Ben

By brdavis

  • Birth

    I am born in Hillsdale, Mi at 1042 pm.

  • Start Piano Lessons

    My mom starts teaching me the piano.

  • First Tigers Game

    I attend my first Tigers game. They would win the world series that year.

  • Grandpa Dies

    My grandpa Fressel dies. I was close to him. He was a big Tiger's fan. Two months later, the tigers win the world series.

  • First Big Move

    I move from Hillsdale to Redford when my father, a state trooper gets transferred from Jonesville Post to Detroit Metro Post.

  • First time I played soccer

    My friend Ian Crawford asked me to play on his soccer team since they were short players. It was snowing and I played in goal. It was the first time I had ever played soccer.

  • First Experience with the National Team

    I head down to Adidas Soccer Academy for a couple of months to train.

  • High School graduation

    I graduate from Plymouth-Canton High School.

  • Went to Barcelona

    Went to Barcelona for the summer.

  • returned from Barcelona

    I returned home from an incredible summer in Barcelona.

  • My first day at Northern Illinois University

    I report to my first day of training camp at Northern Illinois University. I received a soccer scholarship to go there.

  • I dropped out of NIU

    After my freshman year, I left NIU to pursue a soccer playing career abroad.

  • I go to Romania

    I left to go to Romania for the summer to play in a soccer tournament. I was scouted by some pro teams and offered a training contract.

  • I return from Romania

    I return from my summer in Romania. I was offered a training contract with FC Petrolul Ploiesti.

  • I move back to Romania to play professional soccer

    I move back to Romania to play for FC Petrolul Ploiesti

  • Return from Romania

    After some problems with my agent and a severe injury. I decide to return from Romania and go back to college to play soccer and then play professionally in the US.

  • College Graduation

    I graduate from Schoolcraft College with an associates in liberal arts.

  • Attend CCSU

    I pursue a bachelors in sociology while attending Central Connecticut State University on a soccer scholarship.

  • Terrorist Attack on NYC and DC

    I never realized the impact that this would have on me.

  • Go to ground zero

    On a soccer roadtrip to NYC, I visit ground zero. It has a profound affect on me.

  • Invited to MLS Combine

    I get invited to the MLS Combines for the upcoming draft. I have an offer from Tampa Bay.

  • SF Commercial

    While at my apartment, I see a commercial for Army Special Forces.

  • Visit Army Recruiter

    I visit an army recruiter. I take some tests and find out I qualify for various jobs in the army.

  • Leave for Basic

    I start my military career. I depart at 4 am for Ft. Benning, Ga.

  • I complete my first triathlon

    Two months after major hip surgery, I run my first triathlon.

  • ETS from the Army

    After a bittersweet 6 year enlistment, I leave the army. I had multiple combat deployments, numerous awards and medals, and I lost a lot of close friends.

  • Decide to get involved with soccer again

    I decide to not pursue a government job similiar to what I did in the army and start coaching soccer. I started coaching goalkeepers at Brighton High School.

  • Introduced to Rick Larson

    After a referral as a coach, I meet up with Rick. He is the Head soccer coach for the men's team at Schoolcraft College. We talk and then he asks me to join the staff at Schoolcraft.

  • Decide to go back to school

    I decided to go back to school. I enroll at Wayne State University in the Kinesiology program.

  • D license

    I complete my USSF D license. Upon completion, the instructor asks me to join the boys staff for the state Olympic Development Program.

  • First day of training for goalkeepers.

    I meet with the incoming goalkeepers at a soccer field in Hines Park. I told them that this is the teams weak link and that I won't allow them to be that. I told them that I will make them All-Americans.

  • First Game for Schoolcraft

    We play U of D, Mercy. We win 5-0.

  • First Day of school

    I attend my first class at Wayne State.

  • Nationals and All Americans

    Schoolcraft Men's Soccer goes to nationals in New Jersey. We give up one goal, don't lose a game and get 3rd place. Our goalkeeper was named first team all-american.

  • Jenny

    I met the love of my life, Jenny.

  • C License

    I complete my USSF C license. This allows me to join the US National Team Staff.

  • Lilian is born

    Jenny gives birth to our baby daughter Lilian.

  • Graduate from Wayne State

    I graduate from Wayne State with a BS in Kinesiology; Sports Science.

  • Finish Masters Degree

    I finish my Master's Degree in Kinesiology from Wayne State, with concentrations in exercise physiology and motor control.

  • Research at Natick

    I begin my research for the department of defense in psycho-physiology, specifically neural facilitation.

  • Lilian's first soccer game

    Lilian plays in her first soccer game.

  • Lilian's first day of school

    Lilian's first day of school. I get to drop her off. She's very nervous.

  • Complete PhD

    I finish my PhD in Kinesiology from Wayne State. I completed a ground breaking research on neural facilitation for my dissertation.

  • Accept Teaching/Research position at U of M

    I accept a teaching/research position at U of M, where I continue my research on harnessing the power of the mind.

  • I complete my 100th Triathlon

    I complete my 100th Triathlon. I run my 100th at the same race where I ran my first.

  • Ride the Orient Express

    I take Jenny on a tour of Europe and we ride the Orient Express.

  • I leave teaching to coach full time

    I give up my teaching position to join the National Staff as a coach and instructor.

  • Win World Cup

    The US wins it's first world cup and I am the team goalkeeper coach.

  • I become author and motivational speaker

    I resign from my coaching duties to write my memoirs and join the professional lecture circuit.

  • Book climbs to #1 on NY Times best seller list

    My book hits number one on the NY Times best sellers list as well as numerous others.

  • Lilian goes to college

    Lilian goes to Princeton on a soccer scholarship.

  • I retire

    I retire and Jenny and I move to Key West.

  • Lilian Graduates

    Lilian graduates from Princeton. Decides to see the world before she decides what to do next.

  • Lilian gets married

    Lillian gets married. The ceremony is on the beach.

  • Lilian has a baby

    In family tradition, Lilian has a baby boy, Nicholas.

  • Around the World trip

    Jenny and I decide to travel around the world to see the places we've always wanted to go.

  • I die

    I die on my birthday at home with the most important people in my life by my side.