Putnam County Featured Alumni: Hank Spencer, Football; North Putnam High School

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Spencer shines at national champion Mount Union

Hank Spencer graduated from North Putnam in December 2011, a semester early, so he could begin college in the spring.

"It was to help me adjust," he said. "I was focused to get in a groove. That way I could get used to campus for one semester and not have to worry about practices."

Spencer started his college football career at Division III University of Mt. Union in Ohio. He was a starting linebacker his freshman year.

His first season there wasn't too shabby with a 15-0 record, and the team won its 11th national title.

"It was an incredible feeling -- after working so hard for so many years," he said. "It's an overwhelming feeling."

Spencer played four years of high school football at North Putnam. Although the Cougars didn't quite win a state title while he was there, their record was 54-6 in four years, including a state finals appearance.

The college practices are shorter than high school ones, but that doesn't mean they are pushed harder, Spencer said.

"But there's absolutely no down time -- it's 100 percent," he said. "At Mount, I've had more fun playing football than anywhere else."

He said his teammates are a "good group of guys" and they hang out during the weekends as well.

But his college teammates differ from his high school ones.

"In college, everybody is playing because they love the sport, and they want to keep playing," he said.

There isn't one thing he can pinpoint down that has made up his college career great.

"The entire experience -- I don't think I could narrow it down to just one thing," Spencer said.

He said he think the team has a good chance for winning nationals again this season.

"We're young, and we're really talented," he said.

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