SE: Gammon Savoring Every Moment in Final Season of Football-Filled Life
Sep 19, 2019 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Some can say they grew up loving football. Blaise Gammon grew up in football.
It's only made the K-State tight end's appreciation for this season, the fifth-year senior's last in the game, even greater.
"This is kind of our last opportunity," he said, as No. 25 K-State (3-0) enters its first bye week before starting Big 12 play at Oklahoma State on Saturday, September 28. "I think that's part of what made the Mississippi State game so special, so important, was we weren't going to get any more of those opportunities. So, it was awesome to take advantage of it and start the year like we have."
Gammon's opportunities in football have always been unique.
His father, Kendall Gammon, was an NFL long snapper from 1992-2006. Blaise was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 9, 1996, during his father's first of four seasons with the Saints, but most of his memories reside from Kendall's time with the Kansas City Chiefs (2000-2006).
"It was just always football in my life," said Blaise, whose father now works as a color analyst for the Chiefs Radio Network. "I grew up going to the Chiefs' games. I was always just immersed in it, to be honest. Growing up, I was probably more into NFL football than college. It was just a huge part of your life. You kind of lived for the football season every year."
Blaise's most vivid football memories date back to his elementary school days. Kansas City's franchise-best 9-0 start to the 2003 season, for instance, is one that stands out.
"Probably the best memories, though," Blaise said, "is after any win at home Chiefs games, my dad would take me and bring down into the locker room."
There, he got to be around other NFL players like Trent Green, Dustin Colquitt, Morten Andersen, Jason Baker, Will Shields and Tony Gonzales. His fandom was furthered in those moments. It still exists now, just usually from Manhattan instead of Arrowhead Stadium, though he hopes to make it to this weekend's home game against the Baltimore Ravens.
"A bye weekend is about the only weekend I can go," Blaise said. "I still love the Chiefs. I'm fired up about them this year. I'm hoping this could be it for them. It's exciting, fun to watch them, because we don't get to (watch) too much college football on Saturday, so it's fun to watch NFL on Sunday when we get the chance."
As for playing on Saturdays, the 6-foot-7 Blue Valley West High School product began garnering attention as a junior. It's also when he attended his first game at K-State, which wanted him to walk on. Blaise had some FCS offers, as well as some mid-major opportunities in basketball, but he said he felt like K-State was a "great fit for me and something that I had a chance to be successful in."
"I'm definitely happy that I ended up here," he added.
Blaise ended up going from a walk-on freshman in 2015 to a starter in 2017. His first start came in a win at No. 10 Oklahoma State, where the Wildcats will travel to open Big 12 play next weekend. In the spring of 2018, he was put on scholarship. Last season, he started 11 of 12 games.
"I think hard work is definitely a must, for sure," Blaise said of his progression. "Then, I think it's focus, attention to the little things, learning the playbook, being into meetings. I think when you're in a position as a walk-on, you're not going to get a ton of extra opportunities, so when you get your opportunities, you have to take advantage of them and be ready for them."
His biggest influences to develop these traits started with his father, who played at Division II Pittsburg State and wrote a pair of books with insight into his success.
"He was always very positive for me," Blaise said, "tried to instill those values in me as I was growing up and when I got here as well."
Blaise and his father still talk football often. It's just more about the Chiefs or K-State as a whole, Blaise said, and less about his individual play.
"He won't necessarily coach me up," Blaise said. "(His biggest) influence was football's always been such a big part of my life and something he probably got me into and got me going with."
Some can say they grew up loving football. Blaise Gammon grew up in football.
It's only made the K-State tight end's appreciation for this season, the fifth-year senior's last in the game, even greater.
"This is kind of our last opportunity," he said, as No. 25 K-State (3-0) enters its first bye week before starting Big 12 play at Oklahoma State on Saturday, September 28. "I think that's part of what made the Mississippi State game so special, so important, was we weren't going to get any more of those opportunities. So, it was awesome to take advantage of it and start the year like we have."
Gammon's opportunities in football have always been unique.
His father, Kendall Gammon, was an NFL long snapper from 1992-2006. Blaise was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 9, 1996, during his father's first of four seasons with the Saints, but most of his memories reside from Kendall's time with the Kansas City Chiefs (2000-2006).
"It was just always football in my life," said Blaise, whose father now works as a color analyst for the Chiefs Radio Network. "I grew up going to the Chiefs' games. I was always just immersed in it, to be honest. Growing up, I was probably more into NFL football than college. It was just a huge part of your life. You kind of lived for the football season every year."
Blaise's most vivid football memories date back to his elementary school days. Kansas City's franchise-best 9-0 start to the 2003 season, for instance, is one that stands out.
"Probably the best memories, though," Blaise said, "is after any win at home Chiefs games, my dad would take me and bring down into the locker room."
There, he got to be around other NFL players like Trent Green, Dustin Colquitt, Morten Andersen, Jason Baker, Will Shields and Tony Gonzales. His fandom was furthered in those moments. It still exists now, just usually from Manhattan instead of Arrowhead Stadium, though he hopes to make it to this weekend's home game against the Baltimore Ravens.
"A bye weekend is about the only weekend I can go," Blaise said. "I still love the Chiefs. I'm fired up about them this year. I'm hoping this could be it for them. It's exciting, fun to watch them, because we don't get to (watch) too much college football on Saturday, so it's fun to watch NFL on Sunday when we get the chance."
As for playing on Saturdays, the 6-foot-7 Blue Valley West High School product began garnering attention as a junior. It's also when he attended his first game at K-State, which wanted him to walk on. Blaise had some FCS offers, as well as some mid-major opportunities in basketball, but he said he felt like K-State was a "great fit for me and something that I had a chance to be successful in."
"I'm definitely happy that I ended up here," he added.
Blaise ended up going from a walk-on freshman in 2015 to a starter in 2017. His first start came in a win at No. 10 Oklahoma State, where the Wildcats will travel to open Big 12 play next weekend. In the spring of 2018, he was put on scholarship. Last season, he started 11 of 12 games.
"I think hard work is definitely a must, for sure," Blaise said of his progression. "Then, I think it's focus, attention to the little things, learning the playbook, being into meetings. I think when you're in a position as a walk-on, you're not going to get a ton of extra opportunities, so when you get your opportunities, you have to take advantage of them and be ready for them."
His biggest influences to develop these traits started with his father, who played at Division II Pittsburg State and wrote a pair of books with insight into his success.
"He was always very positive for me," Blaise said, "tried to instill those values in me as I was growing up and when I got here as well."
Blaise and his father still talk football often. It's just more about the Chiefs or K-State as a whole, Blaise said, and less about his individual play.
"He won't necessarily coach me up," Blaise said. "(His biggest) influence was football's always been such a big part of my life and something he probably got me into and got me going with."
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