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Who is Travis Kennedy?
As the 2022 draft was commencing, the Newark Bulldogs sat pretty with the 2nd overall selection. Previous reports had Hawaii RB Rich Stavros leaving early for the IFL. With the top 2 offensive weapons being Stavros and WR Dwayne Mathis available, this had the organization ecstatic that some youth was going to be injected into the offense. Then, Stavros decided to stay in school for an extra year crushing the hopes and dreams of Bulldog fans. Instantly, Newark was on the horn with Texas to try and swap picks in order to acquire WR phenom Dwayne Mathis. The months leading up to the draft had Newark scouts and coaches really focus in on QB Travis Kennedy. Kennedy had a solid career at Indiana but refused to go to the IFL combine in order to be with his ailing grandfather. With little preparation, kennedy wrote the solecismic test and scored 2nd highest among QB’s to Luke Schonberger. The lack of combine data scared some teams, but also intrigued others. The Bulldogs, who had 3 1st rnd picks in this draft targeted kennedy with their 2nd pick in the mid to late 1st rnd where they would “reach” for the heir apparent to Dwight Burger.
Fast Forward to draft day 2022. With Mathis off the board and team President Matt ready to draft stud DE Ron Cheung. Cheung looked to be the best DE prospect ever. His size and speed had Team President Matt drooling at what could be the most effective way to stop their division mate’s top QB’s for the next 12 years. With their 2nd pick @ 1-26, Matt was ready to nab unheralded QB Travis Kennedy. With both player cards in his hand, eager and excited Matt prepared to hand the IFL official Cheung’s card. Then his cell phone rang. Seeing it was his wife, he answered to calmly tell her that he was in the middle of something. Despite his requests, she talked and talked. The draft clock ticked away until there was less than a minute left. With his thoughts elsewhere, he absentmindly handed over the wrong player card. Thus begins the story of Travis Kennedy as the QB of the Newark Bulldogs. A great big ooooooops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or was it?
Newark Observer
Travis, have you heard the story of how the team went on to draft you?
TK
Ya, it’s actually kind of funny. I figure that goof up made me about $38 million dollars more than I would have gotten had they selected me later in the 1st. It’s all good though. Where you’re drafted doesn’t mean so much to me as just being drafted. It’s an honour as a player to get the opportunity to be selected by someone who wants you to be on their professional football team. it’s something every kid dreams of.
Newark Observer:
What was it like to go through a training camp with Dwight Burger?
TK
Dwight was a legend here in Newark. I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him in a short amount of time. Both him and Wes Schulz have shown me a lot. Specifically it was “King” that told me all the time ;”team success will bring individual success”. I never forgot that, so that’s what we try to do every week here. Spread the ball around and move the chains. Try and keep our defense off the field so that they’re rested and able to make plays when they need to.
Newark Observer
When Burger got hurt in the last game of the season, were you expecting to get the start?
TK
I was really hoping to get the start, but I thought Wes Schultz would probably get it. He’s been here a long time and he knows the offense better than anyone. I knew it would be a reach to have coach throw a rookie in as the starter in a playoff game. When Zach Wynn got the start, we were all a little surprised. After he struggled a little and we were down, I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to come in and grab a taste of IFL playoff game experience that I hope will help me this year.
Newark Observer
We all knew that there would be a battle in training camp to determine the next starter @ QB. Were you surprised you did not get the start in week 1 against Vermont?
TK
Well, to be honest, I was hoping to get the nod. I didn’t exactly play my best in the preseason and I guess the coaches thought they owed it to the vets to give Schultz a chance to be the starter. I understood the decision. Halfway through the 1st game, coach came to me and told me it was my team and to go do my thing. I played pretty well, trying to bring us back. Not well enough to get the comeback, but well enough to earn the job and the respect of the vets on the team. once I got that respect from the vets, I’ve felt really comfortable out there.
Newark Observer
With only 2 games left in the season, your team sits 1 game out against Lawrence. You have the 2nd best record in the league and a chance to win the division and home field throughout if you can win both remaining games. how much pressure do you feel and do you think you can pull this out?
TK
We have a great chance to earn a bye. We have to go to some tough places to do it, but it can be done. Our game in Lawence to end the season is going to be huge. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from the game we lost on the road in Vancouver. I’m hoping that translates into me playing better on the road in both Norfolk and Lawrence. I really feel like I owe it to the vets on this team to play the best game I can play to give our team the best chance to win. With guys like Nece, Doyle, Jamison, Ayodele, Hoover.............the list goes on and on..............I want to make sure that they have a chance.......that I’m not the reason their season ends..........ya know? I’m gonna work extra hard to make sure I’m prepared.
Newark Observer
Good luck!!
