All in the Name
Seville Ko’s adoptive parents helped him find himself — and also the game he loves
By Jesse Newell
Friday, October 27, 2006
He started as Seville Ko-Adams; his father in prison, his mother unable to support a family financially.
Seville had never played football, or any organized sports for that matter. Living with his grandmother in grade school, he and his sister, Maryjun, had faced a tougher life without true parents.
“I was always used to it, so it wasn’t that big of a deal,” Seville said. “I didn’t really know what I was missing.”
Now, he does.
When Seville looks to the sideline, he sees love wrapped in matching No. 20 Emporia State jerseys.
His adoptive parents, Ramil and Lori Ko, are the reason he’s here.
“If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here today playing college sports at Emporia State,” Ko said. “They’ve been there through everything.”
Seville doesn’t complain about his past. He doesn’t hold grudges against his biological parents, either. He doesn’t feel like he should.
After all, Seville Ko-Adams is now Seville Ko. The “Adams” part he’s left behind.
The “Ko” part is who he is today.
“I really look at it as everyone has a story,” Ko said. “It’s just made me stronger through everything.”
- - -
Ko still remembers his grade school trips to his aunt and uncle’s house — the weekend visits that allowed him to escape.
“That was kind of my outlet,” Ko said. “I didn’t have to do any chores or anything like that. They were just always there for me.”
During his fifth-grade year, Ramil and Lori Ko decided to take an even greater part in their nephew’s life.
Because living with his grandmother was not the best environment, Ko began to secretly pack his things together. His sister did the same.
And, on the last day of fifth grade, Ko and his sister officially moved out, becoming members of Ramil and Lori’s household in Belton, Mo.
“I think back now, it was kind of a big deal, packing and everything undercover,” Ko said. “I kind of just went along with everything.”
It turned out to be one of the best moves he could have made.
Seville was finally able to experience a social life, and also organized athletics.
Though his first love was basketball, he started to play football in the sixth grade after watching it with Ramil on television.
“I wasn’t a huge football fan, to tell you the truth,” Ko said.
He also didn’t start out as the best player.
During his sixth-grade year, he shuffled through numerous positions. Middle linebacker. Wide receiver. None seemed to be a good fit.
“I was real fast,” Ko said, “but I couldn’t catch anything.”
Finally, he switched over to running back his seventh-grade season, where he seemed to find his niche.
Though he had little experience with football, he quickly began to make his mark at the position.
He made varsity as a freshman, then came in as a sophomore to replace an injured senior.
Ko ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown in that game.
“I kind of realized, ‘Hey, maybe I can do something with this,’” Ko said.
It was only the beginning. His 2,404 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns his senior year put him in the top 20 all-time in the Missouri High School record books, ahead of NFL running back Ladell Betts and also Pittsburg State’s Germaine Race.
“I was just glad to go out there,” Ko said, “and make a name for myself.”
In the process, he decided to go ahead and take on a new name for himself.
Once he turned 18 his senior year of high school, he officially changed his name from Seville Ko-Adams to Seville Ko, dropping his biological father’s part of his last name.
“I felt like my Dad hadn’t given too many contributions to my life and how I’ve turned out today,” Ko said. “It really wasn’t that hard of a decision.”
- - -
Ko considered Southwest Missouri State and Missouri Western before deciding on ESU, a school he had not even heard of until his senior year of high school. Hornet coach Dave Wiemers was the first to visit him in-house and also the first to make a scholarship offer.
“We told him he was going to get to come in here and play at a young age, and we don’t get to do that very often,” Wiemers said. “We weren’t lying.”
In just his second season, Ko is on pace to make his mark at a school traditionally known for its strong running backs.
After 17 games, he has 1,120 rushing yards, ranking fourth among ESU sophomores all-time with three games remaining this year.
“I think when he’s done here, he’ll be high on the list,” Wiemers said. “He certainly has deserved the right to play.”
After struggling to find himself in previous weeks, Ko has posted consecutive 100-yard outings, rushing for 130 yards against Truman and 112 last week against Missouri Western.
“I went through some rough times earlier this season, but everyone in my corner stuck with me,” Ko said. “Coaches had confidence in me to give me the ball again. I just want to go out there and prove them right.”
If and when he does perform, he will do so in front of — and because of — a pair of awfully proud parents, ones who gave Ko the opportunity he has today.
“They definitely enjoy coming to all the games,” Ko said. “They’re my No. 1 supporters through the good times and bad times.”
Seville Ko might not have taken the conventional route in football or in life. But because of his adoptive parents, he now has found his game.
And also a name.
“Definitely I’d say that name defines me,” Ko said. “It’s helped shape who I am today.”