Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 23

Sunday, Jan. 1, 1989 Santa Cruz Kennedy Local boy makes good Continued ftom Page Bl However, Kennedy keeps things in perspective. "At first you always think 'this is the pros, man. I'm not going to make it in the Kennedy said. "I guess I was always realistic about stuff.

But I just did what I could, and I've been real fortunate." 49ers gambled with Kennedy, a free agent who signed with the 49ers prior to the 1987 season, and the wager has paid off for both parties. (fS Hi rht Sam flies the air with the greatest of I ease, that daring man on the special teams; Bill Kennedy spent much of last season on the Injured reserve list. He suffered a broken wrist during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Raiders, but as soon as he was healthy, the 49ers released him. It was Oct. 26, 1987.

For months, Kennedy lived off the money he earned in training camp, and worked nights as a bouncer at San Jose's Oasis nightclub. In January he continued to work toward a degree in manufacturing and a teaching credential at San Jose State. Oh, and he played some golf, too. Vhen he re-signed in time for i summer camp in that Central Valley sauna they call Rocklin, Ken-i nedy had bulked up to 235 pounds. At camp, he held his own and impressed his coaches enough to survive roster cut after roster cut.

"I remember the coaches telling me, 'All right, Sam, we're going to keep you on the roster. You did well in the Dreseason and we be lieve in I didn't want to let them down. I wanted to make them know they made the right de- cision." Rut tho dQorc a cnnt fViv Kennedy. Assistant coach Lynn Stiles wanted him for special teams. "It was something new," Kennedy said.

"The coaches gave me an opportunity to play, but I'd never played special teams before. I took it as a challenge. I've never covered kickoffs before except when I was in high school when I was a kicker." Kennedy said he's had fun playing on punt and kickoff squads. He recovered a fumble in the second game of the season against the New York Giants, and he's made some devastating hits. Of his 24 tackles, 22 are solo takedowns.

He's proud of those statistics, but there's still something missing. There's a void that he fears may not be filled, unless he's given ''another' 'chance. "I'll1 always want to play outside linebacker," he said. "It hurt me not to get many reps in, even in training camp. What happened was, I don't think they had me in their game plan.

"Hopefully now that I've made the team, if they've even got me in their game plan, they might say 'since we're going to keep him for special teams, we might as well get him in at outside linebacker. That's what I'm hoping for." Kennedy is cautious about get-, ting cocky, setting his objectives too high only to get let down if plans don't pan out. He doesn't talk about a long-term NFL career Jerry Rice and Joe Montana talk can long-term but he'll enjoy signing autographed foot- something better. But most of his money is in money markets and stocks. Kennedy makes $10,000 today for his work in the 49ers' playoff game against the Vikings at Candlestick Park.

The payoff for an appearance in the NFC championship is $18,000 per player. A Super Bowl appearance is worth $18,000 (the winners get which would no doubt be a welcome supplement to Kennedy's league minimum wage. "Hopefully I'll have $40,000 by the end of this year saved up," he said. "All I want out of this whole thing is enough money to buy a house. I want to pay cash for it, but 40 grand that's barely a down payment." 16 times as much money, but he's 16 times as valuable to this team." Kennedy jokes that he's poor and that he likes it that way.

He still drives his now-infamous Oatsun 510, his first car that he's owned since he was 17. He pays $250 a month for an ice-cold room in a Victorian mansion near San Jose State, even though he could afford I No matter what you You'll Goodyear tires This is the time bias ply tire Every sidewall Every tire for big light trucks, vans, on sale Every all tire, every performance Except S4S Radial NOTE: Wb have a Friend It's cool that Sam still remembers me Sam Kennedy wasn't 'standing behind the door when they were passing out brains. He knowsifliat other years may not be as prosperous as 1988. For now, his plaijtdB have fun today without screiwfig up tomorrow. And Kennedy seems ableicto handle that.

Even it they calljsmi "Canary." wrr TERMS, AND AUTO SERVICE OFFERS SERVICE CENTERS SEE ANY OF THE FOR THEIR COMPETITIVE PRICES, balls as long as he can. "I was longshot when I made the team, and who knows who there going to draft," he said. "Who knows? At my first minicamp, I realized that every player here has that something extra that you don't see on films. I knew I could play at this level, but I was always realistic." Kennedy isn't going to take any chances. He said he'll spend all of the offseason working out with weights, at his San Jose home and at the Santa Clara facility, whenever he has time between his studies at San Jose State.

His goal is to teach 240 pounds. "Failure to prepare is preparing for failure," Kennedy quoted. "Someone said that down the road, and I believe it." Not only is Kennedy already preparing for next season, but also for long after that, when his non-athletic career takes shape. Kennedy has a reputation among his teammates for being sort of a cheapskate in jest of course. Part of it stems from the quarter Kennedy charges each reporter for an interview.

"Did you pay?" asked Darryl Pollard, Tom Rathman and Greg Cox all within the span of 20 minutes. For the money ($62,500 base salary), Kennedy has been a bargain find for the 49ers. "Joe (Montana) equals my year's salary in a week," he points out. "That's We're all pround of Sam, but nnhnHv crriTlQ I1UUUUV gLUlO wider than Debra Kennedy, his mother. between a 716ths and a 916ths.

Wally is not the big brother anymore, not since Sam body-slammed, him in the front yard six years ago. Now Wally is just an older brother. They're fans of each other Wally attends every home 49er game, and Sam gets to as many Watsonville Speedway races as he can to watch Wally race his Camaro. Debra Kennedy is amazed at how Sam has matured. She's proud that her baby son, now 24, hasn't blown his money on a Porsche or expensive jewelry.

Debra would like to think she had something to do with Sam's general common sense. All Sam wants Is a house and a simple life. He wants to save up and buy a comfortable place off Freedom Boulevard some where, and coach football at Cabrlllo. Just like Don Montgomery did. As his body and grown into one of an NFL linebacker, Sam has grown wiser.

But maybe most im portantly, his memories of home remain intact, Old, friends can brag about their famous pal now, but It's a thrill for Sam Kennedy, too, However, underneath that shiny, gold 49er helmet and that scarlet No. 57, he's the same old Sam. mm you matter how save on the quality you need. to buy! Every radial, every Goodyear makes is on sale. styling, every size is on sale.

cars and small cars, for RVs, and 4-WD vehicles is season tire, every off-road tire is on sale. large inventory, but popular styles sizes may sell out of stock. We'll issue a rain check, you should shop early for the best possible service. Continued from Page Bl being scared his spring practice session, and then leading the team in tackles and scoring two sacks and an interception in his first eame. aeainst West Vallev.

Losses to Hartnell, by scores of 12-9 and 13-10 still disturb him. Playing against a huge Sierra College tight end, picking off two passes and holding the all-state re-; ceiver to one catch, is what Sam calls his best game as a Hawk. What sticks in his mind most, though is watching the fog roll in during Saturday night games at Carl Conelly Stadium, fondly referred to by the players as the Hawkdome, and the immense respect he acquired for then-dev fensive coordinator Don Montgom ery. Montgomery, who later served as Cabrillo's head coach for five seasons, is probably Sam's most prominent role model. Their relationship was rocky at first, but it gradually grew into a special bond.

So special, in fact, that Sam someday hopes to teach and coach at Cabrlllo after he finishes his college degree. We're all pround of Sam, but nobody grins wider than Debra Kennedy, his mother. She and Bill Kennedy reared sons Allen, Wally, Sam and daughter Sandra at their home on Valdez Road, and Debra says all have been a success. It's Just that more people know about Sam's success. And Sam looks back fondly those days, even when Wally bull-led him while working on cars in the garage.

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