I graduated highschool from Shawnee Mission Northwest. Class of 2000, yes that means my 10 year reunion is coming up. :) I went to school with a class of close to or over 500 some students. Graduation took 3 hours or more and my last name is Underwood. It took forever!!! Little did any of us know at that time that the all genuine, down to earth, most friendly highschool football player, who mind you was kicked off of our highschool team for being caught drinking at a party would go PRO! Ryan Lilja #65 attended a small community college in Coffeyville, KS for 2 years and then transferred and walked on at Kansas State to play football 2 years there. Starting 14 of the 23 games. After that the Kansas City Chiefs signed Lilja as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2004 season. He was released later on, and the Indianapolis Colts soon afterward signed Lilja where he excelled in protecting star quarterback Peyton Manning.
In February 2007 the Colts played in the Superbowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. It was then that Ryan(my highschool classmate) played in and won his first Superbowl game!! I then knew a REAL celebrity :) A true, genuine burly guy, celebrity!!!
The Colts re-signed Lilja on February 19, 2008, to a five-year deal worth $20 million.
The Colts re-signed Lilja on February 19, 2008, to a five-year deal worth $20 million.
He has since suffered 3 knee injuries; to be expected right. However, that doesn't keep him down. I managed to see him play a great game on Sunday night against the Jets in the playoffs...Here we go again to yet another Superbowl.
A quote from Ryan that hit the news..."We have expectations the whole off season and all season: Win the division, get in the playoffs and be playing your best ball in January and hopefully February" Lilja said. "That's the attitude here."
Good Luck to you Ryan Lilja...you deserve every honor,ESPN broadcast, News article etc!!
Ryan and I have talked a little on Facebook and I promise you he is the same guy I graduated with 10 years ago.
Hope to see you at the reunion.
I knew him a little in Elementary school and we were close in Middle school, but he obviously went to NW and I to North. He used to call me ROY BOY all the time. About a year ago someone else called me that and I immediately thought of him!!! His super bowl was the only super bowl I've ever watched start to finish! Cause well...I hate football! =)
ReplyDeleteGood post, Trace! I loved reading it. Way to go RYAN!!! Show all them NW jokers that YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
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