Wildcat Love: A Journey Through Time
RONALD & CASAUNDRA WILSON
I first met Casaundra in the fall of 1981 at Fort Valley State College. I was a football player, well-known on campus, and she was a freshman moving into Watson Hall. When I saw her carrying bags into the dorm, I knew I had to step in and help. I had done it before helping freshmen move in was nothing new, but this time felt different. She had a presence about her, and I wanted to get to know her.
She wasn’t easily impressed, though. She had a no-nonsense attitude and made it clear that if I was going to be in her life, I had to come correct. That challenge only motivated me more. I paid attention to her schedule, knowing she walked past Boyd Hall every day after her third-period class. I made sure I was around, just watching, waiting for the right moment to start a real conversation. Eventually, I got up the nerve to go to her dorm, and after some convincing, she came down to the lobby. That was the beginning of everything.
During college, our relationship grew naturally. I coached her in intramural basketball, and we supported each other as student-athletes. While I played football, Casaundra was making a name for herself on the tennis courts, and I was always there to cheer her on. Casaundra hadn’t come to college to play sports, but Dr. Gerald Walker saw her athleticism early on and promoted her to Dr. Curtis Martin. Dr. Martin then coached her to become an exceptional tennis player, eventually earning the title of an All-Conference player. With both of us now being high-level collegiate athletes, our bond grew even closer. Our shared experience in sports shaped our relationship and solidified a deep love for coaching, something that continued to influence our careers long after college.
As I had already pledged Omega Psi Phi the year before, Casaundra followed the next year, pledging Delta Sigma Theta. Because our relationship was already well-known on campus, her line sisters gave her the line name Flopette, which was a direct tie to my own line name, Flop Dawg. The name Flop Dawg actually originated from me and my brother being known as Flip and Flop on campus, and it just stuck. We even shared the same line number, #4. That connection only made our bond even stronger.
Fort Valley State College played a huge role in our growth as a couple and in shaping our future. Dr. Curtis Martin not only coached Casaundra in tennis but also guided me toward a career in education and Dr. Leroy Combs guidance helped set the foundation for Casaundra’s career by encouraging her to major in Math Education, a path she hadn’t initially considered. We both went on to pursue careers in education and coaching and as we did, we built a life beyond campus that allowed us to impact the lives of countless student-athletes the same way our professors and coaches impacted ours. Over the years, we mentored students, won championships, and made a lasting impact in our community.
After completing college, we got married on February 15, 1986, and officially started our life as a family. After raising our family of 4 children and guiding them to be successful citizens, we now enjoy our 11 grandkids, 1 grandcat :) and 4 great-grands. Best of all, we now travel the world and enjoy life together and we are now known as “Travel with the Coaches.”
I can say without a doubt that this love that started back at FVSU has stood the test of time.
It wasn’t always easy, but it’s been worth it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Wisdom for Today’s Students on Love, Relationships & Balancing School Life
What wisdom would they share with today’s students about love, relationships, and balancing school life? Students, success is about balance. Love is a strong emotion and you must make sure you take care of yourself first. Know what kind of relationship you want, what qualities you want in your partner and don’t lower your standards. Compatibility is very important. Do things together that you both love doing as well as compromise and participate in things that may not be something you would normally do but be willing to try if your special one likes it. Carve out time for each other. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures, even small moments of connection can make a big difference. Walk each other to class, meet for a quick lunch, or attend a school activity together. Communicate and laugh together. Try to work through the hard times when things get rough and give each other space. Prioritize academics and tasks and make time for things that matter to you. Time management is essential and will help you stay on top of everything and possibly avoid feeling overwhelmed. Most importantly keep God first.
