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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 20, 2005 Foreman’s time has come with Wildcats By LUKE SCHMIDT for the Mail Tribune MCMINNVILLE — Patience is indeed a virtue. Anyone who doubts that need only look at the football career of Linfield College senior rover Kevin Foreman, a player who knows how to wait for a chance, then make the most of it when it comes. At North Medford High, Foreman didn’t start at quarterback until his senior season in the fall of 2000. He patiently waited in the wings his junior year as the second-string quarterback, content to start at safety and develop his leadership skills on the defensive side of the ball. The waiting paid off with a senior year that can best be described as "break out." Foreman led the Black Tornado to a conference title and the Oregon 4A state championship game, earning all-state honors and eventually being named the most valuable player at the Oregon Bowl. When it came time to decide on a college, Foreman chose Linfield over the likes of Southern Oregon, the Naval Academy, and Willamette. Advertisement "In the end, I just got the best impression from Linfield, from meeting with the coaches, to hanging out with the players who showed me around," Foreman said. As a freshman at Linfield, Foreman was named the third-string quarterback and assigned to the scout team, going up against the first-string defense every day in practice. "I knew coming in that my role would be a lot different here than it was in high school," he said. "I couldn’t just step into the type of leadership position I’d had in high school. I had to earn the team’s respect first, and that takes time." Linfield is currently 2-0, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and closing in on the program’s 50th consecutive winning season — a national all-divisions record. Business management professor Bonnie Long knows that Foreman is a leader not only on the field, but in the classroom as well, having taught him in management classes for three years. "I’ve witnessed Kevin discover his leadership style; it’s what we call ‘quiet leadership,’" she said. "He doesn’t need to be in the spotlight. Instead, he works behind the scenes to make sure that the job gets done. That type of low-profile leadership is valuable in real world applications where things really get done." Because of a shoulder injury which affected his throwing, Foreman was moved from quarterback to defensive back his sophomore year. The transition back to the position he had last played as a high school junior wasn’t easy, but he had lots of support from his teammates and his family. "My family has always supported me," he said. "They’ve made the four-hour drive to McMinnville for every home game since I’ve been at Linfield." As a junior, Foreman split time at rover with graduated senior Zach Fleming, becoming a key role player on last season’s undefeated national championship team. He went through commencement exercises with his class in the spring, earning a bachelor’s degree in business, but returned this fall to finish his last few credit hours and complete his final season of football eligibility. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play this game, and when you’re done, you’re done," he said. "You won’t be playing football at this level of competition ever again. I wasn’t ready to let it go yet. I wanted one more year with this team." When this season draws to a close, he says he’ll miss the team the most. "When I’m done playing, the thing that’s going to make it hard to leave is the camaraderie on this team. You do make lifelong friendships," said Foreman. But right now, he isn’t thinking about the end of his Linfield career. Instead, Foreman is focused, like the rest of the team, on playing his role in defending the national championship. "I want to be a leader out there on the field," he said. "I always want to be a person that the other guys out there on the field can look to for defensive leadership." With patience, he’s earned that respect. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s