By: Nolan Alexander
"Do your job."
Kennesaw State football Head Coach Brian Bohannon preaches it relentlessly. So, too, does Alabama's Nick Saban. For Black and Gold intents and purposes, we'll credit Coach Bo with the initial phrase.
Kevin Ficklin is one of Bohannon's prime examples of what can happen when you follow the mantra. The senior entered 2019 without much statistical bravado. It wasn't until his junior season against Presbyterian that he scored his first career touchdown.
"Towards the end of the game it was a third down, so I was really only focused on getting a first down. Before the game, Darnell Holland said 'just don't go out of bounds, fight for the yards.'," recalled Ficklin. "When I caught the ball, I could've got the first down, but I spun off and scored."
He found pay dirt for the second time as a senior but had just nine carries entering the Oct. 26 showdown with North Alabama. With well over 10 players out with the flu and numerous others who missed practice time, Ficklin avoided the viral bug and was set to see a bigger role against the Lions. He was ready for the moment.
"Focused. I wanted to show that I could do it. It's what I'd been waiting on and I just took advantage of the opportunity," said Ficklin.
Boom. He scored on a 17-yard run to give KSU the lead for good late in the first half. Then, he gave KSU a 10-point lead just before intermission with a 30-yard sprint to the end zone. The 5-6, 187-pounder finished with 80 yards and two touchdowns to propel the Owls to a 41-17 victory.
"When you show up to practice and you're engaged in what you're doing, and embracing it, when your opportunity comes you're ready for it," said Bohannon following the game.
This persona didn't just appear out of thin air that October Saturday. It can be traced back to his roots.
"My mom and dad are both hard workers. My father is a construction worker and in high school my coaches instilled hard work into the whole team. It's how I've been brought up.
In rec ball, I wasn't doing so great my seventh-grade year, but I started practicing harder and turned it around the second half of the season," said Ficklin. "I would stay after practice and run sprints just to keep working. Even into high school."
He's taken that approach from his Gwinnett Football League days as a Dacula Falcon to now in his final season as an Owl, along with trying to mentor others.
"Adeolu Adeleke is a great player. In the North Alabama game, he blocked for both my touchdowns," said Ficklin. "It's a matter of time before he breaks out. I know he's a special player.
Ficklin has a desire to guide and return to Dacula to teach social studies and coach football. Who inspires him to coach, and might he model his style after?
"Nick Saban treats every person on the team the same. He's strict but makes a better man of all his players. At KSU, Coach Bo and how he runs this start-up program. The way he's got everyone to buy in over a short period of time."
They do their job well. Just like Kevin Ficklin. Â
