Andrew Kernes (2003-07) reflects on record-setting run at SIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football alum Andrew Kernes (2003-07) played in some of the most memorable games in school history. To top it off, he got to play alongside his brother, Ryan, calling the experience one of the “best things that ever happened to me.”

The Bloomington, Illinois native started 26-straight games at right tackle in 2005 and 2006 — seasons that included a win over No. 1-ranked Western Kentucky, a victory at Big Ten Indiana, and the school’s first playoff wins in more than 20 years.

Kernes was a three-time All-Academic team member, and Southern Illinois won 50 games during the five years he was a member of the program, a record-setting run.

Those accomplishments are even sweeter in hindsight, because he shared the experiences with his brother, tight end Ryan Kernes (2006-09), who also had an impressive career at SIU, including 11 career touchdowns.

StrongDawgs conversation with Andrew Kernes

SD: Do you remember when you first became interested in football?

AK: I think it started when I was about six or seven. I got kicked out of the soccer league in town because they said I was too aggressive. So the next fall, my parents put me in football and the rest is history. My brother and I, we'd run wind-sprints in the backyard and down the street with our pads on before we even started practice.

SD: With you and Ryan separated by three years in age, how competitive were you guys growing up?

AK: What do you mean how competitive were we?! We're still competitive! We're married and have kids and we still will get after one another. It never stops.

Junior high and high school, it was insane — every sport, every backyard ballgame. We had a half-court basketball court in our backyard, and there were non-stop pick-up games in the neighborhood. We played street hockey. It didn't really matter what we were doing, we wanted to be the best one in the neighborhood at it.

Andrew (left) and Ryan Kernes

SD: How did you handle it the first time he beat you?

AK: Well, growing up, he was always the better athlete. I think I was always a little jealous of that.  I was always bigger and stronger.

One time, I was home on Christmas break and he and I got into it pretty good in the living room. I think I had surpassed him quite a bit in strength and I ended up picking him up and slamming him down. My mom was hysterically crying. We looked over at her, and it was like, alright, I think we're a little too big to be getting into it like this. We don't need to be putting mama through this. We haven’t tried one another since then.

SD: Why did you go to SIU instead of your hometown team, Illinois State?

AK: SIU’s coaching staff was consistently communicating with me. It was non-stop between Coach (Matt) Limegrover, Coach (Pat) Poore, Coach (Jerry) Kill.

I remember Coach Poore was coming from Indianapolis one evening and called the house and was like, “Hey, I'm doing some recruiting in the area and I'm not too far. Can I swing by the house?” And we're like, “Yeah, sure. We're home just eating dinner. You want a plate?” He was in Champaign and drove the 45 minutes over to Bloomington just to sit down to have a talk. I remember my brother, who was in eighth grade at the time, was looking out, trying to see. And Coach Poore says, “You come over here too, Ryan, we'll recruit you, too.”

It was just that quality of relationship SIU built with my family that was unmatched. Nobody even came close. You know, Ryan had other offers, but that relationship that was built and established, SIU was just home. That's where we belonged.

Kernes celebrates a touchdown with Nick Hill

SD: You started 26-straight games at right tackle your sophomore and junior years. Take me through your progression that got you into the starting lineup.

AK: I owe a lot to Coach Limegrover and Coach (Carl) Mauck. They invested a ton in me. (Strength) Coach (Eric) Klein and his staff, too. I wasn't ready when I first got there, not even close. I was physically out-matched. Mentally, I could hang a little bit. And we just kind of stuck to the plan and I kept chipping away.

I was taking reps at just about every position, whether it was center, guard, tackle, a little bit of tight end in there. There wasn't a position that I didn't know, and I think that helped me pick things up quicker and be dependable and reliable. I think the coaching staff started to trust me.

SD: Your sophomore year in 2005 included a win over No. 1 Western Kentucky and the first playoff win at SIU in 22 years. What are some of your memories of that first year as a starter?

AK: That was a reflection of the guys that had been there and laid the groundwork. The Joel Sambursky’s, the Will Justice’s, the Eric Egan’s — those guys turned the thing around. We got to reap the benefits and the next couple of years were even better.

SD: Tell me about playing for Matt Limegrover, who was not only your position coach, but also the offensive coordinator.

AK: Yeah, great guy. I mean, the intellect of that man, graduating with a degree from the University of Chicago. He was great at developing people, at identifying leaders. His wife and kids were amazing, as well. I think his wife cooked more meals for us on Thursdays while we watched film than just about anybody over the five years that I was in the program. I saw he just got back into coaching, going back to the University of Minnesota.

Kernes and Hill celebrate the 35-28 win at Indiana

SD: One of the most iconic photos in Saluki football history is you and Nick Hill celebrating the win over Indiana. What do you remember from that game?

AK: Everybody remembers the score, Tom, but I think about the guys. I think about the Moe brothers (Todd and Trevor). I think about Nick. I think about all my teammates that I still have relationships with and still keep in contact with, and how hard we worked to get there.

