The linebacker is less than 6-feet tall. Was told he couldn’t play in the MIAA. Was told he was just too short.
To his left stood a linebacker at 6-foot-2. On his right was another one that was 6-3.
In the middle, he earned his spot. He impressed defensive coordinator Scott Bostwick. He didn’t listen to those who said he was too small.
And, later, Ken Gordon became an All-MIAA linebacker for Northwest Missouri State in 1996.
The Emporia State defensive coordinator says he’s never forgotten the opportunity Bostwick gave him.
And he’s vowed never to overlook a player based solely on how they looked.
“He gave me a chance,” Gordon said, “so I always give that same chance.”
In just his first year at ESU, Gordon has followed through with his promise. He’s given a player that chance.
Now, he sees a little bit of himself in the Hornets linebacking corps.
It’s the place where a redshirt freshman, one standing 5-foot-8, one with the nickname “Little Rudy,” has proved once again everything that Gordon believes.
•••
Little Rudy laughs after being asked the question, his intent eyes able to relax for a few seconds.
The shaggy-haired David Diener is listed at 5-foot-8 in the program. That might even be stretching it.
“It might be a little generous 5-8,” Diener says with a smile, “but I’m all of 5-7.”
The talk about his height doesn’t bother him. By this point, it can’t.
He always was the smallest one playing football growing up. It never stopped him from being successful.
“No matter what anybody said,” Diener said, “I was going to make sure that I was on the field.”
Diener actually had little choice: He was literally born to be a football player.
His father, Marvin Diener, was a successful football coach at Salina Central. David followed his father on the sidelines at games and played football with him in the backyard. At age 10, David would spend hours with his dad in the coach’s office, breaking down film.
It didn’t matter if David was going to grow to be 5-foot-1 or 7-foot-1 — he was going to play football.
“I knew that this is what I was going to be doing,” David said. “There was no question. No matter how big I was, I was going to be on the field.”
He also was groomed from a young age to play linebacker.
The coach always had him play the position, realizing that David was going to be too small to play elsewhere.
“He’d talked me into being a linebacker,” David said, “before I even put pads on.”
Though David just had average speed and below-average size in youth leagues, Marvin watched as his son always seemed to be around the football.
David’s height never grew into the position. Turned out it didn’t have to.
In his sophomore year at Salina Central, he came into the year with a chance to earn a starting spot at linebacker.
“He probably didn’t belong on the field then, either,” said Marvin Diener, who now coaches at Gardner-Edgerton. “But there was only one person who believed he should have been on the field, and that was Dave.”
Though small, David proved he belonged.
He went on to play linebacker three years at Salina Central, becoming the school’s all-time tackles leader with 243. He was first-team All-State his senior year, recording 97 tackles (31 for loss), five sacks and two fumble recoveries.
“He can make plays,” Marvin Diener said, “that he probably shouldn’t be able to make.”
•••
David Diener admitted it was difficult for awhile to accept his fate.
Despite his gaudy numbers, his height was going to keep him from going Division I.
Meanwhile, another undersized player from his high school — 5-foot-10 running back Jake Sharp — was named Kansas player of the year and later signed on with the University of Kansas.
Diener’s options included Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Washburn and Butler County Community College. Recruited by former coach Dave Wiemers, Diener chose ESU, saying it felt right.
He also had some good memories tied to Welch Stadium.
Diener helped Salina Central to a State championship — his father’s sixth at the school — defeating Blue Valley and current ESU teammate Zach Rampy in the 2005 5A title matchup.
The game was played at Welch Stadium.
“It’s really funny how things like that work out,” Diener said. “Last week was my first game back.
“I’ve got a good memory here, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
It wasn’t easy at the beginning.
In college, Diener had to prove himself all over again.
“It’s kind of tough as his dad, and also having been his coach, to see him have to fight through those same battles the second time through,” Marvin Diener said, “but I’m really proud of how he’s handled that.”
After redshirting last year, David has made an immediate impact this season.
As part of the linebacker rotation, he is third on the team with 18 tackles. He also added an interception in Week Two against Central Oklahoma.
“He’s just a guy that makes plays,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “He knows where he’s supposed to be, and he’s there at the right time.”
David’s also taken on the duty of long and short snapper for the Hornets. Saying originally it was his “insurance policy” for making the bus on road trips, David has snapped for all of ESU’s punts and field goals — including nine punts against Central Oklahoma.
Gordon said David had provided a coach-like presence with the linebackers and also had given leadership.
The coach saw some of that on Saturday in the locker room. When some of ESU’s defensive players lowered their heads after the first half, David was yelling at them to get fired back up and telling them the game wasn’t over.
“It was the first time I’ve seen him like that,” Gordon said.
David isn’t used to losing. From junior high through this season with ESU, his teams have only lost a combined two games.
The Hornets defense responded to his fire on Saturday, allowing no points and just 99 yards in the second half as ESU went on to win, 35-28.
Gordon said David had exceeded all the coaching staff’s expectations.
“Big time, and then some,” Gordon said. “He’s getting better and better everyday.”
•••
The nickname started last year. David Diener hasn’t been able to shake it since.
Not that he really wants to.
“If guys want to call me Rudy, that’s no big deal to me,” Diener said. “Hey, I’m a short guy.”
Diener hasn’t been insulted. He hasn’t even been upset.
If teammates want to compare him to Notre Dame’s Rudy Ruettiger — the one who overcame his size and all odds to accomplish his dreams in the movie and in real life — then that’s just fine with him.
“I’ve always taken it with a badge of honor,” Diener said, “saying, ‘I might be small, but I’ll still be able to come up and play.’”
Gordon knows how it feels. He himself was the same way.
Now, he’s happy to give that chance to someone else who has worked hard to play bigger than his size.
“I’m not one to judge,” Gordon said. “It’s all about heart.”