Congratulations to Brock Lampe on an incredible career at Northern Illinois. Lampe closed out his Senior Season Saturday afternoon on Senior Day on a frigid fall afternoon in DeKalb. It was a Brock Lampe-type day for one of the team Captains and starting Wing Back/H Back/Full Back No 49 red wears a C on his chest…and he’s earned it. On a key 4th and 1…it was left around his end….then from left to right, used as a puller and got the trap block to spring a 25-yard run deep in the 2nd half when they were eating clock. Passed block No 4 white ALL DAY. Even had a pancake on a play that netted zero yards, ha! The Huskies logged their 7th win of the year and now await Bowl Designation….again. Brock Lampe has been to a Bowl Game….lead his NCAA Football Team to a Bowl Game…in 3 of the last 4. Multiple times on the broadcast yesterday, the announcers mentioned that this group of Seniors literally led the nation in how many Seniors actually made it 4 and 5 years. Brock Lampe is a recruiting poster example of that type of commitment. Congrats to his family, it had to be a great ride. And I happen to know exactly how cold it can get in DeKalb in that stadium…sitting out there is no joke. Congrats to KTown for producing yet another noteworthy human being.
Brock Lampe rewrote the record books for weightlifting for his position and will go down in team history as one of the strongest examples of how winning in the weight room transfers to the field. He is that guy where people say, “yea, that dude…he goes 100%, all of the time, he makes no mistakes, studies the game, leads by example…we need a bunch of dudes like him”. And maybe that is why a ton of Seniors won their 7th game to close out a fantastic run for a quality program. Marks have been left, and standards have been raised. And as an added extra, Brock played the entire game when the Huskies pulled a historic upset and beat Notre Dame in South Bend. To date, it is the only game the Irish have lost this season. I mean, you get to walk around the rest of your life with that in your pocket, ha! And he will be invited to Sr events and games, and award ceremonies and workouts and combines. He has played his last regular season game but his football career may just be hitting its stride.
This story comes with a selfish reason as well. This tribute to Brock Lampe will result in Kenosha Sports Extra getting its 500,000th read. Not bad for a one-man show and about 6 years, ha! I wanted it to be of some consequence and kinda true to the beginning of why this all happened. And it was high school sports that has always been the focal point…and local sports…and whatever else I want it to be. And this dude is a story of consequence. From a place that has a ton of people of consequence. Heck, 45 minutes after NIU won, I was watching Brock’s high school teammate Keany Parks start at CB for Wyoming as they upset Washington State. Good stories are here. Lux and rings and I used to drink beers at Bullpen with his grandpa, back when his dad was still in High School. Bradford Girls softball wins State…Ruffolo’s spot in state history is secure. Augie racking up historic numbers as a DIII icon. Danny Freund Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback Coach for South Dakota State. They are everywhere. And who better to represent KTown and help Kenosha Sports Extra log our half-millionth hit than Brock Lampe? He’d want it that way…he is a team-first guy and he just happens to always be representing team Kenosha…and I’m pretty sure he knows that and accepts that responsibility. So even in tribute, Brock Lampe is giving as much as he is getting. The NIU football program has been fortunate to have you in their locker room, and they are blessed to have you as an advocate moving forward. Enjoy your Bowling Trip!
Fun Fact…I wrote this Sunday night (I think) and found out Wednesday that Brock has been named a finalist for the Lowman Award given to the nation’s best fullback. It certainly looks like some dudes from some pretty major programs. And a walk-on turned scholarship athlete turned Captain of the team that beat ND and one of 9 men nominated as the best FBs in the nation…I mean, that is worthy of some props. And man, do I love being right about some things and some people, ha! I’m bettin there are a few more chapters to the Brock Lampe Story…it’s been a great read so far