2008 Woodie Awards
From quarterback to placeholder: one player's journey
Maggie May Graham
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Sports
A roar of laughter thundered through the Heritage Commons hallway, as the large wood apartment door swung open framing a 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound Miami University varsity football player. Kyle Decker, the star placeholder and 21-year-old Miami junior, flashed a giant toothy grin and turned back into his apartment.
It was in 2003 that Miami Head Coach Shane Montgomery recruited Decker to come play in Oxford.
"I knew some people from Granville (Ohio), where Kyle's from, who wanted me to take a look at him (and) I met him," Montgomery said.
Decker was not offered a scholarship, but instead considered as a preferred walk on and made the team as a backup quarterback.
"Kyle was a red-shirt freshman in the quarterback position, but after his freshman year we needed a new holder," Montgomery said. "Kyle saw it as an opportunity to play, and now he's in his third year as a starter."
As placeholder, Decker has managed to maintain a nearly perfect record at his position.
"I've never been charged with a bad snap I don't think," he said.
As Miami's 2006-07 Most Improved Player of the Year, he holds a special position on the field and a special place in the hearts of those who know him best.
"Kyle is a great person, a great kid and has also been a great teammate," Montgomery said. "He's not in a spotlight position but other players definitely look up to him."
Matt McKeown, his roommate and offensive lineman, agreed with Montgomery.
"Decker is always smiling, he's always happy and he's always there to cheer you up," McKeown said. "He's just that one guy that always like that."
However, McKeown and third roommate, ice hockey captain Ryan Jones, are always giving Decker a hard time.
"We always gang up on Decker because he's not cool," McKeown said. "I'll never forget what happened to Decker this summer. We were swimming at Hueston Woods and Decker tried to swim across the water from one side to the other. Well he started swimming and at about the half way mark Decker had to call the boat over to pick him up because he thought he was going to drown."
It was in 2003 that Miami Head Coach Shane Montgomery recruited Decker to come play in Oxford.
"I knew some people from Granville (Ohio), where Kyle's from, who wanted me to take a look at him (and) I met him," Montgomery said.
Decker was not offered a scholarship, but instead considered as a preferred walk on and made the team as a backup quarterback.
"Kyle was a red-shirt freshman in the quarterback position, but after his freshman year we needed a new holder," Montgomery said. "Kyle saw it as an opportunity to play, and now he's in his third year as a starter."
As placeholder, Decker has managed to maintain a nearly perfect record at his position.
"I've never been charged with a bad snap I don't think," he said.
As Miami's 2006-07 Most Improved Player of the Year, he holds a special position on the field and a special place in the hearts of those who know him best.
"Kyle is a great person, a great kid and has also been a great teammate," Montgomery said. "He's not in a spotlight position but other players definitely look up to him."
Matt McKeown, his roommate and offensive lineman, agreed with Montgomery.
"Decker is always smiling, he's always happy and he's always there to cheer you up," McKeown said. "He's just that one guy that always like that."
However, McKeown and third roommate, ice hockey captain Ryan Jones, are always giving Decker a hard time.
"We always gang up on Decker because he's not cool," McKeown said. "I'll never forget what happened to Decker this summer. We were swimming at Hueston Woods and Decker tried to swim across the water from one side to the other. Well he started swimming and at about the half way mark Decker had to call the boat over to pick him up because he thought he was going to drown."
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