Ty Whittier continues winning ways with CSU Rams

September 23, 2009

By Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

 

“Awesome.”

That’s hometown football hero Ty Whittier’s word for what it’s like to be a starter for Colorado State University — and for life in general.

The junior defensive tackle from Wellington said the same about the Rams’ season opening victory over the University of Colorado Buffalos: “It was awesome beating them on their own field.”

The Labor Day weekend 23-17 road win was the first for CSU at Folsom Field since 1986 — a year before Ty was born in Columbia, Mo.

Whittier’s family moved to Fort Collins when he was in the first grade. He went to Bauder Elementary School until the Whittiers’ house near Wellington was finished, after which he completed his primary education at Eyestone Elementary School.

“I have a lot of fond memories of Eyestone,” Whittier said. “It was fun playing football and meeting all my friends. Eyestone was great.”

The 6-foot-5-inch, 264-pounder said he always was a big guy for his age and started out as most fourth-grade recreation league football players do — on both sides of the ball. Whittier continued to see both offensive and defensive action at Wellington Junior High School, where they “ran over everybody” in an undefeated season during his eighth grade year.

“Ty was part of a very special group of kids,” said his former WJHS coach Mark Gabbert, who continues to handle coaching duties for Wellington Middle School. “Their undefeated team has been the school’s only district championship since 1986.”

Gabbert said Whittier was “blessed with a wonderful big body, which helped him a lot,” and a good family, and he was one of several good players on the team at the time.

“He held his goals high, and did the necessary work,” Gabbert said. “That is inspiring for young kids. They might not be the best players now, but if they keep working hard at it...Ty’s a great kid; I’m proud of him.”

Whittier admired Gabbert for being an awesome coach.

Same goes for the gridiron group at Poudre High School, where he played as a freshman and lettered three years.

“All the coaches were great,” said Whittier, who continued to name names: “Yonks” (retired long-time head coach Rich Yonker), Bradley (current head coach Steve), Knight (current assistant John), “Oz” (new principal George Osborne) and Dick Morgan (current assistant). “They helped me in football and as a person. They really made a difference.”

Whittier was part of the 2005 conference champion Impalas. That same year, he was voted team defensive player of the year as a senior team captain, and was designated an all-state performer. He also made all-conference twice.

Morgan said while he didn’t want to sound “clichÈ-ish,” Whittier was a hardworking, down-to-earth, coachable kid who always gave 100 percent and a little more.

“I’m impressed with his work ethics, his technique, his dedication,” said Morgan. “Really, Ty is a good old farm boy who knows the value of hard work. He’s a good kid; a great kid. I’d allow him to date my daughter.”

Morgan said he was happy to see Whittier, a former walk-on who redshirted as a true freshman, get a scholarship at CSU after spring practice as a sophomore.

“At the college level for a lot of scholarship players, it’s no longer a game; it’s a job,” Morgan explained. “To Ty, it’s still a game. He enjoys what he does.”

Whittier said in high school he daydreamed about playing college football, but knew even if he might be good enough he just wasn’t big enough to qualify for a scholarship.

“I wanted to play so I worked hard,” he stated. “I gained 60 to 70 pounds. It sucked. This year I was able slim down to play end.”

According to Whittier, playing NCAA Division I football is, well, awesome.

“It’s everything I thought it would be,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s exciting…like I’m living the dream.”

Whittier said he likes to think he and his fellow Rams are good friends on and off the field.

“We’re a close-knit group,” he said. “In the locker room, we’ve got a high morale. We’re unified.”

That solidarity extends to his family: father Jack, an animal science professor at CSU; mother Robynn, a Poudre School District substitute teacher; and older brother Coy, who lives in San Diego and started Ungana Foundation, a partnership of “ambitious philanthropists” who are supporting rebuilding efforts in Rwanda and elsewhere.

According to www.UnganaFoundation.org, the word “ungana” is Swahili for “coming together.”

Robynn Whittier said both sons were in Africa this summer, but Ty’s stay was limited because playing college football is a “full-time job including summer, winter, spring.”

The Whittiers try to attend every game. She’s excited the Rams are traveling to San Diego Oct. 24 — a definite “don’t miss” considering Coy lives there. Whittier said her goal this year is to try to enjoy it more, but she does worry.

“He played the whole CU game, and I could see him getting tired,” she said. “He said the coaches got on him on the sidelines for making a big mistake, and he went right out and did it again.”

Whittier said her son is a hard worker with a soft heart; a guitarist who likes to play contemporary classical music.

“I tell kids this a lot: it’s not the most talented that are the most successful,” she said. “Ty works hard. He’s really not all that comfortable with the status that goes along with playing football.”

Whittier seemed surprised when asked what he’d like to say to his fans, especially any young Wellington readers.

“Wellington is a great place,” he said, adding that he likes to go home once a week to visit his parents. “I appreciate any support.”

His own heroes include three former CSU defensive greats who went on to play in the NFL: Joey Porter, Sean Moran and Brady Smith.

When Tyler Thorley Whittier (his middle name is his mother’s maiden name) graduates a year from December, he said he has no idea what’s next.

“I may end up in grad school,” said the health and exercise science major, who’s minoring in music. “If I had the chance (to go pro), I’d be stupid not to take it.”

Wouldn’t that be awesome?