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Q.
Andy, how has the season gone up to this point?
A.
Actually, we started off pretty good in our first game. We racked up
hundreds of yards in total offense and walloped our opponents by
almost 80 points! So, it started off really well, and it looked like
we were going to have a good season.
I
still think that there’s a chance to have a really good season.
Especially since we have really come together the last three games.
The offense has picked it up; we’ve cut down on our dead-ball
penalties and on our turnovers. We have struggled a little in the
interception department. We’re still getting used to reads and
stuff like that.
From
our scrimmages this summer, I think we all thought that we had a
good chance to have a spectacular season like we did last year. I
think after that first game, we went up to Northern Illinois and
kind of didn’t do as well as we wanted to, against a team that we
thought we could have done better against. I’m not sure if that
just put a damper on some of our spirits — it kind of cut into
some of our confidence maybe — and we struggled through the next
few games. We had a chance to upset a nationally ranked team in
Youngstown State, and we lost by two points there — again, because
of offensive turnovers and dead-ball penalties. Part of that is
getting used to the new coaches and their play calling and the whole
game chemistry.
I
think it’s really starting to come together now over the last
three games. I definitely feel like we could win out and finish at
7-4.
Q.
Would that be enough to land you in the playoffs?
A.
There’s been speculation on that. There were some hopes that we
could move on…if Western Illinois wins out…or if Youngstown
State beats Western. I’m not even sure what combination we need to
have happen. Then we still need to get the right votes in order to
get in. I haven’t really paid a whole lot of attention to it. I’ve
been more worried about winning the next game!
Q.
What position are you playing and how has your individual season
gone?
A.
This has been my best season since I’ve been here. I think my
techniques have really improved. The last two games I‘ve struggled
some, and I’m not sure why. For one reason or another, I haven’t
done as well as I did at the beginning of the season. I started out
doing really well, and I’m determined to get back to that kind of
focus and back to where I was.
The
great thing is playing with those other guys in the offensive line
— guys like Dan Hammel, who is an All-American; a center like
Teddy calling the formations out and getting everybody organized;
Mike Robey over at right guard; and Aaron Peterson at right tackle.
All four of those guys are great friends to have up front with me,
helping me out and protecting for our quarterback.
[to
top of second column in this section]
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At
the left tackle slot I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements
going into this season. Our pass coach, coach Etheridge, has really
pushed hard for me to do my best, work hard every day in practice.
He has helped me learn from day one. Our new coach, coach Vice, has
worked us a lot on our footwork and going out and striking hard. Hat
on hat, getting the hat on the right side — basically just going
back to the basics. Working on our steps and making sure that we’re
getting off in the right direction. Making sure that as lineman that
we get our first step in the ground and your hat on the right side
of the ball.
Q.
That seems to be paying off, as you’re averaging 475 yards a game,
right?
A.
Yes, and the offensive line is a big part of that. Also, we had only
allowed three or four sacks going into the game before last. We’ve
had a few since then, but we are strong up front. We could still
finish off the season having fewer sacks than games!
Q.
What’s the difference between high school and college ball?
A.
The biggest difference is speed and size. Lincoln seems to be the
only school in the area that doesn’t have more physical players.
It always surprised me that we didn’t have bigger people and
faster people.
The
basketball program is really big in Lincoln, and it is really good.
I know in talking to some of the parents that I’m friends with,
they really like their kids to be involved with the basketball
program. They will say things like, football might harm my son’s
chances for basketball.
I
haven’t gone through that with my dad, because I played both
sports. My sophomore year I decided to go straight with football. I
wanted to optimize my chances there.
The
coaching is also more personalized. You’ve got more individual
coaches with a lot more experience. I had a pretty good coaching
staff my junior and senior years with coach Renner and his people.
In college you’ve got people that have been coaching for years,
coaches from major universities and coaches with lots of experience.
They really know what they’re doing, and they really care about
their players and want them to do well. That’s one of the biggest
differences that I’ve experienced.
Click here to read more about Andy King
http://www.redbirds.org/FB/King.html
(To be continued)
[Jeff
Mayfield]
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