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Wednesday, October 08, 1997 Page: 1B
Nittany Lions’ Enis: straight from the heart
Curtis Enis wasn’t about to make the same mistake twiceThe week prior to
Penn State’s game at Ohio State last year, Enis, a native of Union City, Ohio,
and a player the Buckeyes coveted in high school, talked freely and honestly
about returning to his home state for the first time in a Nittany Lion
uniform.
“The most important game of my life,” said Enis, who clearly wanted to make
the 1996 game at the “Horseshoe” one to remember.
And it was- for all the wrong reasons.
The powerful Buckeyes held the talented tailback to a meager 34 yards on 11
carries, en route to a 38-7 rout of the Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium.
It was a humbling experience for Enis and Penn State, which finished with
just 68 rushing yards in the game, a whopping 162 under its season average.
The ’97 Rose Bowl champs made sure to rub a little salt in the wounds, too,
taunting the Lions and especially “traitor” Enis as they left the field.
With all that presumably in the back of his mind, Penn State’s leading
rusher and brightest star has taken a dramatically different approach to this
year’s battle, which commences at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
Talking with the press during a national teleconference Tuesday, Curtis
Enis kept the majority of his answers short and to the point.
For example, when questioned …
About his “I choked” remark following last year’s game, he responded: “I’m
the biggest critic of my own play and I just didn’t play well. There were
plays I could’ve made and didn’t.”
Whether he draws extra motivation playing against several former Ohio high
school rivals, he said, simply: “No sir.”
If he’d like to see the football more in an offense loaded with big-play
performers, he replied: “This is a team sport and I’m willing to do whatever’s
best for the team to win ballgames.”
If people in Union City held a grudge against him for choosing Penn State,
he answered: “Not that I know of.”
About Ohio State’s stellar sophomore linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, Enis
gushed: “He’s a kid with a big heart who makes big plays for that team. I have
nothing but respect for that young man.”
If he’d like to redeem himself for last year’s poor performance with a big
game Saturday, he shot back: “I’m driven by team goals.”
Though he comes off as calculated, even somewhat insincere at times, those
closest to Enis know he speaks from the heart.
That’s all that matters, isn’t it?
Besides, who can really blame Curtis Enis for keeping strangers at arm’s
length. For unceasingly keeping up his guard?
This is a 21-year-old college junior who’s virtually been through it all.
The lone black family in all-white community, Enis experienced racism at
its virulent worst growing up in Union City (pop. 2,000).
It was common for fans of opposing teams to spray-paint ugly, hurtful words
on Enis’ school. That was nothing compared to the racial epithets they yelled
at him during games.
Then there were the signs.
And letters.
Enis was bigger than it all. Still is.
Of course, he had plenty of support- from wonderful parents who taught him
to live by the golden rule, to the headmaster at Kiski Prep School who watched
over his every move.
Thelma and Lincoln Enis insisted their children respect their elders, which
is why Curtis to this day refers to everyone- save for his teammates and
classmates- as “ma’am” and “sir.”
As for his habit of personally delivering the football to the referee after
a touchdown, Enis points to his days at Kiski Prep.
“We were taught by the headmaster (Jack Pidgeon) that we don’t dance; we
hand the ball to the official,” Enis said Tuesday. “And that if we can’t
handle it that way, we shouldn’t be here.
“I was raised to be a disciplined young man and that’s the way I carry
myself.”
Enis’ tone sounds almost defiant.
He knows there’s no man alive, not even the world’s toughest linebacker,
who can rock that foundation.
Jerry Kellar is a Times Leader sports writer. His column appears on
Wednesday.