Super ‘kid of the whole city’

Across the nation and the world, people from all walks of life will sit in front of their

Cody Glenn of the Indianapolis Colts takes time to answer questions from Rusk Intermediate School students via Skype last week. Mr. Glenn is in Miami preparing for the Colts’ Super Bowl match-up with the New Orleans Saints. television sets and watch the Super Bowl from Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.

In Rusk, the same will happen, but many will put on blue and white to support a player who proudly represents a city draped in red and black.

When the Indianapolis Colts line up to take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon (5:25 p.m., CBS-19), Rusk residents won’t need to ask, “Who dat?” They’ll know exactly who wears #52 for the Colts – Rusk’s own Cody Glenn.

Mr. Glenn has been with the Colts since Sept. 6, 2009 and has been on the active roster since Nov. 4. For the season, he has four tackles on defense (two solo tackles) and five tackles on special teams.

Cody Glenn was a 6’0, 225 lb. running back as a senior at Rusk. He is now a 6’0, 240 lb. linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. He has made two tackles in the playoffs and his play this season has even warranted praise from Colts’ owner Bill Polian.

After the Colts defeated the Houston Texans Nov. 8, Mr. Polian said that Mr. Glenn “had just an outstanding game covering, tackling, blocking [a] field goal [and] putting pressure.... on the field goals.”

The 6’0, 240 lb. rookie linebacker had a whirlwind season, but his heart was never far from his hometown.

“He’s got a lot of supporters here – coaches, teachers, family and friends,” said Walter Session, who speaks with Mr. Glenn almost daily. “Everyone here loves him and he loves Rusk. His heart is here.”

Bryan Selden, formerly of Rusk, poses with Cody Glenn after the AFC Championship game, where the Colts defeated the New York Jets, 30-17. Mr. Selden, his wife Sarah and daughter Mary Caroline attended the game and Mr. and Mrs. Selden will be in Miami for the Super Bowl. COURTESY PHOTO: SARAH SELDEN Cody and the kids

Before heading to Miami, Mr. Glenn gave back to his old school, taking part in an interview with students at Rusk Intermediate School using an internet program called Skype, which allows users to speak in real-time through webcam and microphone.

The interview was set up by Kathy Harris, Mr. Glenn’s godmother and a teacher at Rusk Intermediate.

“Since our school is a 21st century virtual school, a lot of our teachers have done some neat things with technology,” said Carlene Clayton, principal at Rusk Intermediate. “We decided that we’d set up a Skype session with him.”

Students submitted questions to ask and teachers likened Mr. Glenn’s preparation for the Super Bowl with the students’ preparation for the upcoming TAKS test.

“We compared his preparation for the game with our preparation for the TAKS test,” Mrs. Clayton said. “Our teachers are our coaches and our students work our strategies daily, just like Cody does before a game.”

Mr. Glenn was a hit with the kids, but several students also wanted to know about one of his teammates.

“The kids asked him how hard he had to work, how long workouts were and what it was like to be on the team with Peyton Manning,” Mrs. Clayton said.

Mr. Glenn went on to tell the students about his fourth and fifth grade years in Rusk.

“He told the kids that he was probably a lot like them and having fun was on his mind,” Mrs. Clayton said. “He told them how he realized he was interested in athletics in junior high.”

Mrs. Clayton said that the community has watched him grow from a young age.

“Most of us in the community have watched him grow,” she said. “He is just a joy to be around. He has a very mellow and cordial personality. Even at an early age, if he had a conflict or a problem, he’d handle it in a very mature way.

“I was assistant principal at the junior high when he was there and I watched him grow into a delightful young man. He did everything with class and he always had a smile on his face.”

‘Bringing it back to Rusk’

Mr. Glenn’s personality seems to rub off on everyone who comes into contact with him. After he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in April 2009, former Rusk Coach Wayne Mahaffey, now coaching at Hamshire-Fannett, proudly reflected on his former running back.

“Cody is about as even-keeled of a person as you’ll find,” Coach Mahaffey said. “He has a great personality, he was always liked by teammates, students and teachers. His desire to excel is hard to match.

“He was a pleasant kid to be around and enjoyable to coach. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached.”

Coach Mahaffey said that he was not surprised that Mr. Glenn was drafted, given the way he played the game.

“He’s so physically tough and durable – big, strong and fast,” Coach Mahaffey said. “The story of Cody is just the physical nature and toughness with which he plays the game.”

Mr. Session said that Mr. Glenn’s release from Washington was good in the long run.

“I feel like it was a blessing that he was released by the Redskins and signed by the Colts,” he said. “He has a chance for a career in Indianapolis. He’s already got a chance in his first year to get that big ring.”

Mr. Session said that the linebacker was living his dream while already being prepared for life after football.

“He’s got a lot of heart and playing pro football is what he wants to do,” he said, “but he finished at Nebraska in four years and got his college degree.

“He has something to fall back on, but he’s worked hard and his heart is in pro football.”

Since arriving in Miami, Mr. Glenn has braved the downpours of rain over the last few days, practicing with the team in order to get closer to his goal of winning a Super Bowl championship.

His time outside of team obligations has been spent sightseeing and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Glenn even got to meet Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

A piece of home will be at the Super Bowl, including several Rusk and East Texas residents and Mr. Glenn’s daughter, Makayla.

The rest of Rusk will watch the action unfold, rooting for the linebacker who still considers himself the “kid of the whole city.”

“He’s blessed to get an opportunity that not many players have, especially in his first year,” Mr. Session said.

“He’s worked hard and I know they’re going to win and he’ll bring a Super Bowl ring back to Rusk.”