Kugler Feels Right at Home Around Football
8/30/2017 12:50:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan center Patrick Kugler was raised on football, and toughness is part of his DNA. He's the son of the UTEP head coach and the grandson of a retired assistant fire chief in Lockport, New York.
He was taught to win the test of knowledge and wills on the line of scrimmage, while never backing down from anyone or any challenge at any time.
"As a family," said Kugler, "we had a passion for football that was pretty much unknown to a lot of people. Every day at the dinner table, all we talked about was football. My mom and little sister probably got a little annoyed with it, but that's all we talked about and all we watched.
"So, having a coach as a dad definitely helped me understand the game of football a lot better. I learned schemes at a young age and took in all the knowledge that he had. He will give me direct answers on any questions or doubts I have. It's definitely an advantage for me. Dad's been calling me every day during camp."
Sean Kugler became the head coach of the Miners after the 2012 season and was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' staff in the Super Bowl that culminated the 2010 season. He also coached for the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills and was the assistant head coach and offensive line coach for Boise State when it went on its magical, 13-0 run in 2006 that climaxed with beating Oklahoma in a Fiesta Bowl thriller.
Patrick's grandfather, Robert, whom he calls "Papa," also is someone he watched closely and learned from.
"He's a hard-nosed guy and a fire chief," said Kugler. "I learned not to take anything from anybody from him. I love my Papa."
Some wondered if Kugler, who has one previous start at center (Hawaii in 2016), would transfer to UTEP for his fourth season of eligibility and play for his father.
"I definitely had that conversation with my dad," Kugler said after Tuesday's (Aug. 29) practice. "But I wanted to leave a legacy here at Michigan. I didn't want to be the guy who was the backup for four years and then left.
"I wanted to be the guy who came in and started, and led his team in his senior year to a great season. And we're on our way for that."
Kugler is projected to be the starting center Saturday (Sept. 2), when the No. 11 Wolverines play No. 17 Florida in Arlington, Texas.
"I'm excited," he said. "I think I have a pretty good football mind. I rarely make mistakes and don't plan on making any in games. It's about putting people in the right place. We've got some young guys who haven't played in games much, and so it's about getting them going, and playing physical. If you play smart and physical, good things will follow."
Two starters return to the line, but Mason Cole has moved from center to left tackle. Ben Bredeson returns at one guard position and 350-pound Michael Onwenu might be the favorite at the other guard spot. Jon Runyan, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Nolan Ulizio, Chuck Filiaga and Andrew Stueber are vying for the right tackle position.
Cesar Ruiz, the nation's top-rated incoming freshman center, is challenging Kugler and also could play at guard.
"Cesar is a very athletic and strong player," said Kugler. 6-foot-5 and 303 pounds. "He's far more athletic than me now. He's probably stronger than me already. I think he's ready to play right now. It's just about getting into that college feel a little more. I mean, it's a big jump from high school to college football, and especially on the O-line. So, it's just about getting that college experience, and he's more than ready right now if somebody was to get hurt."
There's also been a battle at the quarterback position, where returning starter Wilton Speight is being challenged by John O'Korn, who started for one and a half seasons at the University of Houston before transferring to Ann Arbor.
I asked Kugler to describe how both quarterbacks project in huddles and command the offense while barking signals at the line of scrimmage.
"Wilton is very calm and I think that's what you want in your quarterback," said Kugler. "He's commanding and he's going to take command in the huddle. If someone's talking, he'll tell them to shut up and that it's time to go. But it's calm, and you need that in a chaotic environment. He gets everyone's nerves down, and that's good.
"John is very serious and kind of the same thing. He's very aware of everything that's going on, and always ready to make (audibles) or different calls if he sees something. He's got a good eye for the defense, and as the center that helps me because I'm making a lot of calls. Sometimes I miss something and, 'Boom!' he'll adjust it. He's a really smart player."
Kugler has been coached on the offensive line by offensive coordinator Tim Drevno for three seasons.
"He's a great offensive mind and a great offensive line coach," said Kugler. "He's taught me so much. Every step we take and every move we make with our hands is calculated. We're not playing like robots, but we know where our landmark is and where we need to go every single play, and if you don't know, it's on you. We've been given all the answers to the test, and just need to apply them."
Kugler, a two-time state champion at North Allegheny High in Wexford, Pennsylvania, who played in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game, has had numerous great coaching and playing examples along the way. That includes his older brother, Robert, who won one of those state titles with him, before playing center at Purdue.
"I was a ball boy for the Pittsburgh Steelers," said Patrick. "I was around training camp the whole time, and I learned how much goes into it. My dad worked long hours, getting up at 5 (a.m.) and getting home at 10 (p.m.), and so I understand how much goes into this and how important it is to a lot of people."
He was befriended by Maurkice Pouncey, who became the first NFL center ever selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, 2010-12.
"I really looked up to Maurkice Pouncey," said Kugler of the lineman who teamed up with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow at Florida. "He plays the game physically, and is fast, aggressive and smart. I watched how he moved in practice and never took a play off.
"He was serious all the time. He would be fun and games off the field, but on the field everything was serious because he knew the next play was the most important play. I try to take that into practice and how I play."
That ties directly into the approach of Michigan's offensive linemen.
"We've definitely still got some characters on the offensive line," said Kugler, "and I'm one of them. But we're also definitely all business. On the practice field or in the film room, that next play is what's most important. It's not something that happened earlier that day or something that's going to happen that night. It's strictly business, and you can tell in the film room because everyone's locked in."
Kugler feels right at home around football, and the film room and family room can blur into one place. He was raised to get the most out of himself in the game, and to face every challenge.
Now, he can't wait to answer the bell in the season he's been preparing for his whole life.
