Lincoln Kennedy was confused. His son, Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View offensive tackle Tye Kennedy, was waving him down just outside the Washington locker room.
Lincoln didn’t know why, until he turned the corner and started to piece together what was going on.
“So they’ve got murals up on the top area of the locker room, including myself,” The older Kennedy said. “Right below it, they set up a locker for me. It had ‘Lincoln Kennedy’ on it, and it had the full uniform set up in there.
“Tye was the first one to see it, and Tye’s (uniform) was a locker over. I didn’t see it until he gestured to me to come over there, but the locker was fully set up with a jersey, shoulder pads, full gear.”
Lincoln knew, in that moment, he would be asked to “suit up.” And it’s safe to say that he wasn’t prepared for it.
“No, no I wasn’t,” Lincoln said with a laugh. “Credit UW for pulling out all stops … I had no idea it was coming.”
Lincoln was, understandably, hesitant once he saw the display and realized what it meant. But once he turned to his son, it didn’t take long to embrace the moment.
“I only did it because (Tye) asked me to,” Kennedy said. “I was not prepared to do it. I didn’t really want to do it. … But I looked at him, and I asked him, ‘Do you want me to do this?’ (Tye) said yes, so, it was an honor.
“And when I look at the pictures of us together, I hadn’t worn the Husky uniform since 1992. You can do the math there. And I hadn’t been in actual shoulder pads in 20-plus years — 2003 was the last time I put on shoulder pads.
“… But it was an honor to be in the purple with him. All the pictures we took, it was definitely a memorable thing.”
Lincoln and Tye created an experience that they’ll look back on forever. Posing side by side, both in full uniform, the Kennedys left Tye’s Washington official visit with meaningful keepsakes.
And for Tye, specifically, it created a representation of the legacy he will continue upon announcing his Washington commitment Wednesday.
LINCOLN KENNEDY’S WASHINGTON LEGACY
If the locker room art wasn’t a hint, Lincoln left Washington a legend. From 1989 to 1992, Lincoln led the Huskies to four bowl games. This included a perfect 12-0 national championship run in 1991. An all-conference pick, All-American and winner of the Morris Trophy, which was respectively awarded to the Pac-12’s top offensive and defensive linemen, Lincoln exited UW as one of its most decorated linemen ever.
He went in the first round of 1993 NFL Draft, kicking off a professional career that spanned 11 seasons. Between time with the Atlanta Falcons and then-Oakland Raiders, Lincoln was a two-time All-Pro selection and three-time Pro Bowler. He also helped the Silver and Black reach Super Bowl XXXVII. Lincoln was inducted into the Washington’s Husky Hall of Fame in 2004, and he reached the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
CHOOSING HIS OWN PATH
Lincoln presents big shoes to fill — literally — but his son, Tye, isn’t one to back down from a challenge.
Being the son of a notable former athlete, the choice to pursue sports in general is a big one. But pursuing a career in the same game? At the same position? Bold.
It took time and effort. But eventually, Tye decided this was the path he wanted to take.
“Before I even played football, I loved soccer,” Tye said. “I never really got into (football), I didn’t really like it when I was younger. When I started getting into it, there was a little part of me that didn’t necessarily like it.
“But the more I started playing it, the more I liked having the work ethic. Being out there in pads, getting to hit someone. I started to really enjoy it, and as I got better at it, that’s when football started to go up in my mind.”
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Tye’s journey has not been free of adversity, either, putting his mental and physical toughness to the test. Still newer to the game of football, Tye was dealt a serious injury that limited his junior season.
A player who was looking forward to valuable growth and experience suddenly had that taken away, creating some internal uncertainty. Tye had to trust his personal goals were still on the table, and that faith paid off.
He earned 20-plus offers, including one from his father’s alma mater.
“After my injury, I was battling through some dark times,” Tye said. “Having the thought of no season, always thinking that was the year I wanted to prove myself. But, I was still blessed to get plenty of offers to choose from.
“It’s unbelievable. I never really thought I’d have the blessing to get to do it. I had some small offers. … But having my recruitment blow up like that, it was unreal. A true blessing to go through the process.”
AN OPEN-MINDED RECRUITMENT AND UNDENIABLE FIT
Tye navigated his recruitment with an open mind, trying to put any family connections to the side.
Michigan, Utah and Arizona State made strong cases, but Washington ultimately couldn’t be denied.
As Tye commits to the Huskies, Lincoln looks on with pride.
