Mike Eckler

[~WabashRoll~]

What limb do I have to amputate to get this guy?

Seriously.  I really want him here.

[~WabashRoll~]

Mike Eckler.  An inspiration.

http://www.ksufans.com/forums/index.php?topic=3477.0

I am a Kansas State fan because I was watching when Mike 'Crash' Eckler explained to me when he was my student teacher that he wasn't number 29 because it was the same channel as MTV and that his favorite movie was Caddyshack and that he watched it before every game.  That he had a pet pirhana, but it died and that he was dedicating the season to its memory and that he painted his face so that our opponents couldn't see him on the field and that he painted a rainbow in his shaved head because he loved Kansas State more than anything else on Earth and I cheered for him when he took out an entire wedge on a kickoff by himself because he didn't care if he broke his neck as long as it helped the Cats and made Bill Snyder and his parents and all the kids at Amanda Arnold Elementary and his dead pirahna and all the people in purple in the stands and at home for Christmas happy.

 

[michigancat]

how much are your limbs worth?  (dollars)

[Norm93]

He does have Snyder on speed dial, but will he leave Pelini?   

Published Sunday    January 20, 2008
Ekeler energy enormous
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Mike Ekeler called Bill Snyder several times, because that's what a former player does when he has that kind of coaching legend at his disposal.

Ekeler was about to shut down a private business that was doing quite well but was not quite fulfilling. He had the itch to coach, something Snyder knew a little something about.

"I didn't discourage him," Snyder said. "I just wanted him to be absolutely certain.

"Was he just testing the water at the time? In hindsight, I didn't really think so. I think he wanted input, very obviously, but he was dead serious about what he wanted to do — and maybe only wanted a little reassurance."

It was a fork in the road for Ekeler. The first of several, really. All of which, with the right turn or decision, have led him to Nebraska and a full-time coaching job on Bo Pelini's staff.

Ekeler realizes that all of the times he could have gone right instead of left. Left instead of right. Walked out a door instead of staying put.

"Maybe it sounds corny, but I really believe this life is all mapped out for you anyway," Ekeler said. "You try to be the best person you can be, keep your eyes open and things happen for a reason.

"I'll tell you what, I'm not the sharpest guy in the world, but I'm also not the dumbest. I realize I'm pretty darn lucky to have an opportunity like this."

What if Ekeler had stayed in sales? Left Oklahoma instead of having Pelini convince him to stay for another season? Stayed at Minnesota State-Mankato as defensive coordinator rather than following Pelini to Louisiana State? Left LSU instead of clutching thankless, low-paying positions just because something told him to?

The common denominator in just about every decision was Pelini, who almost developed a cult-like hold over him.

"Who I am as a coach is totally Bo Pelini," Ekeler said. "I respect everything about the man, as a person and as a coach. Everything I've learned is from Bo."

That's strong stuff considering Ekeler played for Snyder at Kansas State. And coached with the likes of Bob Stoops, Jim Leavitt, Mike Stoops.

"This guy's different," Ekeler said. "The guy . . . he's got more of 'it' than anybody I've ever been around."

There's an "it" with Ekeler, too. The guy used to ram his helmet into advertising signs — with his head still in it — before kickoffs at K-State.

He's full of energy. Full of ideas. Not one to sit still.

That last quality almost separated him from Pelini before the two ever got a chance to be together.

Ekeler was about to leave Oklahoma after the 2003 season, his first as a Sooners graduate assistant. His destination was likely going to be Texas high school football. That was all but decided when he drove to the airport to pick up Pelini, who had just been passed over for the Nebraska head coaching job and then hired by OU coach Bob Stoops to be his co-defensive coordinator.

Pelini told Ekeler to stick it out through spring practice and re-evaluate. In those next few months, Ekeler immediately realized that Pelini stood for everything that pulled him toward coaching, from how to treat players to how to coach them to how to make an impact on their lives.

"When I really knew I made the right decision is when I met Bo," Ekeler said.

Snyder wasn't surprised to see Ekeler hitch his wagon to Pelini. Snyder had seen Pelini's passion up close after a 2003 game when Pelini, then the NU defensive coordinator, got in his face after he thought that Kansas State stuck it to the Huskers a little too much in a late-season game.

"Just a guess on my part, but I would suggest they're very, very much alike," Snyder said. "Both of them are highly competitive, and both of them have an immense passion for the game, and a passion for the people who play the game as well."

Ekeler said he and Pelini share a lot of values. Most obvious is their relentless approach.

"That's what you're going to see out of our linebackers next year," Ekeler said. "We'll tell these guys, 'If you blink, it's a loaf. If you take a deep breath, that's a loaf. If you think about breaking stride, that's a loaf.' That's got to be our personality."

Pelini recommended Ekeler to former Minnesota State-Mankato coach Jeff Jamrog for the Mavericks' defensive coordinator position in 2005. Ekeler took it, only to leave after just two months on the job because Pelini was going to Louisiana State and he wanted to follow.

At LSU, Ekeler worked two years as a GA and then hung around for a third as an intern, officially listed as a strength and conditioning assistant. His patience was rewarded when Pelini was named NU's head coach on Dec. 2.

"He had some opportunities to leave LSU, but in this deal, sometimes the best opportunities short-term aren't the best opportunities long-term," Pelini said. "Some of the best career decisions are the jobs you don't take."

