship in June. After that, he will explore job opportunities in the NFL or pursue a masters degree in physical therapy on his scholarship, which was deferred upon his accepting the internship at TampaBay.

Like last year, he is keeping his options open.