A Different Perspective

Straight from the hyena's mouth, here's a guest post from the best man - Jerad Stock.

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Soon enough my friend Paul will embark on a new era of Pauliness. But before Paul takes his first step into the abyss that is marriage I thought we should take some time and look at all the Pauls we have grown to love or loathe over the years.

"Better Know a Paul"

Paul DeFoe = Athlete - Blue Springs High School Football Rules!

Did you know that long ago Paul fancied himself quite the footyball player?

Not an actual photo, but pretty close.

Armed only with the largest helmet on the team and a bottle of aspirin, Paul patrolled the middle of the field for the Wildcats for two seasons. You can examine the record books and you will see Paul's name sprinkled amongst more notable players, but you need to find the unofficial record books (located in the basement of Tom Yount's house) to find Paul's real value to the team.

• Paul set the single game record for sacks while laughing at the quarterback (3) vs. William Chrisman.
• Paul holds the BSHS record for most lockers and freshmen dented before a Rockhurst game.
• Not sure if this counts as a record but Paul tried to knock the Columbia Hickman quarterback out for the season by trying to perform an emergency appendectomy in the middle of a scrum using only his fingers.

After high school Paul received many participation certificates for his fine work in fraternity football games. But no matter how many little yellow plastic ribbons he pulled from the midsections of unassuming Delta Chi's, Paul's bloodlust for smashing ball carriers into the earth and then commenting about the chastity of the opposing team members' mothers could never be replaced.

Focus and finish, just like Coach Ditka taught me.

In the fall of 2004, Paul hung up his Asics and called it a career, but not before commenting to his friends that he was faster than the current running back at Mizzou (Ed. note: This claim is not even in the top 10 of ridiculous things Paul has said over the years).

The human bowling ball, and player in question, Zack Abron.

Although Paul's jersey has yet to be retired his legacy endures in the hearts of his teammates and fans and in the nightmares of his adversaries. Somewhere the "Get 'em Get 'em" lady softly weeps until the next generation of DeFoe graces us with his presence under the bright lights of Peve Stadium.

- Jerad Stock