| 14 October 2010
O'Dea's Keenan Forch has helped form one of the top rushing attacks in the state this season. Forch has totaled 367 yards, with a 7.6 yards per carry average. He has found the end zone four times this season. Forch is in his senior season and has helped lead O'Dea to a 5-1 overall record. We got a chance to talk to Forch about his season along with his thoughts on his team's success so far.
Check out the interview after the jump!
Ever since the loss to Capital, O'Dea has won 5 straight games. What do you credit this success to?
I credit it to the dedication to success of everyone on the team. The Capital game was really the best thing that could have happened to us to further the success we have had up until this point in the season. Coach Kohler brings the Capital game up all the time to motivate us to work harder than anyone in the state.
This is your final year under Coach Kohler. What's one thing about him that has stood out to you from all the other coaches you've had in your career?
I've never met anyone more passionate about football. He knows everything about it. He knows every wrinkle. He knows things that will happen before they happen. He has a love for the game that is unreal.
How about yourself? When did you start playing? Has it always been your primary sport?
I started playing football in 4th grade but didn't play running back until 8th grade. I had always wanted to play running back but I was always a defensive player so when my new coach in eighth grade coach asked what positions I played, I told him running back. It's gone pretty well ever since. Before high school I played football, baseball, and basketball but when I got to O'Dea I decided to stick with football and baseball. I have been getting recruited for both football and baseball.
Do you want to play both in college, or are schools recruiting you for only football or only baseball?
There has been talk about playing both and I have different schools recruiting me for football and others for baseball. I love playing both sports so it will be extremely hard to drop one if thats what it comes down to.
What schools have shown interest for football?
Washington, Oregon State, Air Force, Idaho, and Northwestern. I get random mail up at the school from Miami and Oregon but I think that's just stuff from me going to the Army All American Combine last year, so who knows if they have genuine interest.
Haha, thanks for being honest. Are there any college or pro running backs whose style/game you particularly admire or model your game after?
I would like the think I run like Michael Turner. He's built like me, he has extremely strong legs, he breaks tackles and is explosive. A college running back that I admire and love watching is Mark Ingram because he's a competitor and can pretty much do it all.
As a senior, you've obviously taken on a leadership role on this team, what's it like having underclassmen look up to you? What's the toughest part of all of this?
I think it's really cool to have all the younger guys look up to me because I was just in their shoes. I was a sophomore on varsity who at the beginning of the year was 3rd string and by playoffs I was starting. We have a lot of talent in our younger classes and I think they are going to take O'Dea a long way after we graduate this year. I see a lot of the younger guys having extremely bright futures if they keep their head on straight and don't let distractions get in the way of their success. This all goes by fast, that's the hardest thing for me, knowing that this is my last year at O'De playing under Coach Kohler.
Who are some young guys that people should watch out for in the near future?
Out of the the juniors: Jayshawn Jordan (DB/RB), Sam Flor (OL), Cody Fulleton (DL), Curtis Taylor (LB), Kent McKinney (WR/DB). And the sophomores: Tatum Taylor (RB/DB/KR), Jack Oman (LB), and Austin Morga (WR)
Do you have any pre-game rituals/superstitions?
Well it all starts with the pre-game meal. I get a sandwich from George's deli by O'Dea with a pink lemonade powerade. While we're on the bus going to the game I watch the Weapon X video about Brian Dawkins. This always gets me pumped up. I then listen to music during warm ups. Right before we go out on the field before the opening kick off I listen to Til' I Collapse by Eminem.
I'm glad I asked. Last question, who has the laid the biggest hit on you in a game or in practice?
Haha wow. It was either at camp going into my sophomore and we were playing Coeur d'Alene and it was my first series with the varsity and I was at linebacker and I got ear holed a crack back that nobody called out and he got me air borne. I was out cold. The other one was probably by our defensive end, Sir Thomas Jackson during practice on a fumbled snap. I got the pitch late so my blocks had all happened so I tried to make something out of nothing and went to cut and didn't even see him coming and he picked me up and slammed me.
Thanks for your time Keenan, is there anything else you'd like to add?
I hope that we can continue that we have a good season and I jus want to let everyone know they should watch out for the Irish this year.
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