Isaiah Kacyvenski
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Isaiah Kacyvenski | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Date of birth: | October 3, 1977 |
| Place of birth: |  Syracuse, New York |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Linebacker |
| College: | Harvard |
| NFL Draft: | 2000 / Round: 4/ Pick 119 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 2000-2006 2006-2007 2007 |
Seattle Seahawks St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders |
| Stats at CBS.com | |
Isaiah J. Kacyvenski (born October 3, 1977) is an NFL outside linebacker with the Oakland Raiders.
Contents |
[edit] Early Childhood
Kacyvenski grew up the youngest of five children in upstate Endicott, New York. He grew up with his parents; his mother and his alcoholic and sometimes abusive father[1] until their divorce when he was nine.[2] When he was thirteen, his mother left to do missionary work, leaving the care of him and his siblings back with their father.[2]
[edit] High school
Kacyvenski attended Union Endicott High School where he was an honors student and served as captain of the football team.[2] His ultimate goal was to earn a football scholarship to University of Notre Dame.[2] During his senior year his mother was killed by a truck as she walked along the road; the same day of Kacyvenski's biggest high school football game. Upon hearing of his mother's death, he fell "to his knees crying." He ended up playing in the game that night, calling it one of the best games of his life.[3]
He received a phone call at the end of his senior year from Harvard University coach Tim Murphy offering him an academic scholarship.[2] Reluctant to go to for fear of not fitting in Kacyvenski's coach convinced him that he would never regret going to Harvard.[3]
[edit] College career
While he was a freshman at Harvard, Kacyvenski came across items that belonged to his mother. Among the items he found a picture of his mother wearing a Harvard sweatshirt and her bible with a passage highlighted.
"Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. I can never forget you! I have written you in the palm of my hands." - Isaiah 49:15
Kacyvenski took these things as signs that he was making the right decision in his life.[3] Coincidentally, 49 was also Kacyvenski's college jersey number.[3]
For four years, Kacyvenski started every game at Harvard University.[2] As a freshman, he won the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award, and for three years, won All-Ivy League first team honors.[4] As a senior, he had a school single-season record 135 tackles, and for his college career, finished with a school career-record record 395 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 8 fumble recoveries. He received the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award for sportsmanship following his senior season.
In 2000, Kacyvenski was selected in the 4th round of the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He graduated cum laude with a pre-med degree, but elected to miss his commencement ceremony to attend the first days of football training camp.[2] His father attended the ceremony in cap and gown in Kacyvenski's stead and received the Harvard diploma for his son.[4] He was a member of the Seahawks the season they went to Super Bowl XL.
[edit] Pro career
He played 7 years with the Seattle Seahawks recording 267 tackles in 90 games. He was released on September 30, 2006.
Signed a one year deal with the St.Louis Rams on October 3, 2006.[5]
Signed a one year deal with the Oakland Raiders on July 11, 2007.[6]
On Tuesday, August 7, Kacyvenski was placed on injured reserve ending his 2007 season.
On the July 12, 2007 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Kacyvenski appeared as the first guest to talk about his rough childhood and reconciliation with his abusive father.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Can Super Bowl heal a family's final wound?. USA Today (February 2, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kacyvenski tackles forgiveness. USA Today (April 16, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ a b c d Resilient Spirits: Isaiah Kacyvenski. Oprah (July 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ a b My Life: Challenges, Choices and Incredible Love by Isaiah Kacyvenski. Incredible People. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ Kacyvenski signs with Rams. The News Tribune (October 3, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ Kacyvenski signs one-year deal with Raiders. Press Connects.com (July 11, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ Resilient Spirits: From Poverty to Professional Football
