Duty Calls Father Away From Rose Bowl

Tamerlane F. Kennedy Sr. won’t be able to see his son Lincoln play in Tuesday’s 77th Rose Bowl.

The elder Kennedy is a chief petty officer stationed aboard the aircraft carrier Midway, deployed in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. The younger Kennedy is a former Morse High standout now playing football for Rose Bowl-bound Washington.

Kennedy, a sophomore offensive lineman who earned second-team All-Pacific 10 Conference honors in his first year as a starter, said he couldn’t help thinking about his dad as the Huskies worked out at Golden West College during the weekend in preparation for their Jan. 1 showdown with Iowa.

“My father and I (are) not really as close as we should be, but we’re close enough to have me really worried about things going on over there,” Kennedy said. “I’m wishing and hoping for the best. I hope we get everything over as soon as possible and get out of there. I want him to come back in one piece.”

Kennedy said his father’s call to duty has been distraction.

“You hear stuff on the news that things are getting tighter and you can’t really enjoy yourself when you know that a loved one is in a dangerous situation--especially your father,” Kennedy said. “But you have to be able to focus in on things. This is important to me, and I’m sure he would want me to concentrate on what I’m doing presently, than worrying about him.”

When Kennedy arrived at Washington in 1988, he was 6-7, 344-pounds and billed as the largest player in Huskie history. Kennedy was targeted to play on the defensive line, but after a redshirt season was switched to offense. He is now listed at 315 pounds.

“He was a guy who looked like a natural offensive lineman,” Washington offensive line coach Keith Gilbertson said. “It was a great move for our offense and a great move for Lincoln. It really helped our football team. It put one more good guy on offense and that up-tempoed the competition between guys for playing time.”

After a shoulder injury to Rick Schulberg, Kennedy became the starting weak guard in the Huskies’ third game of the season, a 31-0 win over then-fifth-ranked USC.

“That definitely was the highest point of my season,” Kennedy said. “It was my first start. I wanted to do well, and I did. I made a couple of big-time blocks that sprung some holes for the running backs and (quarterback) Mark (Brunell.) I was going against Don Gibson most of the time and I felt comfortable working against somebody that had some notoriety behind him.”

Kennedy was the starting weak-side guard for the next three games, but when Siupeli Malamala went down with a knee injury he was shifted to strong tackle, where he played the next four games. When Malamala recovered in time for the Huskies regular season finale against Washington State, Kennedy found himself as a backup again. However, Kennedy and Malamala are both listed as potential starters for the Rose Bowl.

“Lincoln has had a terrific year,” said Gilbertson, who added Kennedy’s only setback was a short-term toe “He’s potentially a big-time player.”

More Roses: Another former San Diego County prep standout on Washington’s roster is sophomore wide receiver Marc Jones, a Vista High alumnus, who has made minimal contribtions this season after he had 11 receptions for 62 yards in 1989. But he’ll suit up and be ready Tuesday.

“I think I’ve come a long way,” he said. “I didn’t catch a pass this season, but I got more playing time. I’m improving on my routes, blocking and reading defenses.”

USIU demise intrigues opponents: When the news broke Friday that U.S. International University had filed for bankruptcy, creating the possibility that its Division I sports programs could be terminated within a week by university trustees, some very important people were still left out of the know days later. Their reactions:

Coach Tim Floyd, whose New Orleans men’s basketball team will face the Gulls at Golden Hall Thursday--”I don’t know, do we have a game? I’ll be darned, we were supposed to have a return game (USIU traveling to New Orleans) next year.”

Baylor Athletic Director Bill Menefee, whose Bears are awaiting a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Gulls here Saturday--”As far as we know, there’s a game. Our basketball team is out there right now.”

Staff Writer Steven Herbert contributed to this notebook.