April 21, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Ronnie Weaver has been trying to leave his mark on the world ever since he left his hometown in 2007.
The former walk-on-turned-all-conference running back for UCF describes Vero-Beach-area Wabasso as a small town (2.4 square miles) with not many success stories.
"It was a town that if you stayed there too long, it sucked you in like a black hole and you don't really ever get out," he said. "It's almost surreal to [the people back home] to see someone from their neighborhood that's been on ESPN that has made it out of their situation and is doing bigger and better things."
Now, when Weaver isn't traveling or on duty for Cintas, where he has worked since June 2012, he uses his free time to help others.
On May 7, he will return to his hometown to give a speech as a part of Upward Bound, a program that is geared toward helping minority youth develop the skills necessary for success in education beyond high school.
Along with his best friend and girlfriend, Weaver co-founded the organization Do Something Else, which feeds Orlando's homeless bimonthly on Saturdays. They are in the process of creating a website to further the mission.
"Ultimately I just want to be a positive influence on the world. I don't know if that's something you say when you're a kid. `What do you want to be when you grow up?' `I just want to make a positive impact on the world,'" he said. "If you can do that, you're doing something correct in life."
Weaver's story was well documented while he suited up for the Knights from 2007-11. After arriving on campus as a walk-on in 2007, he earned a scholarship after a strong fall camp. He went on to merit all-conference honors in 2010 and was a consistent starter for UCF, finishing his career with 18 total touchdowns in 49 appearances.
Even back then, he tried to do what he could to be a positive influence on the Wabasso youth. If anyone wished to speak to him, they would show up at his mother's house to see if she could call him on their behalf.
While his mother kept him on the straight and narrow growing up - Weaver's father passed away when he was 5 years old - the UCF coaching staff took over that role during Weaver's young adult years.
Punctuality, accountability and honesty are some of the qualities that Weaver learned to value while he played for the Knights.
"All those things are intangible assets that are very tangible when they come to the corporate world," he said. "Being at UCF and being a part of Coach (George) O'Leary's program prepared me a lot for what I'm doing right now."
Weaver works in the Cintas fire protection division. He works primarily with fire extinguishers, kitchen hood systems, sprinkler system, alarm systems - basically anything having to do with fire protection. After serving in the management trainee program for nearly two years, he was recently promoted to service supervisor.
He still lives in Orlando and checks in on the team regularly at practices or games. He describes his playing days as a roller coaster, and an amazing one at that.
He lists several moments among his favorites: Earning his scholarship, UCF's bowl win over Georgia, his first career touchdown (at UTEP on Sept. 27, 2008). But the one that might top them all was his breakout game against East Carolina in 2010 when he rushed for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns to help his team beat the Pirates for the first time in five years.
Weaver said he was at Buffalo Wild Wings on University when he watched Breshad Perriman's game-winning Hail Mary touchdown at ECU this past year.
"It's just a testament to the program," he said, "that we have that never-give-up attitude at UCF."