TK
Thanks!
As the 2022 draft was commencing, the Newark Bulldogs sat pretty with the 2nd overall selection. Previous reports had Hawaii RB Rich Stavros leaving early for the IFL. With the top 2 offensive weapons being Stavros and WR Dwayne Mathis available, this had the organization ecstatic that some youth was going to be injected into the offense. Then, Stavros decided to stay in school for an extra year crushing the hopes and dreams of Bulldog fans. Instantly, Newark was on the horn with Texas to try and swap picks in order to acquire WR phenom Dwayne Mathis. The months leading up to the draft had Newark scouts and coaches really focus in on QB Travis Kennedy. Kennedy had a solid career at Indiana but refused to go to the IFL combine in order to be with his ailing grandfather. With little preparation, kennedy wrote the solecismic test and scored 2nd highest among QB’s to Luke Schonberger. The lack of combine data scared some teams, but also intrigued others. The Bulldogs, who had 3 1st rnd picks in this draft targeted kennedy with their 2nd pick in the mid to late 1st rnd where they would “reach” for the heir apparent to Dwight Burger.
Fast Forward to draft day 2022. With Mathis off the board and team President Matt ready to draft stud DE Ron Cheung. Cheung looked to be the best DE prospect ever. His size and speed had Team President Matt drooling at what could be the most effective way to stop their division mate’s top QB’s for the next 12 years. With their 2nd pick @ 1-26, Matt was ready to nab unheralded QB Travis Kennedy. With both player cards in his hand, eager and excited Matt prepared to hand the IFL official Cheung’s card. Then his cell phone rang. Seeing it was his wife, he answered to calmly tell her that he was in the middle of something. Despite his requests, she talked and talked. The draft clock ticked away until there was less than a minute left. With his thoughts elsewhere, he absentmindly handed over the wrong player card. Thus begins the story of Travis Kennedy as the QB of the Newark Bulldogs. A great big ooooooops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or was it?
Newark Observer
Travis, have you heard the story of how the team went on to draft you?
TK
Ya, it’s actually kind of funny. I figure that goof up made me about $38 million dollars more than I would have gotten had they selected me later in the 1st. It’s all good though. Where you’re drafted doesn’t mean so much to me as just being drafted. It’s an honour as a player to get the opportunity to be selected by someone who wants you to be on their professional football team. it’s something every kid dreams of.
Newark Observer:
What was it like to go through a training camp with Dwight Burger?
TK
Dwight was a legend here in Newark. I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him in a short amount of time. Both him and Wes Schulz have shown me a lot. Specifically it was “King” that told me all the time ;”team success will bring individual success”. I never forgot that, so that’s what we try to do every week here. Spread the ball around and move the chains. Try and keep our defense off the field so that they’re rested and able to make plays when they need to.
Newark Observer
When Burger got hurt in the last game of the season, were you expecting to get the start?
TK
I was really hoping to get the start, but I thought Wes Schultz would probably get it. He’s been here a long time and he knows the offense better than anyone. I knew it would be a reach to have coach throw a rookie in as the starter in a playoff game. When Zach Wynn got the start, we were all a little surprised. After he struggled a little and we were down, I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to come in and grab a taste of IFL playoff game experience that I hope will help me this year.
Newark Observer
We all knew that there would be a battle in training camp to determine the next starter @ QB. Were you surprised you did not get the start in week 1 against Vermont?
TK
Well, to be honest, I was hoping to get the nod. I didn’t exactly play my best in the preseason and I guess the coaches thought they owed it to the vets to give Schultz a chance to be the starter. I understood the decision. Halfway through the 1st game, coach came to me and told me it was my team and to go do my thing. I played pretty well, trying to bring us back. Not well enough to get the comeback, but well enough to earn the job and the respect of the vets on the team. once I got that respect from the vets, I’ve felt really comfortable out there.
Newark Observer
With only 2 games left in the season, your team sits 1 game out against Lawrence. You have the 2nd best record in the league and a chance to win the division and home field throughout if you can win both remaining games. how much pressure do you feel and do you think you can pull this out?
TK
We have a great chance to earn a bye. We have to go to some tough places to do it, but it can be done. Our game in Lawence to end the season is going to be huge. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from the game we lost on the road in Vancouver. I’m hoping that translates into me playing better on the road in both Norfolk and Lawrence. I really feel like I owe it to the vets on this team to play the best game I can play to give our team the best chance to win. With guys like Nece, Doyle, Jamison, Ayodele, Hoover.............the list goes on and on..............I want to make sure that they have a chance.......that I’m not the reason their season ends..........ya know? I’m gonna work extra hard to make sure I’m prepared.
Newark Observer
Good luck!!
TK
Thanks!
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