As sophomore defensive back Ugo Amadi was leaving practice on Monday, he looked around and noticed someone was missing. Without even turning around, he started yelling “Arrion. Yo, Arrion.”
Amadi was in search of his friend, junior defensive back Arrion Springs.
Springs heard his name being called and quickly caught up with his teammate. Together, they shared a short laugh before heading into the locker room.
“Shoot, I don’t even know what it is about that kid but he’s awesome,” Amadi said of Springs. “When I first got here, we just clicked and since then, we teammates. We brothers.”
Although this may not seem like anything special since most people know Springs and Amadi to be inseparable, the circumstances surrounding the two players the last couple weeks showed how unbreakable their bond is.
Two weeks ago brought a position change involving Amadi and Springs. Amadi moved into the starting rotation — replacing his best friend.
“To be honest, Ugo has just played better as of late. … We feel he gives us a better chance to win,” defensive backs coach John Neal said. “Arrion has been in his ear about helping him out and always supporting him — that speaks to their relationship.”
Since the change, Springs has been Amadi’s biggest supporter.
“Without a doubt Arrion has been helping me,” Amadi said. “Every time I come off the field, he’s there for me talking about what was going on out there, what he saw and how I can always get better.”
Before the change, the teammates weren’t always in a position where one player would start and another would sit.
During Amadi’s freshman year, both players saw action as the starting cornerbacks for Oregon. They expected the same arrangement this year but Amadi was replaced in the starting lineup by Tyree Robinson.
“It was tough when I wasn’t starting anymore… that was brutal,” Amadi said. “But he (Arrion) never let me get down about it. He always kept pushing me to stay with it and be better — he’s a big reason why I’m where I’m at now.”
With the roles reversed on the field, Amadi has found himself helping Springs through his tough time. He remembers what it was like when you don’t see your name atop of the depth chart.
“I know where he’s at because I’ve been there,” Amadi said. “But Arrion won’t quit and he’ll just continue to fight. He’s a competitor and I know he’s coming for my spot… which is a good thing for us as a unit.”
What could’ve been a terrible situation between friends has ended up making the entire defensive backs group stronger. Instead of letting it bring him down, Springs has risen to the challenge.
“Arrion continues to work hard and push through it,” Neal said. “He’s one of our leaders.”
Regardless of who’s starting, both Amadi and Springs realize that they’re better football players with one another still supporting each other brothers. Above all else, that will never change — and the laughter will never stop.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka