For senior defensive lineman Marvin Wilcots of Beckville, Texas, this season is special, but it’s more than his senior season with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys that made this a season he will never forget.

It’s more than the bonds that tie his teammates, his brothers, together through the season.

It’s more than wins and losses.

It’s more than a season with 30 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery.

It’s a Saturday, Oct. 29, shortly before a 2 p.m. kickoff for Arkansas Tech’s Senior Day game against East Central University in front of a packed crowd in Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field and Marvin Wilcots drops to one knee at mid-field.

Marvin’s girlfriend, Lacey Potter from Irving, Texas, can be seen holding the couple’s son, Timmy, as before her eyes, Marvin displays ring in front of the cheering Wonder Boy fans. 

With a smile on his face, and Lacey’s hand over hers, Marvin looks into the eyes that he fell in love with from that first night they met and says, “I want to thank you so much for giving me the chance to play this game again. You've dedicated a lot to me being here and for that I want to dedicate the rest of my life to you. Will you marry me?"

The fans in attendance could not hear through the cheers, but the embrace of the couple before the emotional crowd lets everyone know her answer.

“She couldn't hear me asking her because of the screaming form the bleachers, but she knew what I was saying and she just kept saying yes,” said Marvin.

One can understood the nerves it must take for Wilcots to ask the woman of his dreams to marry him in front of so many people, but one couldn’t tell from the smile on his face, or his playing up to the crowd before asking such the question.

“I knew it'd be the perfect moment. Women love that moment to be in public, but in front of that many people, and before a big event, it makes it 10 times sweeter,” he added.

“I had no doubt that she'd say yes, because we've been talking about marriage since the second month of dating,” said Wilcots. “I think that my proposing finally let her know that I was for-real.”

The relationship started with a meeting on the social network MySpace, as Lacey was moving to East Texas and was looking for someone to show her around. Lucky for both, she found love as well.

“I've never loved someone so much, she's the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Wilcots said.

At a time in their lives when a number of college students run away from the thought being with one person forever, Marvin assured me that he has no doubts about asking the woman of his dreams to be by his side the rest of their lives.

“I want to marry her because she's perfect for me,” he said. “I fell in love with her the first night i met her, took her out the next 5 nights and for almost 4 years the feeling only gets stronger.”

Love between two people that strong is a rarity to witness, and I would like to thank the newly engaged couple for allowing all who witnessed such a special moment to share in your happiness.

The Arka Tech Staff would like to wish you all the love and happiness that two people can share, with endless years together.

By the power vested in me, by The Arka Tech newspaper, I now pronounce Marvin Wilcots and Lacey Potter…Engaged.