EKP Junior: Senior Stories – Nick Kosic
May 3rd, 2016
Welcome to the first edition of our new series Senior Stories, where each week writer Nicky Smith introduces one of our third year or ‘senior’ members of our junior squad.
The career of a Junior player is a short one as they can only take part between the ages of 16 and 19. This year is the third in Pirates Junior history as a team. For the first time it’s now possible to divide our players up into freshmen (first year players), juniors (second year players) and seniors (third year players) who will be graduating after the end of this season and hopefully moving up to our adult team. To celebrate this, we’re going to give you a chance to get to know some of our graduating players a little better.
First up we start with the man who excels at arguably the most important position on the field – Nick Kosic, starting Junior QB.
The Essentials
Name: Nick Kosic
Position: Quarterback
Nickname: n/a
Experience: Four years
Previous teams: Hamilton Buccaneers
Do you want to play for the seniors Yes
What position do you want to play at senior? Wide Receiver
Bio
Nick Kosic is a duel threat QB for the Pirates junior team which means he is equally effective at passing and running the ball. Nick states that his most memorable moment playing for the club was beating Inverness in the first game of this year, especially after the previous efforts where they hadn’t been close.
Nick is honoured to get the chance to represent the Pirates even if he does miss his Saturday nights out. His favourite thing about being a Pirate is the chance to be with his teammates, he loves the family atmosphere the club has.
He may still be deciding on what to do with the rest of his life, but Nick does know that in ten years time regardless of what he is doing; he will still be a Pirate.
What Junior Head Coach Matthew Davies says
“A key component of the Pirates juniors success in the early part of the season has been the leadership and play of starting Quarterback Nick Kosic. Early after joining the Hamilton Buccaneers as a 14-year old, his coaches identified that Nick had a rare skill set, blending athleticism, speed and toughness and he has consistently showed these as he’s grown as a player and a young man.
In a game against Highland Wildcats during the 2015 season, Kosic was sacked no less than eight times, scrambling to safety on numerous other occasions. Despite taking a considerable beating, not once did he seek to blame another member of the team; he picked himself up, dusted himself off and got back in the huddle for the next play, showing a resilience which reminded his coaches of great Pirates players of the past.
This year, he has lead through his actions, as well as through his work as a member of the junior the Player Leadership Group, driving his teammates to push themselves harder and prepare as hard as they can for the rigours ahead. He’s improved as a pocket passer and is never shy of dipping his shoulder and running for hard yards when the team needs them.”
Quick Fire Questions
Most underrated team mate? Paul McMahon
Daftest Pre game ritual/superstition? Pancakes, gotta have pancakes on game day
If there was a Pirates royal rumble who would win? Junior- Mark Cochrane. Senior – ‘Mental’ Paul Stewart
If I could run the league for a day I would? Employ Amanda McDonald
One pre-game song you wish you could ban? Everything on Stuart Gilmour’s iPod
Favourite NFL team is? NY Giants
Last TV show you binge watched? How I met your mother
My guilty pleasure song is? The Longest Time by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
The strangest instruction a coach has ever given you? I was once told to “just be better”
The weirdest/best trash talk you’ve ever heard? Kyle Gold’s first ever game, where his response to being told he was going down was “get to F**k”
Look out for the second installment of Senior Stories next week!
Photos courtesy Duncan Gray, Duncolm Photography and Scott MacDonald
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