Ekeler said Pelini loaded him with responsibilities at LSU. Ekeler felt like he was growing on a daily basis. Why leave?

"My whole thought process was that when I felt like I wasn't learning, and I wasn't developing, then I'd move on to something else," Ekeler said. "As much as I could get around that guy . . . if I know one-thousandth of what he knows, I'll be a pretty good coach."

Even though he's still only 36, and actually didn't try the college ranks until 2004, Ekeler has paid his dues. His first full-time coaching job is the gravy to follow the grunt work.

"As far as GAs, the good ones go above and beyond, and that was Mike from the first day here," said Brent Venables, co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma. "Every time you turned around, he was doing something positive in our program, and Coach Stoops loved that."

Ekeler had found what he wanted to do. It's even clearer to him now.

"Life's too short, so if you're not doing what you want to be doing, you're cheating yourself," Venables said. "Until you're away from the game, or the game's taken away from you, you don't always have great appreciation for it."

Ekeler first gave it a go at the high school level before his wife, Barbie, asked what he was waiting for. Maybe it didn't make sense financially, but Barbie Ekeler understood. Mike called her support "ridiculous."

"He kind of got into the game fairly late, and that's always a tough thing," Pelini said. "You're competing with guys who have been in it a little bit longer and have more contacts. But he stuck through it and made the sacrifices."

Remember those forks in the road? For conversation purposes, what if Steve Pederson had hired Pelini at Nebraska after that 2003 season, instead of passing and going with Bill Callahan?

Pelini wouldn't have gone to OU. Paths would have changed for Ekeler. Perhaps the Blair native wouldn't be back in his home state.

"I've always joked around with friends back in Nebraska about that article in Sports Illustrated where it voted Steve Pederson the biggest enemy in the state," Ekeler said. "I was laughing, because he's always been a hero of mine. Not hiring Bo was the best thing that ever happened to me."

[ECN]

Mike Eckler.  An inspiration.

http://www.ksufans.com/forums/index.php?topic=3477.0

I am a Kansas State fan because I was watching when Mike 'Crash' Eckler explained to me when he was my student teacher that he wasn't number 29 because it was the same channel as MTV and that his favorite movie was Caddyshack and that he watched it before every game.  That he had a pet pirhana, but it died and that he was dedicating the season to its memory and that he painted his face so that our opponents couldn't see him on the field and that he painted a rainbow in his shaved head because he loved Kansas State more than anything else on Earth and I cheered for him when he took out an entire wedge on a kickoff by himself because he didn't care if he broke his neck as long as it helped the Cats and made Bill Snyder and his parents and all the kids at Amanda Arnold Elementary and his dead pirahna and all the people in purple in the stands and at home for Christmas happy.

 

rumor has it that  he also had an iguana.

in the locker room.

[~WabashRoll~]

He does have Snyder on speed dial, but will he leave Pelini?   

[/quote]

Looks like this will be Snyder's first true recruiting battle.  Be telling to see how he fares.

I'm starting to have Mid-90's visions of a young, fiery, exciting staff, full of aggression and player yelling, and lynch mob signs, and defensive players tackling again.  And I like it.

[Pete]

Mike Eckler.  An inspiration.

http://www.ksufans.com/forums/index.php?topic=3477.0

I am a Kansas State fan because I was watching when Mike 'Crash' Eckler explained to me when he was my student teacher that he wasn't number 29 because it was the same channel as MTV and that his favorite movie was Caddyshack and that he watched it before every game.  That he had a pet pirhana, but it died and that he was dedicating the season to its memory and that he painted his face so that our opponents couldn't see him on the field and that he painted a rainbow in his shaved head because he loved Kansas State more than anything else on Earth and I cheered for him when he took out an entire wedge on a kickoff by himself because he didn't care if he broke his neck as long as it helped the Cats and made Bill Snyder and his parents and all the kids at Amanda Arnold Elementary and his dead pirahna and all the people in purple in the stands and at home for Christmas happy.

 

rumor has it that  he also had an iguana.

in the locker room.

He used to have a Piranha when he played.  It died and he dedicated his senior year to it.  &@#%ing nut.  I love him.

[goldenticket]

yeah once it died didnt he turn it into a necklace somehow. maybe put the remains in something. i remember something about that. i liked how he played i didnt realize he got into coaching. would love to see him bring that passion to the cats but after reading the article in this thread i wouldnt be surprised if he stayed.

[Pete]

yeah once it died didnt he turn it into a necklace somehow. maybe put the remains in something. i remember something about that. i liked how he played i didnt realize he got into coaching. would love to see him bring that passion to the cats but after reading the article in this thread i wouldnt be surprised if he stayed.

IIRC, he had the thing mounted and placed it in his locker or something. 

If he is asked to come back, and decides to stay with NU, I'll be forced to hate him.  Don't want to do, but feel like I owe that to him.

[bulldogbuster]

What is so great about Eckler?  Yeah he is a colorful Kstater but he is relatively new to the coaching biz, for all we know he could be a moron.

[Pete]

What is so great about Eckler?  Yeah he is a colorful Kstater but he is relatively new to the coaching biz, for all we know he could be a moron.

He coached at OU as well as a grad student.  He's apparently a very capable recruiter and motivator....not fun having him in Lincoln.