Born on Oct. 2, 1990 in Fort Worth, Texas to Terry and Gina Hernandez, Scott Parker Hernandez was a Southern boy who was used to warm weather and playing on the offensive line.
“I tried defense when I was younger, but I had more of a passion for offense,” he said.
“In high school, I was put at the tackle position because of my height. I played both right and left tackle”.
This multi-sport high school athlete also threw shot put and discus in high school for the Juan Seguin track and field team.
It was his 6 foot 6 inch, 300-pound frame that let him make a decision on where he would go to play football in college.
“I had lots of Division II offers in Texas. I also had Fordham, Wagner, Montana State and other 1-AA schools offer.”
But a question worth contemplating is, why would a Texas boy come up to New York?
“’Stony Brook was the only visit I took and I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped on campus”.
The weather was not really a factor, but it took some getting used to.
“That was the hardest part. I don’t think I have gotten used to it and I don’t want to get used to it,” Hernandez said with a sarcastic laugh.
“My most memorable football moment was definitely winning the Big South title outright in 2011 over Liberty on this field”, as he points to the turf of Kenneth P LaValle Stadium.
“That was my first year starting.” He blocked for a high-powered offense that averaged 38 points per game and a ground game that ranked fourth in the FCS and a total offense that ranked eighth.
But now, the Seawolves are in the CAA and he says he expects everything to be different.
“I expect higher competition. Every week will be a dogfight. We have to practice harder than we ever did in the Big South,” Hernandez said.
The Seawolves opened CAA play with a convincing 24-0 over the Rams of Rhode Island.
But that higher competition reared its ugly head this past week, when No. 20 Villanova trounced the Seawolves 35-6.
Scott is not necessarily a talk the talk guy, but he definitely walks the walk.
“I always lead by example. I bring a good amount of knowledge to the group. I look at the game the same way as the classroom, whether it’s studying film or doing things on the field.”
That leadership and work ethic is what has earned him the trust of coach Chuck Priore.
“He’s a stalemate in there. He plays the game positively” he said.
Scott Hernandez has started in 29 consecutive games and that streak won’t be ending anytime soon, barring injury.
He made his first career start at UTEP on Sept. 3, 2011 and has not come out of the starting lineup since.
He also earned second team All-Big South honors last year.
Off the field, Scott has taken his passion into the classroom.
“My favorite off the field moment was graduating with two degrees,” he said.
Redshirting his freshman year means he gets that extra year in the classroom and with that, he is going for his Master’s degree in Human Resource Management.
“It’s definitely a tough courseload. But I’m just using the same attitude that I used for my undergrad”.
That attitude worked well for him so there is no reason it can’t work again.
“After Stony Brook I plan on going back to Texas and getting my MBA someplace.”
He also said that he wants to go into the finance field with that MBA.