.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
At Home on the Outside - Senior Kyle McKenzie
9/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Born a leader, McKenzie has exemplified what Gopher Football is all about, improving every year, while increasing his role on the field and off. Last year, McKenzie led the Golden Gophers with 79 tackles, a huge increase from the previous season. In 2003, McKenzie tallied 61 stops, good for fifth on the team. Every year, McKenzie’s play has improved along with his leadership role with this team. Leadership is one of a team’s most important pieces in a puzzle and McKenzie feels he could be better. “Personally, I need to work on my leadership skills. Last season, I wasn’t as vocal as I could have been. I really just need to go out and lead by example, making plays. I’ve definitely come a long way since I first stepped on this field and it’s my last hurrah so I better make my presence felt,” McKenzie said.
However, it takes more than one person to improve to make a team better and McKenzie thinks that this team has come a long way from last year despite the ups and downs and personnel changes of last year.
“The biggest difference from this year’s team to last year’s team is that there is more leadership both on and off the field. Everyone’s attitudes are different, especially after the Music City Bowl last year, because it gave us a taste of what we should have been in, that being in California or Florida (for a New Year’s Bowl Game),” McKenzie said.
The major turning point for the defense came last year after a 51-17 loss at Michigan State. After that game, the entire defensive unit met and addressed a lot of the issues surrounding that loss. Everyone in attendance came away from that meeting with a new feeling of confidence, which came to its pinnacle during the dominant defensive display against Alabama.
According to McKenzie, that defensive performance is only going to get better this year. “This team is going to have success, but we need to learn how to handle that success which is something we didn’t do very well last year,” McKenzie said. “We’ve really have to prevent anything from getting in our way to get over that hump so we can accomplish our goals that we have as a team.”
Those goals can be simply put by one word: Win. It’s not only a team goal, but a personal goal that McKenzie takes on as well. “I really want the team to win, that comes first and foremost. I want the team to do well my last year here; personal stats take the backseat, because I’d rather have this team win more than anything,” McKenzie said.
In the end, whether the Gophers win or lose this season, the University will lose an outstanding athlete and student when McKenzie completes his final year of eligibility. He hopes to go on and continue to play football on a professional level after this season, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Reggie, and brother, Keith. He has used his family as inspiration in his football career.
Last year, after consecutive losses to Michigan and Michigan State, McKenzie turned to his older brother, Keith, a nine-year NFL lineman that played with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, who provided guidance. His older brothers' words helped Kyle the following week in a 45-0 shutout against Illinois. He recorded 12 tackles and a career-best three-and-a-half sacks and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. “Keith challenged me to step my game up and play harder,” Kyle remarked. “I took that to heart. I look up to him and respect him. When somebody you love tells you that you weren’t playing hard, that’s all the motivation you need.”
Coach Mason took note of McKenzie’s transformation as well. “The thing that really is special for me was watching how Kyle handled himself after playing poorly. He was convinced in his own mind that he would play better. We didn’t have to have a conversation.”
Although very self-motivated on the field, he has been equally set on his goals in the classroom. He has been determined to have something to fall back on other than football and what he is most proud of is the degree that he earned while being a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota. “Having my degree can only further my ability to be successful in life.”
Story by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant In one of their toughest tests of the 2004 season, the Gophers gave the fans a glimpse into what should be great things from this year’s team, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Music City Bowl, 20-16. On display for the first time was a defensive unit being run by new defensive coordinator David Lockwood. Of those in the lineup during the game, none may be more important to this team than fifth-year senior linebacker and Detroit, Mich., native, Kyle McKenzie.
Born a leader, McKenzie has exemplified what Gopher Football is all about, improving every year, while increasing his role on the field and off. Last year, McKenzie led the Golden Gophers with 79 tackles, a huge increase from the previous season. In 2003, McKenzie tallied 61 stops, good for fifth on the team. Every year, McKenzie’s play has improved along with his leadership role with this team. Leadership is one of a team’s most important pieces in a puzzle and McKenzie feels he could be better. “Personally, I need to work on my leadership skills. Last season, I wasn’t as vocal as I could have been. I really just need to go out and lead by example, making plays. I’ve definitely come a long way since I first stepped on this field and it’s my last hurrah so I better make my presence felt,” McKenzie said.
However, it takes more than one person to improve to make a team better and McKenzie thinks that this team has come a long way from last year despite the ups and downs and personnel changes of last year.
“The biggest difference from this year’s team to last year’s team is that there is more leadership both on and off the field. Everyone’s attitudes are different, especially after the Music City Bowl last year, because it gave us a taste of what we should have been in, that being in California or Florida (for a New Year’s Bowl Game),” McKenzie said.
The major turning point for the defense came last year after a 51-17 loss at Michigan State. After that game, the entire defensive unit met and addressed a lot of the issues surrounding that loss. Everyone in attendance came away from that meeting with a new feeling of confidence, which came to its pinnacle during the dominant defensive display against Alabama.
According to McKenzie, that defensive performance is only going to get better this year. “This team is going to have success, but we need to learn how to handle that success which is something we didn’t do very well last year,” McKenzie said. “We’ve really have to prevent anything from getting in our way to get over that hump so we can accomplish our goals that we have as a team.”
Those goals can be simply put by one word: Win. It’s not only a team goal, but a personal goal that McKenzie takes on as well. “I really want the team to win, that comes first and foremost. I want the team to do well my last year here; personal stats take the backseat, because I’d rather have this team win more than anything,” McKenzie said.
In the end, whether the Gophers win or lose this season, the University will lose an outstanding athlete and student when McKenzie completes his final year of eligibility. He hopes to go on and continue to play football on a professional level after this season, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Reggie, and brother, Keith. He has used his family as inspiration in his football career.
Last year, after consecutive losses to Michigan and Michigan State, McKenzie turned to his older brother, Keith, a nine-year NFL lineman that played with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, who provided guidance. His older brothers' words helped Kyle the following week in a 45-0 shutout against Illinois. He recorded 12 tackles and a career-best three-and-a-half sacks and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. “Keith challenged me to step my game up and play harder,” Kyle remarked. “I took that to heart. I look up to him and respect him. When somebody you love tells you that you weren’t playing hard, that’s all the motivation you need.”
Coach Mason took note of McKenzie’s transformation as well. “The thing that really is special for me was watching how Kyle handled himself after playing poorly. He was convinced in his own mind that he would play better. We didn’t have to have a conversation.”
Although very self-motivated on the field, he has been equally set on his goals in the classroom. He has been determined to have something to fall back on other than football and what he is most proud of is the degree that he earned while being a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota. “Having my degree can only further my ability to be successful in life.”
Story by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant
