Player Perspectives: Tim Janecek

This edition of player perspectives features 2008 All-CCIW selection Tim Janecek. Janecek is a three year starter on the defensive line and provided a pivotal interception in the 2008 "Little Brass Bell Game" against Wheaton College. In his piece, Janecek discusses what the rivalry with Wheaton College means to him and the rest of the Cardinal football team. Janecek is a 2006 graduate of Argo High School and hails from Bridgeview, Illinois.

My freshman year, I knew that the Wheaton game was a big game only because of Coach Thorne’s speech in the beginning of camp. I really underestimated how much this game means to the program. Going into the week there was a buzz around the locker room and around campus. All of the upper class men just really had this different attitude. Until that point I had never seen a team or group of individuals that focused at one time. During our first meeting of the week, Coach Wienke sent a fiery message to the defense that just got everyone in the room fired up, and this was on Monday. Every player on the team was ready to play the game right then and there.

The whole week of practice leading up to the game is fun, whether it is the scout team or the starters, everyone is giving everything they have. Still, you won’t know how much fun the game really is until the first kickoff. From the first whistle until the final horn, every player that takes the field gives it their all and flies around. The best part about the game is the rivalry between the towns. The winner has the bragging rights for the rest of the year. The towns are so close and it’s awesome to see the crowds come out and get just as fired up as the players are for the game. The game means a lot to me because it always comes down to every player, playing all four quarters giving everything they have, and laying it all on the line to get the victory. There is so much preparation and time put in before the game from watching film lifting and going to practice. When that Saturday gets there, you just cant wait to take the field, and there is nothing more exciting than knowing it is going to be a battle for all four quarters. As an individual, you are going to have to put forth your absolute best effort so the team wins the game.

My first two years here the game was a blast, but the outcome wasn’t in our favor. My junior year it was awesome to see everyone on the offense and the defense on the same page and firing on all cylinders. It was the coolest game that I have ever played in. We won that game and witnessing how every fan and player was so excited was an amazing experience. This year is hopefully going to produce the same result, with the Cardinals coming out on top.