Popovich extending Butler tradition?
BUTLER TWP — In an effort to get its line recognition, Butler’s varsity football coaches came up with an Offensive Lineman of the Week award last season.
It’s quickly becoming Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Senior left tackle Brock Popovich has won the weekly honor seven times in eight weeks so far this season.
“It’s important to me,” the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Popovich said of the award. “I want to be consistent from week to week and I want to elevate the play of our line as much as I can.
“I love playing up front. Any success we have, whether we pass for a lot of yards or run, we have a lot to do with that.”
Popovich stood 6-0 and weighed 225 pounds his sophomore year. He is in his third year as a starter for Butler and received a collegiate offer from Clarion University a few days ago. Edinboro has interest in him as well.
“Brock has put in the weight room work,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “His weight gain is pretty much all muscle. He’s gotten faster, too. He plays along our defensive line, too, but we spell him sometimes on that side of the ball.
“We never take him out on offense. He’s the anchor of that line.”
Popovich is following in the footsteps of two other stellar Butler offensive linemen. Jake Kradel is in his senior year as a third-year starter at Pitt and Nate Stazer has become a productive starter at Slippery Rock University.
Popovich is well aware of both.
“They paved the way for myself and other linemen at Butler,” he said. “Their success has college recruiters looking at our program for other line prospects. I know I’ve benefited from that.
“I remember talking to Jake Kradel when I was in eighth grade. He showed me what to do, how to build myself up. I followed his guidance to get to where I am now.”
Chip McGuire is in his first year as Butler’s offensive line coach. He described high school athletes as “creatures of habit” who don’t always heed the advice of a new coach.
“That certainly hasn’t been the case with Brock,” McGuire said. “He’s been receptive to everything we’ve told him. He pays attention. He’s one of those kids ... you don’t have to tell him something twice. He has a tremendous work ethic.”
Christy agreed.
“He wants to be good. He wants to be the best player he can be,” Christy said. “That’s what motivates him.”
Following instruction is something Popovich is accustomed with. Both of his parents are teachers in the Butler Area School District. His father, Chris Popovich, was an offensive lineman-linebacker at Baldwin High School and was a middle linebacker at Gannon University.
He is also the line coach for Butler Junior High’s football team. The father and son duo help each other.
“My dad breaks down my play for me every Friday night,” Brock said. “We talk about football and line play all the time. He’s a big help to me.”
Brock returns the favor every Wednesday night — when the junior high team plays at Art Bernardi Stadium.
“I’ll go in the locker room after practice, take a shower, then join him for the junior high game and help out the linemen,” he said. “I want to help the younger kids coming up just like Jake was there to help me.”
Popovich plans to major in business in college. He’s just happy he’ll be playing football there.
“It’s been my goal for a long time,” he said of college football. “It’s nice to know there are teams interested in me.”
