Chiefs Covitz: Chiefs’ Brandon Carr has vested interest in Division II title game

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-09-2009, 04:21 AM

Chiefs’ Brandon Carr has vested interest in Division II title game
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr has bigger things on his mind this week, like how to defend a couple of Buffalo Bills wide receivers named Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.

But Carr will hit the pause button on his DVD of the Buffalo passing game for a couple of hours on Saturday night and watch the NCAA Division II championship game between Northwest Missouri and his alma mater, Grand Valley State.

It’s personal.

Carr played against Northwest Missouri three times in college. He helped Grand Valley of Michigan defeat the Bearcats in the championship games in 2005 and in 2006. And his Lakers lost in the 2007 semifinals at Northwest, ending their 40-game winning streak.

“Coldest game I ever played in,” Carr said of a game played in frigid temperatures.

Though Northwest Missouri has lost four straight Division II championship games — a feat that has tagged the Bearcats as the Buffalo Bills of college football — Carr sees them as title contenders, not chokers.

“They’re for real,” he said. “From the first time we played them, we realized they were a good team. We didn’t know it was going to turn into a rivalry like it has with championship games. I know Grand Valley isn’t going to take them lightly.”

In Carr’s sophomore year, he made nine tackles in Grand Valley’s 21-17 win that was preserved when the Bearcats juggled a potential-game winning touchdown pass that was ruled incomplete in the back of the end zone with 20 seconds to play.

“We snuck away with that one,” Carr said with a smile.

In his junior year, Carr had five tackles and intercepted a pass in the end zone in Grand Valley’s 17-14 victory.

“That was the most emotional game I’ve ever played,” he said. “That was the first time I ever cried after a game. We worked so hard, we had the target on our back the whole season, we were defending champions, and we had to pull that one out at the end. I got an interception on national TV, we won, my whole family was there watching …”

But in his senior season, Northwest’s Xavier Omon ran for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the Bearcats’ 34-16 victory.

“Omon was a horse, and we were on the other end of the stick,” Carr said. “The seniors there now had a bad taste in their mouth, and they don’t want to taste it again.”

Omon was drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2008 draft — a round after Carr was taken by the Chiefs — and that really would have made Sunday’s game interesting, but Oman was released last month.

The fact that both Carr and Omon were drafted from Division II programs was a testament to the talent at that level. Grand Valley’s tradition was built by Brian Kelly, who won national championships in 2002-03, is now the head coach at unbeaten University of Cincinnati and a candidate for the vacant Notre Dame job.

Northwest, under Mel Tjeerdsma, won national championships in 1998 and 1999 in addition to four straight runner-up finishes going into Saturday.

“This is the Super Bowl for Division II,” said Carr. “A lot of guys might get on regional TV once or twice a year. This is time for guys to take advantage of the situation and make a name for themselves. Any exposure pays off in the end.”

The Chiefs became familiar with Carr from those games against Northwest Missouri State, and then-personnel director Bill Kuharich targeted him as a second-day pick before the 2008 draft.

Carr, 6-0, 207 pounds, became the first Chiefs rookie cornerback to start all 16 games since Kevin Ross in 1984 and had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. This season, he’s started all 12 games, has broken up 12 passes but is still looking for his first interception.

“That’s a difficult transition,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said of the move from Division II to the NFL. “Cornerback is a position where guys have been able to make that transition to this level. Brandon has the size you desire and the speed you want …

“But Brandon like everybody else is trying to figure out exactly what we want and trying to execute what we’re coaching him to do.”

Chiefs cut Smith
The Chiefs released defensive tackle Kenny Smith on Tuesday. Smith appeared in six games for the Chiefs after signing in October.

KC is DEN's bitch · 12-10-2009, 05:28 PM

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12-09-2009, 04:21 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3067187	Covitz: Chiefs’ Brandon Carr has vested interest in Division II title game Chiefs’ Brandon Carr has vested interest in Division II title game By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr has bigger things on his mind this week, like how to defend a couple of Buffalo Bills wide receivers named Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. But Carr will hit the pause button on his DVD of the Buffalo passing game for a couple of hours on Saturday night and watch the NCAA Division II championship game between Northwest Missouri and his alma mater, Grand Valley State. It’s personal. Carr played against Northwest Missouri three times in college. He helped Grand Valley of Michigan defeat the Bearcats in the championship games in 2005 and in 2006. And his Lakers lost in the 2007 semifinals at Northwest, ending their 40-game winning streak. “Coldest game I ever played in,” Carr said of a game played in frigid temperatures. Though Northwest Missouri has lost four straight Division II championship games — a feat that has tagged the Bearcats as the Buffalo Bills of college football — Carr sees them as title contenders, not chokers. “They’re for real,” he said. “From the first time we played them, we realized they were a good team. We didn’t know it was going to turn into a rivalry like it has with championship games. I know Grand Valley isn’t going to take them lightly.” In Carr’s sophomore year, he made nine tackles in Grand Valley’s 21-17 win that was preserved when the Bearcats juggled a potential-game winning touchdown pass that was ruled incomplete in the back of the end zone with 20 seconds to play. “We snuck away with that one,” Carr said with a smile. In his junior year, Carr had five tackles and intercepted a pass in the end zone in Grand Valley’s 17-14 victory. “That was the most emotional game I’ve ever played,” he said. “That was the first time I ever cried after a game. We worked so hard, we had the target on our back the whole season, we were defending champions, and we had to pull that one out at the end. I got an interception on national TV, we won, my whole family was there watching …” But in his senior season, Northwest’s Xavier Omon ran for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the Bearcats’ 34-16 victory. “Omon was a horse, and we were on the other end of the stick,” Carr said. “The seniors there now had a bad taste in their mouth, and they don’t want to taste it again.” Omon was drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2008 draft — a round after Carr was taken by the Chiefs — and that really would have made Sunday’s game interesting, but Oman was released last month. The fact that both Carr and Omon were drafted from Division II programs was a testament to the talent at that level. Grand Valley’s tradition was built by Brian Kelly, who won national championships in 2002-03, is now the head coach at unbeaten University of Cincinnati and a candidate for the vacant Notre Dame job. Northwest, under Mel Tjeerdsma, won national championships in 1998 and 1999 in addition to four straight runner-up finishes going into Saturday. “This is the Super Bowl for Division II,” said Carr. “A lot of guys might get on regional TV once or twice a year. This is time for guys to take advantage of the situation and make a name for themselves. Any exposure pays off in the end.” The Chiefs became familiar with Carr from those games against Northwest Missouri State, and then-personnel director Bill Kuharich targeted him as a second-day pick before the 2008 draft. Carr, 6-0, 207 pounds, became the first Chiefs rookie cornerback to start all 16 games since Kevin Ross in 1984 and had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. This season, he’s started all 12 games, has broken up 12 passes but is still looking for his first interception. “That’s a difficult transition,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said of the move from Division II to the NFL. “Cornerback is a position where guys have been able to make that transition to this level. Brandon has the size you desire and the speed you want … “But Brandon like everybody else is trying to figure out exactly what we want and trying to execute what we’re coaching him to do.” Chiefs cut Smith The Chiefs released defensive tackle Kenny Smith on Tuesday. Smith appeared in six games for the Chiefs after signing in October.
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12-10-2009, 05:28 PM	#2
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