Paving his own path
Son of former ASU star Patterson holds offer from UA
This is the stuff of dreams: When senior tight end Kyle Patterson charges onto Frank Kush Field on Saturday with his Gilbert Perry teammates, his dad will be the most proud man inside Sun Devil Stadium.
“I’m going to love seeing my son play on the same field I played on,” Shawn Patterson said.
Shawn Patterson was a standout defensive lineman at Arizona State in the late 1980s, before beginning a six-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
But there is a little irony attached to the significance.
Kyle Patterson holds a Pac-12 football scholarship offer from Arizona. But not ASU.
“It’s going to be weird if he goes to UA,” Shawn said. “It’s going to make things interesting in the household.”
There still is time for Kyle to make his college decision.
Right now, he is trying to get Perry over the ultimate hump -- Chandler.
Chandler ended Perry’s season each of the past two seasons, including last year’s 6A state championship game that went down to the final minute.
Perry’s last loss this season was to Chandler.
So to get his last shot before ending his high school football career against Chandler is just the way Patterson dreamed it out.
A victory Saturday would make it sweeter.
“We’re extremely confident,” Patterson said. “We’re one of the best teams at preparing, and we had another week with our bye week. We’re definitely prepared for them.”
Coach Preston Jones calls Patterson the definition of a real tight end.
“He is the complete package,” he said.
“Kyle is a great blocker and has great hands.
“You can put him out as a wide receiver and bring him in as a wing and move him around. He’s extremely athletic and has the toughness of a lineman.”
Kyle looks a lot like his dad. He is 6foot-6, 236 pounds.
But Shawn says the similarities end there.
Athletically, Shawn didn’t do the things his son has done, not only on the football field but on the basketball court.
He is a rugged power forward on Perry’s basketball team that, so far, has struggled without him. He’ll be joining the team next week.
“Any time I played basketball, they always invited me not to play anymore,” Shawn said. “I was not the most graceful player on the court.”
In football, Kyle not only is a strong blocker in the run game, but he can split out and make catches for one of the state’s most explosive offenses.
“I was not skilled enough to catch the ball,” Shawn said. “I give Mom credit for that.”
Kyle has paved his own path without his dad pushing him. But Shawn has always been there to encourage and give advice.
“The last thing he needed was to live in daddy’s shadow,” Shawn said. “I let him do his own thing. It’s his shoulders.”
This last high school game is more than it being for the gold ball.
“It’s definitely a cool deal to play where my dad played,” Kyle said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to get a ring.”
Kyle is hoping to get an ASU scholarship.
“It definitely would be cool to play instate, and have my parents come watch me,” he said. “I’m definitely going to commit (in college) for football but I’m going to play the basketball season.”
Duane can’t wait to get Patterson back. Not just because his court presence is missed. But being around him makes everybody appreciate his work ethic.
“Kyle has been a great fit for our program,” Duane said. Coming Saturday: Previewing Chandler’s drive for a third-straight 6A title