Injured linebacker fulfills dreams with music
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Like many young football players growing up in North Carolina, Chase Rice had his sights set on the NFL. After an outstanding sophomore season with the Tar Heels, that goal seemed realistic.
Then the linebacker who tore up the ACC in 2006 tore up his left ankle in the season opener as a junior. Although he returned in 2007, Rice already knew pro football player was not going to be on his resume.
Country music star would be.
But when draft time approaches, Rice recalls those days on the field, and his hopes of reaching football鈥檚 highest level.
鈥淚 certainly felt headed in that direction,鈥 Rice says. 鈥淢y (2006) year I was the only player who didn鈥檛 come off the field, I could play inside and outside, and it was looking good. Then I only got a quarter and a half in my junior year, and that would have been my year and hopefully we were headed for the top of the ACC.
鈥淭he next year the ankle was not the same, and I wasn鈥檛 the same player.鈥
During the 2009 draft, five Tar Heels were selected, including wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to the Giants in the first round. Nicks won a Super Bowl for the 2011 season with New York. Tight end Richard Quinn and wideout Brandon Tate went in the second round; tackle Garrett Reynolds, one of Rice鈥檚 closest friends today, was selected in Round 5, as was receiver Brooks Foster.
鈥淚 was up there playing the caliber of football those guys were and that is why I can say I think I was up there to get drafted had I not been injured,鈥 Rice says. 鈥淥bviously, you鈥檝e got to get in the games and show up and get your experience. I felt I was right up with those guys and certainly do believe I had the chance. It didn鈥檛 work out that way.鈥
It worked out pretty well for Rice in another area of entertainment. His current hit is a pairing with Florida Georgia Line: 鈥淒rinkin鈥 Beer. Talkin鈥 God. Amen.鈥
Rice also co-wrote the No. 1 song 鈥淐ruise鈥 for that duo, which Florida Georgia Line also re-released as a remix featuring Nelly. On his own, Rice has had two top five hits and a double-platinum No. 1 in 鈥淓yes On You.鈥
Some of his songs reflect on his days as an athlete, particularly 鈥淏eats A Million Bucks鈥 and 鈥淐arolina Can,鈥 which has become something of an anthem for not only Tar Heels fans but the state itself.
Rice sought out Scooter Carusoe, who had written several hit songs, for 鈥淐arolina Can.鈥
鈥淚 knew of him living in Carolina, and 鈥楢nything But Mine鈥 (video) would pop up on TV,鈥 Rice says of the Kenny Chesney megahit. 鈥淚 dreamed of writing with Scooter. This was the first time I鈥檇 ever written that I wanted to write a song about going home, a place very special. He knows a lot about Chapel Hill and Asheville, and we started talking about my history with Carolina. But we didn鈥檛 really have a hook. As we鈥檙e driving to lunch, he looks at me with this smile and just says: 鈥榃hen I need someone to remind me who I am, Carolina Can.鈥欌
鈥淚t was written in a second after that; we had a purpose of why we write. It鈥檚 one of my favorites of all time... I鈥檝e seen boats named after that, and people scream it at the concert. I played the Azalea Festival in Wilmington and didn鈥檛 have to sing one word. I will play in Washington state and they are all singing it. Everybody can relate to it. Every place has their own story.鈥
The story for all musical artists during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the same 鈥 trying to get their work out to fans while not being able to play live concerts. Along with headlining his own tours, Rice has opened for Garth Brooks and Chesney 鈥 at NFL venues. After performing at a gala for Super Bowl champion coach Bruce Arians鈥 foundation celebrity golf classic Rice can鈥檛 wait to get back on the road.
鈥淥n a football field it is different because you are running out with your team,鈥 Rice says. 鈥淢y band and crew are my team, but always there鈥檚 that moment I am by myself before I walk onstage. It is an awesome feeling, but it can also be lonely. When you鈥檙e standing by yourself, it shows the definitive difference of running with a team and running out by yourself. And it is pretty intense.鈥
鈥淚 was telling one of my buddies in 2017 that it broke my heart I never got a chance to play in the NFL,鈥 Rice recalls, 鈥渁nd he didn鈥檛 say anything and I was expecting a response. And then he goes, 鈥楧idn鈥檛 you just tell me you played with Kenny Chesney at Lucas Oil Stadium? Is that not an NFL stadium?鈥欌
鈥淭hat is a perspective right there; dreams in a weird way have absolutely come true,鈥 he says.
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