From The Trenches With Chris Post
Sep 18, 2002 | Football
Sept. 18, 2002
- by Erica Sauerwein, Kansas State Sports Information student assistant
Myrna Post thinks her son, senior strong safety Chris Post, has the talent to pursue a professional career.
But not necessarily to play football, but to sing.
The Ness City, Kan., native has a strong musical resume from singing in the best high school choir in Kansas, to singing at weddings to composing his own songs.
"He just has a natural, very full voice," Myrna Post said. "I think he could do more with his talent. He just needs to find the right contacts. His voice just fits the country-western music. And he has the looks to go with him."
But the 6-foot-2 senior doesn't quite agree with his mother. After all, Post holds close to a 4.0 GPA in management information systems, while playing football at K-State.
"I think it would be fun," he said. "I would have to be at the right place at the right time and I would need to polish my guitar playing. But I just enjoy the music. It is relaxing."
Post's singing career started when he was about seven. His mom started entering him in 4-H singing competitions.
"I think I am more nervous about singing in front of people now, than I was back then," he said. "I was never embarrassed to sing."
Post was constantly surrounded by music. His grandmother gave him a few piano lessons and his aunt had her own CD released. But Post taught himself how to play the piano and the guitar.
"I would just learn songs by ear," he said. "It just came naturally."
Post continued to sing through out high school. Along with singing and acting in musicals and school plays, Post was a member of the Decatur High School Singers. The Singers was the school's show choir. The group traveled around the Midwest for competitions and to sing the National Anthem. Post said he never remembered the group ever receiving anything but a one rating.
"It was the cool thing at my school to be in the choir," he said. "We only had 200 students and about 100 of them were in the choir."
Post decided to take both his football and singing skills to Garden City Community College. Post joined the GCCC Singers and continued to play his guitar.
In football, Post was an Academic All-American for the Broncbusters. He lettered in both seasons and one season he played for head coach Jim Gush, who later became K-State linebackers coach.
"We had a real tight knit group of guys on that team," Post said. "We all usually had classes together and then practice and then we all lived in the dorms. There is not much to do in Garden City, but we all made the most of it."
Post had offers to play football elsewhere but, after talking to Gush, he decided to walk-on at K-State.
"I always wanted to go to K-State," he said. "When teachers asked you to write down your goals in middle school, I always wrote that I wanted to run on the field wearing a K-State uniform. And now I am living that dream."
He is also following his mother's dreams. Myrna Post was a varsity track and field athlete when she attended K-State. She ran various relays and threw the shot put for the Wildcats. She qualified for nationals in the shot put in 1973.
Post continues to sing at K-State. Although he is not in a choir, he takes time out to sing with friends and at weddings.
"He is talented in football, in singing and he can do it all," said roommate and football teammate Aaron Arnold. "I am very jealous of him. We sing together sometimes. He plays the guitar and we just sing. But he is a lot better than I am. He has such a rich, full voice."
Post has also composed a couple of his own songs.
"I heard a small melody watching TV one day," he said. "I just sat down and played it on the piano by ear and then I just added to it. People want me to put words to it and send it to someone, but it changes every time I play it."
Post might be talented, but that doesn't mean he hasn't received some criticism.
"I got a lot of flak from people for my singing, especially my teammates, because I am an athlete," he said. "Not many athletes like to sing. So they made fun of me a lot. But the girls love it, so who cares what the guys think?"
Post will graduate in May with a M.I.S. degree. And maybe if he runs into the right people, K-State will hear of Post again, but this time on the radio.
"With my music, I just want people to know that I more than a jock or just an athlete," he said. "I have a cultured side. I have an appreciation for choral music and instrumental music. I'm not just an athlete. I can do other things, too."
