When senior running back Andrew Kase graduated from his small Pennsylvania high school, he had two options: go to Hopkins and play football, or "go to Penn State and not play football, and probably be a bum."
We're glad he chose Hopkins, and he is too.
Now, Kase's days are far from being bum-like. The typical routine, he says, is as follows: "Wake up, eat breakfast, watch TV, go to classes, eat lunch, watch TV, go to football practice, eat dinner, do some work, watch TV, go to bed."
Before you bust him for watching TV three times a day, you should check Kase's list of accomplishments outside his entertainment expertise. When he's not breezing through seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Kase is busy ascending the record books.
Currently, he holds first place in Hopkins' book for career rushing touchdowns, first in rushing attempts, first in rushing-yards, first in 100-yard rushing games, and first in 200-yard rushing games.
Oh, and then third in all-purpose yards and second in Hopkins' history in overall touchdowns. Phew!
Most recently, Kase's performance in the Jays' victory over Gettysburg won him his fourth title as the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Kase scored three touchdowns and rushed 29 times for 183 yards against the Bullets.
What does Kase have to say about the accolades?
"All the records I have can be completely attributed to the offensive line, fullback Jay Adams and former fullback-turned-coach Greg Chimera," he said. "I owe every achievement I've made to them. It's nice having a stick of meat like Jay running through the holes before you."
Though his teammates and coaches help him out a lot, Kase still takes responsibility for at least some of his success. Though his usual line of thinking during a game revolves around the question, "What am I supposed to do in this game?" it seems to be working.
"Usually I get the answer to that question right," Kase says.
He's not always right, though. His personal goal for the season is to stop running at defenders so much.
"I have a tendency to run at them when it is completely unnecessary," he admits.
Still, Kase is above and beyond most running backs in the Centennial Conference.
"Simply put, the kid is a beast," says junior wide receiver DJ Hartigan. "I've played with a lot of good players but none with the capability of being as physically dominant as Andrew."
When he's not physically dominating, Kase is artistically dominating. He likes to "paint landscapes of fantastical lands" and also enjoys watching Home and Garden Television.
This passion for art and decor extends to his own residence, a fraternity house which, he confesses, triggers his neat-freak tendencies quite a bit. He keeps it clean in the kitchen as well, where he frequently grubs on bagels, yogurt, eggs and cheese, pasta and chicken.
He usually reaches for the frozen home-cooked meals his mother brings him, though. Or, if he's really lucky, Grandma Chimera's (the grandma of Coach Greg Chimera) excellent chopped liver.
But really, chopped liver and landscapes aside, Kase enjoys playing football more than anything.
"I play football because I love it," he said. Kase's dad, who played at Cornell, inspired him to take up the sport at the tender age of 8.
"I've been a running back since day one, and I played all over the defense in high school, from safety to nose guard." He says the highlight of his football career was actually in high school, when he won All-State Strong Safety.
He's played every position, and has been winning awards since he started. Not to mention he's a passionate cook, home maker and landscape painter.
It looks like Andrew Kase is just about anything except a bum.
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