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Helping to Ease Offensive Line's Burden: Kevin Ketchum
11/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 27, 2001
"One day, during two-a-days, Coach Schnellenberger came over to us (the offensive line) while we were hitting the sleds," Kevin Ketchum recalls. "He said, 'You guys have to be like seven mules pulling a stump out of the ground.' We just laughed. He didn't explain it at all."
To a coach born and raised in Kentucky that terse directive summed up both the task at hand and the character needed by his young offensive line. To 19- year-old Kevin Ketchum, 6-5, 270 pounds, born and raised in Miami, it was just Coach being Coach.
On a working farm, the most important element of the farmer's stock is the mule. The mule is the most intelligent, the hardest working and, pound for pound, the strongest. When a farmer needs to discipline his horse, he will often tie the horse to the mule with a three-foot rope, in order to break the horse's spirit. There is no better sign that the mule is set and will not give ground than when his ears are laid back.
Coach Schnellenberger, was simply telling the offensive line the importance of their position. That offensive line now starts transfer senior Ed Mathews, redshirt freshmen Kevin Ketchum, who missed most of 2000 with an injury, William McDonald, and Dave Richards, who was moved to the offensive line in the fall of 2001, and true freshman Chris Munoz, who moved into the starting line-up after Eddie Dunbar was sidelined with a knee injury.
The preseason hype focused on the talent of the skilled positions and the speed of the defense. Where was the offensive line? "We felt the pressure. The team was looking to us," Ketchum says. "The coaches kept telling us that whatever success we as a team achieved would be due to us (OL). If we didn't do it, the team wasn't going to get anywhere. So, it was a little pressure, but I think we handled it pretty well."
Ketchum believes in the coaching staff. While the average fan can see offensive line coach Arnie Romero's excitement and offensive line coach Christ Vagotis' drive for perfection, Ketchum sees them as intense coaches who try to make each individual better.
"We have tough coaches, but they are all tough in their own way," Ketchum says. "Even though every team we play has more experience, we (OL) can overcome that. You just have to try that much harder and put that much more effort in. It's important to make sure every one of your techniques is perfect. If you do, the opponent's defensive experience doesn't make a difference."
Ketchum is catching up after a year off due to a herniated disk in his back, a chronic problem in high school. Coming into 2001 he felt better and didn't worry about injuries.
"I had a lot of catching up to do," he says. "Everyone else had the whole year of practice. Even though I couldn't practice, I needed to put time in on the field. I watched extra film and spent time conditioning and in the weight room. Coming into the fall, I felt that everything was okay. I went through all the rehabilitation, and the doctors and trainers have done everything they could."
Ketchum's work has paid off, allowing him to earn the starting right guard position. It seems everyone is pulling for him. The coaches push him at practice, the trainers and doctors care for his medical needs and he enjoys his classes. For moral support, he only needs to look to the stands. His mother, Linda, has been at every game, including the one that required her to make a 25-hour drive to Des Moines, Iowa. You can count the number of practices she has missed on your fingers, and that includes the hot two-a-days.
"No one ribs me about my mother being at practice," Ketchum says. "Even if they did, they can say whatever they want. She supports me through everything. She has always been there. She as been at everything she can-games, both football and baseball, and practices. I feel very supported."
Ketchum's oldest brother (by 12 years) has season tickets, and he always brings his family to the games. His other two brothers attend as many games as they can, and his sister is always there for him, even at the Drake game in Iowa.Ketchum's size and strength could be an advantage on the defensive line, but he prefers the offensive line, despite the fact that the position draws fewer accolades.
"The offensive line has a lot more assignments, has to play more under control and uses more technique," Ketchum says. "I think it's harder to play offense than defense. It's a position that is not noticed. We just need to go out and do our job. It's a great feeling to hit your block, look up the field and see a running back 20 yards in front of you and know that you made the hole."
That same supportive, workman's attention to detail will help Ketchum realize his career goals. Right now he is trying to decide between going into law, the field that attracted one of his brothers and his sister, or going into business. For now, he enjoys playing football for FAU.
"You can't beat playing at Pro Player,"he says. "It is a dream come true, especially having everyone in the stands. It was one of the factors that made me choose FAU. Everything has been first class."
As for that stump, it's almost out of the ground. Following the Jacksonville University game, the offensive coordinator proclaimed that his pick for game MVP would be the offensive line. The "mules" created holes that allowed the running game to come alive. Doug Parker gained 110 yards, becoming the first FAU player to record more than 100 yards in rushing in a single game. The duo of Jared Allen and Garrett Jahn completed 10 of 21 passes attempted for 133 yards. As a team, FAU posted 35 points for its best offensive scoring output.
Yes, the OL understands the assignments and the pressure, but is ready for the challenge.
Players Mentioned
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