We were down by 14 and never gave up. It’s kind of funny, but that's how I'd say my professional life is. I'm a grinder. I find a way to get it done and believe in the process and what we're doing. It's funny how things of your past still continue to be part of your future.

That photo comes up all the time and I’m just so glad that it got captured and we're able to reminisce about that. I'm sure we will for another 50 years. When we're old and decrepit and talking about the old times, I'm sure that photo will come back up again. It's a legendary, legendary shot.

SD: I was fortunate to take that photo, so it has a special place in my heart, as well.

Let's talk about your senior year in ’07. As I remember, injuries started to catch up with you.

AK: My body was starting to tell me it was done. My hip was starting to give me too much pain. There were a couple options they gave me. I could shut it down for a little while and see what happens, or they could limit the number of reps and I could keep playing through and still be functional. That's the route we took.

I just wasn’t able to play 70, 80 snaps a game at tackle anymore. The staff came together and said, “Hey, we can make you a blocking tight end and still keep you part of the game plan and cut the number of reps to where you're getting 20, 30, 40 reps a game.” That's what we went with.

Kernes started 26-straight games at right tackle in 2005 and 2006.

SD: Ironically, your brother’s career was really taking off. How special was it to play that season with him?

AK: I don't know that I could ever replace that. Obviously, later in life, I've been married, I've had kids. So there's two or three things that I'm supposed to say are the best things that ever happened to me, but playing college football with my brother's right up there. To experience the good, the bad, the winter conditioning, the wins, the losses, all that with not only one of your best friends, but your blood, was unbelievable.

We'll never forget those times and still talk about them when we're on vacation with our kids together. I don't think the kids will ever believe that we were what we used to be, but it's fun to talk about it.

SD: During the five years you were in the program, Saluki Football won 50 games — the most wins in a five-year span in school history. What’s your perspective as to how special that time was?

AK: I didn't even know that until you just said it, Tom, but it makes me miss it even more. I don't think anybody would tell you that we knew that was going to happen. We just bought into what we were told. We bought into the system, and I don't know if there's anybody that's outworked us.

I mean, the last year at McAndrew, we were doing workouts underneath the stadium. We were half-crazy because we probably had asbestos-poisoning or something. You talk about this day and age with social media and recruiting — we weren't recruited (by big-time programs). We found a place that we thought we wanted to be and needed to be. And we just worked as hard as we possibly could to be the best that we could.

Kernes with RB Arkee Whitlock

SD: Tough question. You played half your career with Sambursky and half with Hill. Compare those two legendary quarterbacks.

AK: Well, I don't think anybody in southern Illinois is ever going to forget the mullet shape that Sambursky has now patented and is probably on t-shirts somewhere being sold for his kid's college fund!

I think Joel really started getting the program going in the right direction and established that worth ethic and the ability to turn things around. Nick was that next wave of recruits, and I don't know that there's an athlete that can top him, as far as just being able to do everything. They both were phenomenal to play with. I don't know that you'll meet or know a better leader than either one of them. Nick's been developing men in the program, and still doing a fantastic job with it.

I don't know that I can put one ahead of the other. I'm just grateful that I was able to witness them both, because they were a heck of a sight, and I'm a better person, better human, for being around both of those guys.

The Kernes family

SD: You threaded the needle just right on that one.

You were a three-time All-Academic team guy, a biological sciences major. Can you give Saluki Nation an update on what you've been doing since graduation?

AK: Yeah, absolutely. When I got done playing ball, I went to grad school, thinking that I needed an MBA. I met a couple of guys that were in medical sales, and I started asking a bunch of questions. They introduced me to some pretty cool people, and I ended up getting a job in pharmaceutical sales right out of college with a former graduate of SIU who worked for Eli Lilly. She gave me my first shot in the sales world. I had some early success, and it was a lot of fun.

I think this is now my 15th or 16th year in the medical field. I worked for Stryker Orthopedics for about five years. I've been with my current company, Becton Dickinson, for about 10 years. It's been a heck of a run, provided for my wife and two kids.

I take a lot of what I learned from playing ball into my day-to-day of running a team, developing a team, hiring people, and holding people accountable, instilling grit, work ethic, and everything else. I'm very fortunate to be in the position that I am. I'm working for a very solid company that has developed me and invested a lot in my training and upbringing.

I work for some really good leaders that I will continue to work for as long as they're around. It's amazing how, as Coach Kill said a long time ago, if the world operated like a college football team, it'd be a lot better place. I can't say that my day-to-day is exactly like a college football team, but there's a lot of characteristics and attributes of my company that are very similar to a college football team. I think it's about as close as I can get without actually being a part of it.

SD: Thanks so much for your time.

AK: I just appreciate the opportunity. It's good to connect with you again. I think everybody at SIU is doing a fantastic job.