Unconditional love and support. Guidance. A heck of a lot of patience.
It's the job description for a position that's rarely open and one that you can't interview for.
A position called "father."
So it's understandable, come the conclusion of your son's college career, when he's plotting his future path and suddenly faces an obstacle, that someone in that position would make a surprise visit in support of his son. Especially when that path includes professional cage fighting.
That was the scene yesterday, when former Penn State wrestling star Phil Davis was supposed to be holding a press conference ahead of his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut. Instead, Davis answered questions about his disappointment in the recent cancellation of his Sept. 6 bout.
Meanwhile, only a few feet away, his father, Joe Davis listened. Just like he did earlier this summer when his son first laid out his path to the professional MMA ranks.
"Are you SURE you want to do this?"
"Yes, Dad. I sign the contract tomorrow."
"OK."
Like that, Joe accepted his son's decision.
Like that, Phil, the four-time All-American, had his father's blessing. This summer he signed with LionHeart Management and Promotions. He was slated to make his professional debut next Saturday ¾ a debut that will now have to wait.
"It was his choice, and he's always made good choices," the elder Davis said. "I may not have always agreed with it, but it's what he wants to do. He's 24. I expect good decisions, and he hasn't made any bad ones yet."
In the months since that conversation, the younger Davis has started training full-time out of LionHeart's downtown State College gym. He's started fighting in the Mixed Martial Arts amateur scene. He's built a 3-0 amateur record ¾ including a 42-second knockout in his debut ¾ while making the transition from collegiate wrestling to MMA.
In the eyes of LionHeart founder Chad Dubin, the progress Phil's shown since signing is remarkable.
"It totally blows my mind away," he said. "It's like having a nephew, and you visit the family and see the kid when he's like 4 years old and then go back in six months, and it looks like the kid shot up like a weed. It's been unbelievable.
"I saw him spar two months ago against somebody in the room here, I saw him again last Friday night, and I'm just blown away at how much better he's gotten. He just picks things up so quickly."
So quickly, that despite only participating in three amateur bouts, he was going to turn pro. A press conference was scheduled for Wednesday. As Dubin put it this summer, Phil's "real-life career" was about to begin.
And then, on the verge of making his professional debut, his opponent canceled, supposedly because of a work commitment.
"I'm not sure it's a complete failure or disappointment," Phil said of the build-up to nothing. "I'm aware of the fact that some guys are ready to go pro, but they're not ready to fight me. That's cool. It just means I have more time to train for the next guy. Nothing too serious. I was anxious to fight next weekend, but you know, no love lost."
His next attempt at the professional ranks is in the works, but no date has been decided upon.
As for any doubts about turning pro so quickly, Dubin referenced the four years of wrestling for Penn State as preparation enough.
To those who still doubt the decision, Phil had an answer, too.
"I would say, 'Do you suggest another three amateur bouts? A total of maybe five minutes?' I'm only getting better. By staying amateur, I don't want to say wasting my time, but the coach usually knows when you need to move up from J.V.
"When I ... was in my first fight when I knocked the guy out in 34 seconds, or 41 seconds, or whatever it was. Now, there's not much I can take from that, you know? You just constantly have to challenge yourself, and I think some of the guys in the professional ranks could stand and beat me up a little bit."
And Wednesday when his son was supposed to address the media concerning his professional debut ¾ despite sitting a few feet away as his son spoke about wanting to face fighters who could "beat [him] up a little bit" ¾ the now not-so-concerned father was there, sitting comfortably on a brown leather couch.
"What I was concerned with was, 'How would he do in submissions?' His last match, it was a submission," Joe said. "So I think he's got a handle on that, and with his wrestling skills ¾ and his striking skills are good ¾ I think he's ready."
