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the opportunity, though it's unfortunate we had all those injuries."
HE GOT THE MESSAGE: Asked about Spencer, the junior middle linebacker Paddy Fisher said,
"He's working his tail off right now, and he's really taking it serious. That's good for an old guy like
me to see, young guys taking care of their business. I'm glad to see him taking it seriously and really
working hard."
"The older guys leading by example show you, 'This is how things are supposed to be done, this is
how you're supposed to prepare and this is how you're supposed to go about your week,'" Spencer
says when asked about his mature approach. "So that's definitely a product of the older guys leading
me."
And what gave him the confidence he could be a contributor as a walk-on?
"Just seeing others who've done it in the past, seeing the walk-on culture here. Guys like (junior D
tackle) Joe Spivak, who came in as a walk-on and gotten a lot of playing time, inspire you, and they
help and lead you."
NO THERE THERE: The place is affectionately called Camp Kenosha, and each summer the 'Cats
set down there to begin their final preparations for a season. "The first time I saw Camp Kenosha,"
remembers senior center Jared Thomas, "I said, 'What is this?' I didn't know what that was. I didn't
know Kenosha was a place. But here I am five years later and Kenosha has a very special place in
my heart. I don't think I'll go back to Kenosha. But it has a very special place in my heart."
Did he have flashbacks went he went there for the final time last August?
"Oh, yeah. You have flashbacks to when you first get in the program. You're like, 'Man, this college
football thing is for real.' Then you become an old man like me and you kind of enjoy it a little more.
I think as you grow up in this program you begin to appreciate the little things, and Kenosha is very
