Ex-Boyd Anderson standout Derrick Tindal becomes Wisconsin’s leader after losing mom to cancer

There were days Wisconsin defensive back Derrick Tindal would not even bother to attend class.

Three years ago, on top of being a freshman adjusting to Midwest winters after growing up in sunny South Florida, he was also dealing with the death of his mother. The tragic situation eventually helped shape his life, he says now as his college career winds down. A senior, he plays his final game Saturday against the Miami Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl.

“When I lost my mom, I was in a drought for a while,” Tindal said.

Tindal, a Boyd Anderson graduate, has recovered from the heartbreaking experience to record 27 tackles, two interceptions and will start his 14^th straight game this season. He can smile about all his accomplishments, including earning honorable mention All-Big Ten as a junior, but it wasn’t easy.

He needed a year to gather himself after losing the person he called his “most prized possession.” Regina Singletary died after a bout with cancer Nov. 4, 2014. She was just 42.

Her son had been away from home for only a few months. Tindal took the loss hard. He even contemplated leaving school.

“I didn’t want to play football anymore,” Tindal said. “That was a big reason why I wasn’t going to class. It was kind of tough my first year. I just went into a drought. I didn’t want to do anything.”

It wasn’t until the next season Tindal could focus. This was only after he refused to leave his dorm room for meals and needed encouraging visits from assistant coaches and teammates.

“I had my brothers with me, my teammates,” Tindal said. “It just made the process a lot smoother. It made me become a lot closer with them.”

After teammates helped him endure tragedy, he is now returning the favor. He has been part of the support system for Badgers receiver Quintez Cephus, whose father was shot outside a grocery store in April. Tindal often offers encouraging words such as, “God gives us the toughest battles to His toughest soldiers.”

“I totally understand that,” Tindal said. “There are still times to this day, I wake up and I’m like, ‘I’m [about] to call my mom.’ Then I realize I can’t call her. It gets kind of tough. [Cephus is] sticking through it. He’s a tough kid. He’s going to be all right.”’

Tindal has also repaid teammates by being their personal tour guide this week. He jokingly said he’s working for the Orange Bowl because he has shown them around, inviting them to his home for Christmas dinner.

“He’s been a leader,” cornerback Nick Nelson said. “At the same time, he can joke around and make everybody laugh. He treats everybody the same. He’s not like a teammate but like an older brother.”

At Boyd Anderson, Tindal was a three-star recruit and a first-team All-County selection by the Sun Sentinel. He had aspirations of playing at Tennessee but has no regrets about his decision to attend Wisconsin. He’s never had a losing season with the Badgers and going for a fourth consecutive victory. He has made 33 starts in 51 game appearances.

“The biggest thing with Derrick has always been consistency,” Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonard said. “Just to see his approach this year, coming back for his senior year, he’s had success. He’s done a lot for the program. He’s a high, high-energy kid … It’s just awesome to see his mindset and his growth the last couple of years.”

Tindal will easily have the biggest cheering section Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. He has requested 45 tickets for friends and family. His four older sisters also plan to wear T-shirts featuring a picture of him and his mother .

“It’s big to me,” Tindal said. “You get to come home, play in front of family, just to end it all where it all started. I made my decision here, and the decision I made is going to end here. It’s going to be fun. I’m going to enjoy it.”

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