BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[steinmetz]](/editions/1998/11/20/artiedrawing_180x136.jpg)
Nate Thamann, a Covington Catholic student, holds a portrait he drew of Artie Steinmetz as he waits in a long line for visitation.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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EDGEWOOD - Arthur "Artie" Steinmetz looked forward to fulfilling a Kentucky boy's fantasy: Next year, he would wear the blue and white football jersey of the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
Sundays in the National Football League also loomed as a possibility for the all-state defensive tackle from Edgewood, who first wore blue and white at Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills.
Football provided a life of dreams for the 1997 CovCath graduate. The dream ended early Sunday on a country road when the 19-year-old and a friend were killed in a one-vehicle wreck.
More than 1,000 people, including the UK football team and members of CovCath's squad, packed St. Pius X Church on Thursday to rekindle the dreams.
For all the talk of promise, the troubling aspects of Sunday's wreck went unspoken. All three occupants in the pickup were legally drunk, according to police, and UK's senior center, Jason Watts, faces two manslaughter charges in connection with the deaths of Mr. Steinmetz and their friend, Eastern Kentucky University student Scott Brock of Hyden, Ky.
![[mumme]](/editions/1998/11/20/artiemumme_180x120.jpg)
Steinmetz's mother, Therese Steinmetz, hugs UK football coach Hal Mumme after the funeral. At right is her husband, Marshall "Steve" Steinmetz.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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Judgments will come later in a courtroom. Thursday was reserved for trying to make sense of the fatalities.
"Life can be summed up very simply," said Covington Bishop Robert Muench, who concelebrated the Mass with seven other priests. "It's who we loved and who loves us. Everything else is secondary."
As much as Mr. Steinmetz's life was defined by wearing a helmet and mauling running backs, he was remembered for other qualities - as a fan of country music and hunting.
Mr. Steinmetz loved those parts of his life, CovCath Principal Jack Kennevan said. "But he loved, above all, people. This gathering today is a testimony to his love, his influence (and) his ability."
Hundreds moved past the open casket before the Mass. A line stretched outside the church and along Dudley Road.
Artie Steinmetz
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In addition to sobs and sniffs, the thumping of footballers patting each other on the back as they hugged punctuated the air. Mr. Steinmetz's mother, Therese "Terri" Steinmetz, kissed several CovCath football players, clad in their lettermen's jackets, on the cheek as each went toward the casket.
Before the casket was closed, Mrs. Steinmetz took one last look at her son, rubbed his hair, kissed him and cried, "Oh, Artie."
Speakers told the congregation that Mr. Steinmetz is in a better place, with God.
Even if the football player had lived to be old, the survivors would feel loss, said the Rev. Douglas Fortner, who led the celebration. "When you love someone, there is no easy point to say goodbye," he said.
"I think Artie was also good at the game of life, doing what God had put him here to do," Father Fortner said. That was "to show us how much God loves us.
"He must have done it pretty well, judging from everybody I've talked to."
Mr. Steinmetz enrolled at UK this fall after transferring from Michigan State University, where he played his freshman year. He had to sit out this season but practiced with the Wildcat squad. A photo in the lobby showed Mr. Steinmetz in his Michigan State uniform with his name on the Spartan Stadium scoreboard. At the bottom, a note to his siblings: "Love, Artie #94."
Flowers were as plentiful as the people, including one arrangement in the shape of his blue No. 94 uniform from CovCath.
The service concluded with two eulogies, first from the CovCath principal and second from Bishop Muench.
"Artie, one last word," the bishop said looking at the casket. "Thank you for loving us. We will always love you.
"One last thing, if you can arrange it, see if you can get some seats for us around the 40-yard line."
![[steinmetz]](/editions/1998/11/20/artiedrawing_600x454.jpg)
![[mumme]](/editions/1998/11/20/artiemumme_550x367.jpg)