The 2015 Widener University football season begins on Saturday and Cinnaminson High School alum Kevin Fisher will be at the game. He won’t be there as a student, a fan or to see his friends play. Instead, Fisher will be in uniform on the sideline as part of the Pride football program.
Fisher; who played soccer, wrestling and tennis at Cinnaminson, walked onto the Pride football team just a couple of weeks ago after being persuaded to tryout by former Widener assistant football coach and Super Bowl champion Fred Baxter.
“Coach Baxter knew I played soccer,” Fisher explained. “He said you should go try it out because he thought I’d like it. I did like it. I am the backup kicker and punter for the team. It just came naturally because of soccer. It is all the same motion.”
Fisher never played a snap of football in high school. In fact, he never even signed up to play for the Pirates program while in school, so understandably this is quite a different experience for him.
“It is different to say the least, Fisher said. “I never envisioned myself playing football. I am a small guy. I kick the ball around and practice kicking motions. It is pretty nerve wracking out there with all the bigs guys around you, but you get used to it.”
Aside from being the backup kicker/punter on the varsity squad, Fisher is the starting kicker/punter for the program’s junior varsity team.
“I am just trying to get a better understanding of the game. It is all kind of new to me. I don’t know what to expect. I just said why not. I want to do something in college. I’ve always been an athlete. I’ve played six sports in my life, all different ones, now football is added to the list.”
Fisher said that last year he would joke with all of his friends, who are on the football team, that he was going to walk-on and become the kicker/punter. Well, that joke has turned into reality for Fisher, who said one of his friends called head coach Mike Kelly about Fisher.
Fisher was told to show up to practice the next day to showcase his kicking skills. That next day saw Fisher practicing on the field with the rest of the team. He was then told that he was going to be on the team for the 2015 season.
When asked what his parents thought about giving football a try in college, Fisher said, “My dad has been a huge football fan all his life. My dad was all for it. My mom is for it, but was worried at first that I’d get hurt.”
Widener opens the 2015 season on Saturday with a home game against Division III rival Rowan University at 1pm.
