UGA Football: Kelee Ringo Talks Georgia Football

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

 

Kelee Ringo has one of the best pictures a Georgia football player can have.

 

The redshirt freshman defensive back is on the field with his mom, Tralee Hale, after the Bulldogs’ win over Kentucky, both of them wearing big smiles. More significantly, Hale is dressed head-to-toe in pink, including her hair, and is wearing pink Spike Squad shoulder pads.

 

Diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago, Hale spent the Kentucky game cheering with the Spike Squad and the UGA Paint Line, which had “TRALEE STRONG” spelled out on their backs, the letters in black and the skin painted pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

 

Ringo, from Tacoma, Wash., though he went to high school in Scottsdale, Ariz., has started the past five games and his five pass breakups are tied for the team lead. During a Quick Chat after practice Tuesday, he talked about seeing his mom with the Spike Squad, his days as an elite junior sprinter (10.43 seconds in the 100 meters), Halloween, and much more.

 

Here’s some of what he had to say:

 

Frierson: What was it like to have your mom cheering with the Spike Squad and see her name spelled out at the Kentucky game?

 

Ringo: It was great, honestly. I wasn’t even the first one to notice that. I looked over at the student section during a TV timeout and one of my teammates said, “Isn’t that your mom’s name (spelled out) over there?” I was like, wow, that’s crazy. I wasn’t actually able to see my mom over there with them but when I saw the pictures it was a very great moment for me.

 

Seeing so many people cheering for her throughout her battle with cancer has meant a lot to me and I really appreciate Dawg Nation for that.

 

Frierson: What first got you into football? How did you get started?

 

Ringo: I remember going into second or third grade, I was already doing track and things like that, racing kids outside, just normal things that kids would do. Me being faster than a lot of the other kids that I grew up with, I felt like I had an opportunity to do something.

 

Playing football outside at the park was a great hobby of mine, and one day I was playing with some older kids and I was doing things that a lot of the other kids wouldn’t expect me to be able to do. After that day, I went back to my grandmother’s house and I was like, I want to play football.

 

That was a great feeling for me and after that day it took off.

 

Frierson: You obviously had very good track speed, so was there ever a point where you thought, if I put in the work in track then maybe this can lead to something special?

 

Ringo: Yes, sir, most definitely. As you said, if I put in the work then this definitely can lead to something special. I tried to be coachable and tried to use my speed at different times. When I first started playing football, I was playing safety and was able to cover the field because I was fast, and also playing running back. They were like, give him the ball and let him do what he wants to do.

 

Frierson: What did you learn about yourself or football while redshirting last year following surgery? I’m guessing that was the first time you’ve ever spent a lot of time on the sideline.

 

Ringo: Previously, I’ve never had to sit out for any type of injury, especially throughout an entire season. It was definitely a chance to sit back and appreciate the game more, definitely, because I didn’t have the opportunity to step out there on the field. It was a great thing for me to go through and I feel like it made me stronger mentally and physically.

 

Frierson: We just had Halloween the other day, so what is your favorite Halloween candy?

 

Ringo: Candy in general, I like Snickers, I like the little (Spongebob Squarepants) Krabby Patties, 3 Musketeers, Smarties — I’ve liked Smarties since I was a kid. I’d kill the Smarties first thing. I like lollipops, too.

 

Frierson: Reese’s usually comes up No. 1 …

 

Ringo: Reese’s, yes, yes.

 

Frierson: I actually like the Halloween fun-sized Snickers better than the full-sized bar, which I think is actually too dense.

 

Ringo: Facts, facts, yes. You have to break it off to be able to get to it.

 

Frierson: Do you have a favorite costume that you’ve ever worn?

 

Ringo: Spiderman — I was probably Spiderman more times than I wasn’t Spiderman throughout my time dressing up as a kid. I remember when I was a child, when I’d walk into my kitchen in Washington, there was an (archway) and I would almost crawl up the wall. I’d look down almost as if I was Spiderman.

 

As I got taller and grew more, my body wasn’t able to fit anymore. I loved being able to crawl up the wall and look around like I was Spiderman.

 

Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?

 

Ringo: Ooh, there are a lot.

 

Frierson: There’s one obvious answer, the guy with the large personality who’s also the largest person most of us have ever seen.

 

Ringo: Jordan Davis, yes.

 

Frierson: Is there anyone else that comes close?

 

Ringo: Chris Smith is pretty funny, Ameer Speed — a lot of my defensive backs, guys that I’m around most of the time. Latavious Brini is also really funny.

 

Frierson: How valuable is that during a long season, having a room and a team full of guys that get along and make each other laugh?

 

Ringo: It’s greatly valuable, the relationships that you have with each other and learning stuff about different people that you’re with almost throughout your entire day and entire week. It’s definitely a good thing to enjoy being around each other and it will definitely be a great memory to have.

 

Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day, just to experience it, what would it be?

 

Ringo: If I could possibly get paid for it, I’d like to be an NBA player. I can only imagine being able to come up the court and not miss at all, like ever, where you’re like, people can’t stop be at all [laughs]. That’s definitely something I think about from time to time, for sure.

 

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

 

 

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He’s also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.