Small City, Big Dreams
Introducing…
Greenwood, South Carolina
Evin Sims
What does the phrase Sports Passion mean to you?
“When nothing or no one will come in between you and
goals of that one particular sport. You shed blood,
sweat, and tears.”
– Evin Sims
Evin Sims, a young man who
knows that hard work and
determination will take you to the
promise land.
In our Small City, Big Dreams
section Lenoir-Rhyne University
red-shirt freshman, Evin Sims sat
down with Sports Passion’s
Calvis Callahan to discuss what it
feels like to be from the city of
Greenwood, South Carolina,
fresh off leading the Greenwood
High Eagles to a state
championship last year to
continuing his dream of playing
football in college.
The young man has a lot to
desire knowing that although he
came from a city with a
population of a little more than
23,000, there are those before
him that has reached the NFL
and had very prosperous
careers.
Sims was introduced to football
in the fourth grade by his cousin
and he decided that it was the
sport for him although his dad
was more interested in NASCAR
and golf, which wasn’t a problem.
Sims’ cousin gave him instructions
on the game early on but the
passion came from knowing that he
had the talent and could become
something that’s bigger than his
dreams. Which he was in high
school and he hopes that it carries
on when he get his moment in
college.
Sims understands the importance of
goal setting in sports and
acknowledges “if you don’t have
goals then why are you playing? Of
course have fun but you have to
play for something.”
His parents instilled in him that one
must be humble in order to succeed
in life and he must continue to
humble himself before God and
others because the humble guys
flourish more in life.
That is just what he is hoping to do,
“flourish in life.” Whether that is as a
professional football player or a blue
collar worker, he intends to work
hard to set himself as well as his
future family up for a fulfilling life.
“My parents
always told me to
earn everything
nothing is given.”
When asked did he have any
sports idols? He stated that he
was a cheerleader for everyone
because he loves to see guys
play the game the right way.
Sims knows that there is a
strong possibility for him and
others from small cities to have
big dreams.
He was asked how does it
make him feel that athletes like
Robert Brooks, Ernest Dye,
Gaines Adams, Armanti
Edwards, and Josh Norman
among others from the city of
Greenwood make it to the NFL?
His reply, “it gives me hope that
us small time folks have just as
much as a chance as big city
folk.” It is reassuring to know.
Noting his talents, speed kills
and a decent throwing arm can
take you places.
How could you not root for this
humbled young man?
Interesting fact: “I’m a
twin and we look
nothing alike. Some say
“you’re not his brother,
you’re his cousin.”