Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of a seven-part series on Emporia State football’s position groups.
By Jesse Newell
newell@emporiagazette.com
Joel Griffiths still remembers getting made fun of on the bus.
He was from the small town of Norton. The other two were not.
The Emporia State offensive lineman recalls it so well because it wasn’t that long ago.
See, this wasn’t grade school or even high school.
This was his freshman year of college, traveling with the Emporia State football team to an away game.
He smiles about it now. Turns out Josh Koerkenmeier and Matt Ferris are still just as mean to him three years later.
“I still get crap for being from a small town, that’s for sure,” Griffiths said with a grin. “I think there’s a few too many Kansas City guys playing offensive line.”
No, Griffiths hasn’t been able to escape the two Johnson County bullies during his four years at Emporia State.
The Hornet offensive line might be better off because of it.
ESU returns five players with significant experience to a talented and deep unit.
The line’s greatest strength, though, might be in its familiarity with each other.
“Most of these guys... I know how they’re going to act on the field, off the field. You almost think you know what they’re thinking all the time,” Griffiths said. “That’s a really nice thing to have when you’re an offensive lineman because your block depends on the guy next to you and the guy next to him. When you know what everyone else is doing and thinking, it helps a lot.”
In addition to Griffiths, Koerkenmeier and Ferris, Cecil Wattree and Emporia High graduate Luke Costello return with a combined nine years of ESU line experience.
“Everybody knows what they have to do,” Koerkenmeier said. “Really, not a lot has to be said to motivate these guys.”
ESU offensive line coach Travis Fox has seen enough from his group to believe that it can carry most of the Hornets’ offensive load.
“I tell my guys, if we’re going to win, it’s because we’re doing something right,” Fox said. “I want the weight on our shoulders. I want us to be the mules up here pulling the cart. I want us to be able to set the tone.”
According to Fox, it all starts with Koerkenmeier, who has all but solidified his spot at right tackle with a strong offseason.
The 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2005 and has started 31 consecutive games.
“He’s just kind of an anchor over there,” Fox said. “He does a great job. He’s mentally tuned in everyday, and I can’t remember the last time he went to go block the wrong guy. It’s always been the right guy.”
The other positions are open to competition, though Griffiths and Ferris should have the upper hand in retaining starting roles.
Griffiths (6-3, 282) was a second-team All-MIAA selection last year as a sophomore, while the senior Ferris (6-3, 281) has 16 starts on the line after switching over from defense his freshman season.
At center, Costello (6-0, 256) is recovering from knee surgery after splitting time at the position last year. He is competing with transfer Blake Green (5-11, 254), who was a junior college All-American last year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Chad Weaver (6-0, 282) has showed his versatility, playing three different positions in his battle for a starting job. He joins Ryan Anstaett, Steve Underwood and Wattree as possibilities to play the guard positions.
Ferris, Griffiths, Anstaett and Jake Michalski are the options for Fox at tackle.
A sense of urgency has already set in for Ferris and three other seniors. The time to play well — and to win — is right now.
“We all know it’s our senior year. You go all out,” Ferris said. “This is our last chance around, so we’re striving to be at the top.”
“The new coaches — they want to win, and we want to win,” Griffiths said. “Probably not many of us are going to go to the NFL, so if we want to win in our football careers, it’s probably gotta be this year.”