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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Living For The Moment
10/13/2006 | Football
By Elizabeth Zaremba
Athletics Media Relations
Always living for the moment and the next play, Andrew Wicker has worked to make the team his top priority. The senior offensive lineman from Zachary, La., began his Rebel career on defense. In the spring of 2005, Wicker was asked to move from defensive tackle to the offensive line. Putting the needs of his team first, Wicker accepted the challenge.
"It was a big change," Wicker said. "You have to sit back and let things play out on offense. It's a big deal if one person messes up. Playing defense is a lot like that, but it's more aggressive."
Though tough at times, the change proved to be a good one. Wicker saw action in 10 games last season, starting six at left guard, and helped running back Mico McSwain establish an Ole Miss freshman rushing record with 612 yards and three 100-yard performances.
Now a senior, Wicker knows that the challenge is greater as he has taken a leadership role on the offensive line as one of the team captains. In the season opener against Memphis, Wicker helped the Rebels rush for 240 yards, led by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 127 yards. Against nationally ranked Georgia, Wicker helped pave the way for Green-Ellis to eclipse that mark with a career-high 135 yards.
"It's an honor to be a leader," Wicker said. "Being a senior, you don't ask for it; it is expected. Hopefully I'm helping the younger guys."
Another person Wicker hopes he has impressed is offensive line coach Art Kehoe. Kehoe has been with the Rebels since January, after serving 27 years at the University of Miami as both a player and coach. Kehoe has coached six All-Americans, 18 NFL players and one Outland Trophy winner, given to the top interior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation.
"He's (Wicker) a talented player and smart," Kehoe said. "After coaching him for a little while, I challenged him to be better than he was playing. Since that time, his approach has been awesome. He studies film, he lifts weights, he's a leader, he makes calls and he pays attention in meetings.
"Andrew's tough. He's played tackle, guard and center for us, and he's doing a good job. His personality, his resolve and his commitment to playing hard is excellent. We are fortunate to have him."
With a record as impressive as Kehoe's, it can be easy for players to be intimidated.
"He is a one-play guy, whether it's good or bad." Wicker said. "It's always about the next play. He's critical, but he has fun with everything."
Living for the next moment and not allowing anything to get in his way is how Wicker lives his life off the field as well.
A management major, Wicker was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2003 and 2004 and is a regular on the University Honor Roll. Managing his time as both a student and an athlete has been one of Wicker's toughest challenges.
"You come from high school, where you're the hero with a laid back schedule and your mom doing everything for you, to college where you're on a tight schedule," said Wicker. "If I hadn't been taught time management, I wouldn't know how to get things done. You can't procrastinate."
Wicker is thankful to the Ole Miss Football program for what he says is a "great system" and adds that football has helped him keep his grades up.
For his hard work and leadership, Wicker was awarded the J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award, given every spring to a rising senior lineman. The selection process is made by the coaching staff.
"It was an extreme honor for me," Wicker said. "Michael Bozeman won it last year. Knowing I followed in his footsteps is a great honor. To know the coaches look at me in that way means a lot."
As far as his future after Ole Miss, Wicker is not concerned with that just yet. "I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm focusing on the next game."
Someone once said, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." For Wicker, in the game of life and the game of football, it's always about the present.
