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Pirate Notebook No. 85
Wednesday, September 25, 2002

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

AUDIO SPECIAL

One-on-One
with Brian Rimpf

Denny O'Brien recently conducted an up-close-and-personal interview with Brian Rimpf, in which East Carolina's Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate spoke freely about the roles faith and football play in his life. Listen to the interview...

Brian Rimpf

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GREENVILLE — Filthy, sweat-drenched and exhausted, Brian Rimpf lugged his six-foot-five, 314-pound frame across the Bagwell Field turf towards the East Carolina locker room.

Each thunderous stride from the burly offensive lineman was met by the congratulatory pat on the back from teammates and fans — both young and old — after the Pirates' gut-wrenching 24-20 victory over conference rival Tulane

It was an evening in which fullback Art Brown amassed 185 yards on the ground, while running mate Marvin Townes tallied another 87. Many of those yards came in large chunks through truck-sized holes opened by Rimpf, who manhandled his opposition throughout the evening.

That's not unusual for the Outland Trophy candidate, who last season waged war against the nation's three marquee defensive ends -- Syracuse's Dwight Freeney, North Carolina's Julius Peppers, and Louisville's Dewayne White — and more than held his own.

More often than not, the Raleigh junior out-dueled his more highly-touted foes, protecting the blind side of then-starting quarterback David Garrard and leading the way for All-American fullback Leonard Henry.

"At first, I was like, 'Oh no, I'm facing this guy this week,'" Rimpf said of battling the nation's best. "But once the game gets going, you just play.

"After I got the first one under my belt, I was ready to go against another. I love going against top-grade opponents, because it makes you better and you find out where you really are as compared to them. This year there's a few other defensive ends that are really good, and I'm looking forward to facing them."

Rimpf's performance against Peppers, the second overall pick in April's NFL draft, was perhaps a defining moment in what is amounting to an illustrious career in purple and gold. The quick, agile defensive end was frustrated all afternoon by the equally nimble Rimpf and tallied a season-low one tackle against the Pirates.

You might say it was that very matchup that brought Rimpf into the national forefront. And it's also that type of battle that the former Leesville Road High standout embraces most.

"If you're competitive, you want to face the best competition," he said. "I'm competitive and I want to be out there when the game's on the line or the best competition's out there."

A late bloomer, Rimpf spent much of his high school career hovering beneath the blue-chip recruiting radar. While most big-time prep stars have scrapbooks full of gridiron accomplishments, Rimpf didn't make all-conference until his senior year, after being an honorable mention following his junior campaign.

However, much of that is due to a late growth spurt, which saw the hulky lineman sprout from a scrawny freshman to a more noticeable 280-pound senior. Even then, though, you might say Rimpf was a bit undersized for his six-foot-five stature, which is why he needed a redshirt season to prepare for the rigors of battling in the Division-I trenches.

"When I first got here, I really needed that redshirt year because I don't think I was ready to play Division-I football," Rimpf said. "I only weighed about 280 pounds and I wasn't very strong.

"Being in the weight program here for a couple of years really got me to the size I needed to be."

Now, with 35 pounds of added bulk, Rimpf has the intimidating physique desired by a dominant offensive lineman and has used it to his advantage. Hard to miss, he has caught the eye of coaches and media across the nation and has garnered a slew of postseason honors.

In 2000, despite missing the final two games of the season with a broken ankle, Rimpf was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team for his significant role in the Pirates' 8-4, galleryfurniture.com Bowl championship season. He followed that by collecting a first team All C-USA award last season and is a strong candidate for both the Outland and Lombardi trophies this year.

Without question, Rimpf's blue collar efforts in the weight room can be attributed for much of his success. But as the junior standout will tell you, it takes more than bulk for an offensive lineman to be successful in the Pirates' system.

"You don't play based on your physical abilities when you first get here," Rimpf said. "You play based on if you can run the plays or not. I've been able to be coached, and I've got the smarts to learn the plays quick.

"I think that's a lot of the reason why I played my redshirt freshman year. It wasn't because I was so physically gifted, but because I knew the plays and I knew what was going on. I think coach Shankweiler wants somebody out there that knows what's going on, and not necessarily the guy that dominates every single block."

In addition to the accolades he's earned on the field, Rimpf's off-the-field resume is equally impressive. Accomplished in the classroom, the accounting major is a regular on the academic Honor Roll at East Carolina and has been named to the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll as well.

When he isn't cracking the books, you'll likely find him reaching members in his community, trying to make a difference. A devout Christian, Rimpf feels led to reach out to those around him and uses his status as a gridiron standout as the vehicle to do so.

"I kind of felt like He (Christ) put me in this position because football is pretty big in Eastern North Carolina," Rimpf said. "He's put me in the position of an ECU football player to where I'm looked up to and I can share Him to everybody and let them know how much He's influenced my life and how much a part of my life He is.

"I've been blessed with some abilities, but I want to acknowledge Him for all the help that He's given me."

Just recently, Rimpf was one of 11 players named to the AFCA Good Works Team, which honors contributions in the area of volunteer work and civic involvement.

Among the activities that led to the honor was his involvement with Young Life, a Christian organization with a mission to reach adolescents. He is also a regular speaker to church youth groups and the Boys and Girls Clubs, and has also volunteered time at juvenile detention centers.

Rimpf has taken great interest in teenagers in the area and feels he has been given a gift to reach those in that age group.

"High school kids are probably our biggest fans here at ECU," Rimpf said. "A lot of them probably know who I am just because I'm a football player.

"Once they know I'm a football player and know the kind of stuff I don't do and the kind of stuff I do, they'll look up to me more. They can really trust me and see the Lord working in my life. It's definitely a platform. A lot of guys aren't in the same position that I am, and I just want to use the position He's given me and the ability He's given me to glorify Him."

Rimpf credits much of his spiritual growth to SPORTworks Ministry, which is a Christian organization that ministers to athletics teams at East Carolina. Chuck Young, who heads the ministry, offers a weekly Bible study for the football team at his home, where he and his wife serve the players life lessons in addition to a free meal.

Not only has SPORTworks provided the opportunity for personal reflection and accountability, Rimpf says the ministry has done wonders for the Pirates' chemistry as a team. The old saying "A family that prays together, stays together" seems to apply here, as Rimpf and his teammates get to see the emotional and spiritual sides of each other.

"It's not just a Bible study," Rimpf said. "You're with your teammates, reading the Word and growing spiritually, which is important because you're with them a lot — just about every day of the year.

"It's important to do something other than football with them. With Chuck (Young), we have a little Bible study, and you can grow spiritually that way. It's made us a lot closer."

So close, that Rimpf admits leaving East Carolina one day will be a difficult transition. The friendships he's cultivated with teammates is something he'll take with him, wherever his road leads.

Academically gifted and goal-oriented, Rimpf would likely be an instant success in the business world and hasn't ruled out the banking industry as an eventual career choice. But when you consider his size, speed, strength, and past performance, the NFL certainly seems like a viable option, as teams are often in the market for steady left tackles.

Believe it or not, that's something Rimpf hasn't put much thought to, though it is an opportunity he would definitely embrace.

"I don't think about it too much," Rimpf said. "If the opportunity presents itself, then I'm going to jump at it.

"I've got two more years here, and I've got to keep improving. If I keep improving, then maybe — Lord willing — I'll be able to."

One thing's for certain, Rimpf has the will and ability to make it at the next level.

And perhaps even more important, he has the character to make a difference in the lives of those around him once he gets there.