B-W: Bockmore Returns to the Football Field and His Second Family

BEREA, OHIO — Former Strongsville High School football standout Paul Bockmore needs his family more than ever. Fortunately for Bockmore, he has two of them — his immediate family consisting of a father and three brothers, and the B-W Football Family.
        “When I first began talking with Coach Snell (B-W second-year Head Coach John Snell), he talked about the B-W Football Family,” said Bockmore, who rushed for more than 4,000 yards in high school and was the runnerup for the “Mr. Ohio” football award in 1998, and then led NCAA Division II Ashland University in rushing and scoring as a freshman in the Fall of 1999. “Family is what I needed to be close to. The experience has been everything that Coach Snell said it was going to be, and even better.”
        Last year, after playing at Division II Ashland and then giving it a try at the NCAA Division I level for a year at the University of Toledo (red-shirt in 2000 and played in 2001), Bockmore returned home to Strongsville to help care for his ailing mother, Dorothy , who was marred with cancer. It is not a decision (giving up his playing career at Toledo) that he has ever regretted. But when his mother passed away on December 30, 2002, Bockmore decided to return to the football field, but not at Toledo. He decided that B-W was the place where he would end his career.
        “I was enrolled at B-W and having a very positive educational experience,” said Bockmore, a business administration major who is alsom taking classes in B-W's Entrepenuers Program. “I went to see Coach Snell. It was a positive experience in many ways.
        “I talked with him, and he was very caring about my family situation,” said Bockmore. “He kept talking more about me and what I wanted to do after graduation. He kept talking more about family and education than about football. It was a great talk. I felt wanted.
        “Once I began working out with the players, I could really feel that family type of atmosphere,” said Bockmore, who will battle with seniors Mark Anders (North Olmsted) and Randale Richmond (Akron North) for the starting role in the backfield. “I always knew that B-W had a great tradition in athletics and I also knew their academic programs were first-rate. And, here I was. Experiencing it first hand. It has been a great decision for me. Now, I am ready to begin a football career. I am excited and enthused. I want to help make a difference in the B-W Football Family.”
        In life, Bockmore’s mother was “his rock”. In death, her memory is his inspiration.
        “My mom’s fight against cancer has been a huge inspiration to me,” said Bockmore.   “ We were very close. Every day I think about her and miss her.
        "Even though she was in the middle of the biggest fight in her life," she still took time to come down to Ashland to watch every one of my games. I also lived on the fourth floor of a dormitory. She always climbed all four flights of those floors. She was a very loving person."
        A year ago, in the fall of 2002, Bockmore began attending classes at B-W and caring for his mother. Although he wanted to play football for Snell and the Yellow Jackets, he knew his place was at home.
        "One of my best friends is Dave LaBahn, who had a great season a year ago," said Bockmore. "Dave would tell me that B-W really needed me out there and playing, but he knew my situation at home and understood that I had a more important matter to attend to.
        “In terms of football, continued Bockmore. “I’m excited and nervous about getting back on the field after missing a year. It might take a little while to start feeling comfortable again but hopefully everything will fall back into place early on. Coach Snell and the players have made me feel comfortable, now the rest of the situation is up to me.”
        “Paul has handled his situation (transferring from Ashland to Toledo and then the loss of his mother) very responsibly,” said Snell, the second-year Yellow Jacket Head Coach who was the Ohio Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 2002. “Paul had an outstanding first year at Ashland and wanted to see if he could really play at the Division I level. There is nothing wrong with grasping that opportunity.
        “He has the opportunity to be a part of a Division I football program for one year, and the chance to play football with his brother at Toledo,” continued Snell. “Once he knew his main responsibility became caring for his mother, he adjusted and came home. That shows great responsibility.
        “Our first goal was to get Paul back in school and progressing toward a degree,” continued Snell. “Football was secondary. Both Paul and I knew that football would again oneday become a focus, but at that time, it was not. Now, he is trying to work his way back into playing shape. He has done everything we have asked him to do, and then some. He has great work habits. He works out with some of our hardest workers. He has made them work harder, and they have made him work harder. It has just been a good situation for everyone.”
        In addition to leading Ashland in rushing and scoring in 1999, Bockmore also had seven receptions for 21 yards. He helped the team to a 7-3 record. But Bockmore wasn’t satisfied. At Toledo, he played on special teams and joined his older brother, David, as a Rocket. After red-shirting at UT in 2000 due to NCAA transfer rules, Bockmore saw most of his action on special teams and made five tackles in 10 games. He also was listed on the depth chart as an outside linebacker. Bockmore has two other brothers, the oldest is Adam and the youngest is Matt.
        "I wanted to give Division I a chance," said Bockmore. "And, I don't have any regrets. It was always a dream of mine to play on the same team as David and to be able to run out of the tunnel and onto the field with him. It was a good experience for me in a lot of ways.
        "We (the four Bockmore brothers) have always been very close," said Paul Bockmore. "When I attended Toledo, roomed with David and Matt. Matt did not play football or attend Toledo. He lived thete and had a job."
        So, now after playing running back on offense at Ashland and on special teams and outside linebacker on defense at Toledo, which side of the ball does Bockmore prefer?
        “I prefer offense over defense because I like to be the one getting chased,” said Bockmore. “It’s a bigger challenge for me, and at the same time,brings more personal satisfaction. Honestly, it wasn’t something I worried about, I just wanted to play the game."
        In addition to his three brothers,Bockmore credits Strongsville resident and friend Al Kovalchik with being a big influence on him and his family.
        "Al is truly a great, great person," said Paul Bockmore as he sat outside the Yellow Jacket lockerroom at the George Finnie Stadium following his firstr official practice as a Yellow Jacket. "Al has been a big brother, a coach, teacher, mentor and most importnatly a friend. I’m a lucky person to have such wonderful role models.”
        His transition has also been made easier through the presence of familiar faces at pre-season workouts.
        “Dave Erhman (Strongsville) is a great player and I remember playing with him in high school,” said Bockmore.   “He was backup to Dave LaBahn. He still made a lot of great plays for us. It’s always exciting to be playing with a former Mustang. And, there are others too.”
        Having experience at both the Division I and II levels, Bockmore is anxious to see the competition level of the Ohio Athletic Conference.
        “I haven’t competed in Division III yet, but there was a slight difference in the speed and versatility of opponents going from Division II to Division I, and I would expect the same would be true at Division III. The OAC is a very respectable conference and I’m excited to be a part of it now.”
        Bockmore has received B-W football accolades even before putting on a Brown and Gold Uniform.
        In the spring, Bockmore, along with junior defensive back Mike Scarcella (Strongsville/ Padua) and junior defensive end Jason Ludwig (East Liverpool), earned the Spring Yellow Jacket Award for their hard work and dedication in the voluntary off-season conditioning program.
        “I’ve been working hard on my own,” said Bockmore. “Luckily, I found some great workout partners. We push each other to work as hard as we can. I know I have to prove myself this year, especially with the veteran talent that returns.
        “It's absolutely a great challenge for me to compete with Mark Anders and Randale Richmond,” said Bockmore.   “I want to be able to contribute to the football program. I haven't even thought of it in terms of setting individual goals. I want to do whatever is best for the team. If they want me to play running back, wide receiver or on defense, I am happy to help.
        “If there’s anything I’ve learned," said Bockmore. "It’s to never stop working to reach your goals, no matter what gets in your way. And, I've learned to roll with the punches and have fun too.”
        Bockmore and the Yellow Jackets open their season Saturday, September 6th at George Finnie Stadium in Berea as they face the Gators of Allegheny (Pa.) College. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.