Faith, family, and football: Nalnishi-Shirley signs on for Mesa Community College

FLAGSTAFF

Large dark clouds rolled across the skies in Flagstaff. Snow lay piled up along the roads and sidewalk while a cold wind blew fiercely from the north. Despite the bone-chilling weather Brandon V. Nalnishi-Shirley, first clan Manygoats born for the Coyote Pass Clan, stood tall in front of the church.

Dressed in a black suit with a matching cowboy hat, he welcomed people with a mask-covered smile and bright, excited eyes.

Inside the church, the family gathered for the first time in months while following safety precautions. Everyone was wearing masks; the chairs were set apart, and a large bottle of hand sanitizer was set on a table for anyone to use.

They knew the risk that the COVID-19 virus presented, but this day was special. It was a day that everyone — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins — prayed would happen.

Brandon was signing on to play football at Mesa Community College.

“It means a lot,” Brandon said. “Even though people don’t really think about the junior college conferences, I think of it as a stepping stone to play at a higher level. I’m super excited, and I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the power and the perseverance to do what I got to do.”

Brandon has been interested in football almost all his life. His grandfather, Benjamin Worker, father Vincent Shirley Jr, and now his younger brother Adriano Nalnishi-Shirley, all played football. He’ll be the first in his family to play at the collegiate level.

“When he was young, I always knew he was destined for something, to make an impact on the world,” Vincent said. “He had the characteristics of being in a physical contact sort of sport or a kind of job where he does a lot of physical work.”

Vincent remembers watching football years ago, and the NFL Sunday Ticket came on. As the tune was played, four-year-old Brandon came marching into the room, matching the music’s beat and showing his first keen interest in football.

From there, Brandon would make a name for himself in the years that would follow. He still fondly remembers the day he first joined a football team back in elementary school.

At Skyline High School in Mesa, he was named the most valuable offensive lineman in 2018, and during the 2019 season, he made the 6A Arizona Conference East Valley First-Team All-Region Offensive Left Tackle, along with being named to the Navajo Times All-Stars in 2019.

This past season he transferred to Flagstaff High, where he was named the 4A Grand Canyon First Team All-Region Offensive Left Tackle, All North Arizona Team (Offense), and Arizona All-Conference.

At Skyline High, he was taught by 6A coaches, learning collegiate level skills that greatly benefited his abilities. Last year, his coaches credited him with playing an integral part in getting the Flagstaff Eagles to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

Brandon and three of his fellow teammates were recognized as star players in the AIA, with Brandon being recognized as 4A All-Conference Offensive Lineman for 2020.

“What stands out to me is that he is as good at sportsmanship as a player,” Vincent said. “He respects the game, and he knows what it means to help a team win or to make that critical move or clutch. And that’s what I saw in him: being able to work in a team, to be a leader, and to demonstrate his capacity and his abilities.

“That’s something I see in him, in his humble way in knowing that we know he has God’s gift and he carries it well. He doesn’t brag about it, he doesn’t boast about it, he just loves the game of football.”

Along with his family, some of Brandon’s teammates were present at his signing, including Bob Castillo, Flagstaff High’s assistant coach.

“I felt that football was just part of the whole student-athlete experience,” Castillo said. “And that anybody that was an athlete, they know what hard work was about and it would help him get through school, and this was just a testimony to Brandon to not only work hard in school but on the football field to get to the next level.

“At Flag High, we haven’t had many linemen go to the next level,” he said. “So, it’s exciting for me to be here, to be a part of this with Brandon, being able to sign on with a college and just to see a fine young man not only as an athlete but as a student-athlete being able to move on to the next level and go to college.”

Brandon had considered seven colleges before selecting Mesa Community College. It’ll be closer to home, and he’s planning to work his way up from there. He plans to get a degree in welding and possibly teaching. Long term, he wants to spread his faith to others and maybe return to the Navajo Nation to coach one day and show young athletes that it is possible for them to achieve their dreams.

“Definitely going to give every last bit of glory to the Lord Jesus Christ,” Brandon said. “I just thank everybody for coming and supporting me. Even if they’re not here, my family and friends on the reservation who supported me throughout my career, I thank them.”

Before the signing, Rev. Jackie Holgate gave a quick prayer for Brandon’s future in education and playing football. He prayed for Brandon’s protection, for him to receive wisdom and guidance as he moved on to the next phase of his life.

Tears were shed, and emotions were high as Brandon committed himself to higher education.

“It’s a blessing, a true blessing because a lot of things we been through in the last four years wasn’t like this,” Vincent said. “Yeah, there are more people that could have been here, but COVID had really impacted that. I’m glad that some people showed up to show their support for him. That’s love, that’s something we’ll remember when we’re down or whatever, we’ll remember all who showed up. It’s a true blessing.”

Brandon’s family has gone through highs and lows through the years, at times having nothing but family and their faith to keep them going. This past year they were anxious about Brandon being noticed by college scouts with Flagstaff High only having a short football season. But they were proved wrong with invitations to several different schools before Brandon chose Mesa Community College.

“That’s what we rely on as our foundation,” Vincent said. “We teach each other, we talk, we communicate, that’s something I know he’ll carry forward in the future. And I’m very proud of him for committing to a college, and I know he’s going to make a difference in this world somewhere.”

As the church emptied after the signing, friends departed with promises of seeing one another again. The young members of the family called out what they wanted to get for lunch while Brandon’s grandmother, Mary Worker, led the cleaning effort, wiping down chairs and disinfecting surfaces. Brandon continued to talk with friends and family, remembering his past while looking forward to his future.

“First and foremost, I just thank God for giving me that talent to showcase my skills in his name,” Brandon said. “Ever since I was a little kid, I always loved watching football … It means a lot to me, it’s just so many things.

“Football teaches you almost everything you’re going to go through in life: adversity, overcoming obstacles and being a leader, taking the initiative, and I thank God for allowing me to play the sport that I love.”

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