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One big Lion Penn State DT Kennedy dishes on JoePa's sartorial splendorPosted: Friday August 23, 2002 11:39 AM
SI's Kelley King recently caught up with tackle Jimmy Kennedy, one of Penn State's defensive stalwarts over the past four seasons. Outfitted for interviews in a beige suit and a silk tie as loud as he is, the fifth-year-senior looked and talked as if he were ready to take care of business this season. Kennedy hopes to improve on the 1.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss that he managed despite being double-teamed for most of 2001. Besides being one of the more powerful players in the college ranks, the 6-foot-5 Kennedy is one of the sport's most colorful conversationalists. The challenge was getting a few words in edgewise. Kelley King: You've come a long way since your freshman year at Penn State. Didn't you weigh around 400 pounds before the strength-and-conditioning guys got a hold of you? Jimmy Kennedy: It's a joke. You're fed $27 steaks while you're being recruited, and then the schools wonder why they have all of these fat freshmen rolling into camp. I haven't had much of a problem since then. Last year, I was around 325 [pounds]. This year, my goal is to be lean and quick. I hope to play at around 290. King: You talked about entering the draft last year but finally decided to stick around Happy Valley for your final year of eligibility. What convinced you to stay? Kennedy: You know, I've been playing for one of the best programs in the nation for almost five years now, but I've only been to the Alamo Bowl. I mean, Texas? In December? This year, I'm ready to show the world that the old man isn't over the hill. King: I assume you are referring to your septuagenarian head coach and not your 22-year-old self. You still think that JoePa has a few years of fight left in him? Kennedy: I give him another three years at least. He may be 75, but during practice he's still running around like Jack LaLanne. He'll jump into the middle of a drill and kind of shuffle around, to show us what we're doing wrong. King: You've become pretty close to Coach Paterno over the years. Kennedy: He's like a father to me. I'd do anything for that man. If not for him, who knows where I'd be today. I've been in and out of special-ed classes since the 10th grade, and I made the dean's list last semester. That's because of the Paternos, Joe and his wife, Sue. Mrs. Paterno would show up some nights at 11 o'clock to tutor me on vocabulary, literature, anything I had trouble with. King: What's something people don't know about Joe Paterno? Kennedy: What a crazy fashion sense he has, maybe. He's the only cat I know who will roll out of bed and put on royal-blue pants and a green sweater vest. We can tell as soon as he shows up to practice whether Sue was around to dress him that day or not. We bust his chops about his clothes all the time. King: I understand that his aren't the only chops you've been busting lately. Kennedy: We've had the talent, but last year there were some people who weren't giving 100 percent. There's a feeling we should all have in our stomachs, the feeling you have when you finish a workout and can't walk, can't move, because you've worked so hard. I've been telling people that if they're not feeling it, they should get out before the season starts. If I'm in bed and can't sleep, I'll work out. We all need to bring a new level of commitment right now. King: Let's say you were promoted to athletic director. Is there anything you'd change about such a storied program? Kennedy: I love Penn State. I live and die for Penn State. But I have to say I'm tired of our uniforms. Those white pants make my butt look big. Sports Illustrated writer-reporter Kelley King covers college football for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. She will chat with a different player each week during the season.
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