Friday, August 17, 2001
Football's a family affair at Highlands
Coach, RB Mueller form prominent father-son duo
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
FORT THOMAS — Dale and Eamon Mueller have come a long way from the backyard football games.
Eamon Mueller with dad and coach Dale.
(Ernest Coleman photo)
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Dale, the Highlands High School football coach, is preparing to win a fourth straight Class AAA state title and 16th overall. His oldest son and second child, Eamon, is a senior running back expected to provide a larger load on offense.
“He's taught me pretty much to work hard and just keep on trying,” Eamon said.
Dale isn't lazy, either. He runs around the practice field after workouts with players sentenced to extra laps, though Eamon is never there.
“He just doesn't miss and he gets all the stuff right,” Dale said. “... Ever since he was a little guy, he always had that ability to fake people out.”
Eamon played soccer, baseball and basketball when he was younger. But Dale never had to talk him into football.
Eamon played in the Fort Thomas youth program seven years ago as a fifth-grader and was around the game all his life due to his dad's coaching stints at Withrow and Sycamore.
“I always liked going to those games and watching them,” Eamon said. “I've always enjoyed it, playing around just in the backyard. We'd have a few snow football games (at Highlands). That was always fun.”
In 1998, Eamon watched Jared Lorenzen, Derek Smith, Noah Gibson and Brian Ulbricht help Highlands win the state title. He didn't play a lot in '99, when Gino Guidugli, Brenden Zenni, Brett Hamblen and Brent Grover made it two straight for the Bluebirds.
Dale Mueller said Eamon was not supposed to start last year, either. But a couple of touchdowns in a scrimmage against Louisville Male and more snaps in another scrimmage against Beechwood turned into three touchdowns against Louisville Trinity the opening week.
“Last year, none of us really expected him to be the starting running back,” Dale Mueller said. “He was about the fourth or fifth going into two-a-days. He was in the top eight.”
Eamon also saved the Bluebirds' 42-29 victory over Trinity with his final score, a 43-yard touchdown run late in the game.
“It wasn't (just) me who ran it; our line was blocking great,” Eamon said.
The final numbers for 2000: 1,099 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing; 42 catches for 629 yards and five more TDs.
At 5-feet-9 and 165 pounds, Eamon often was the smallest player on the field. But he is one of the fastest now — he covers the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds or so.
Highlands senior lineman Rob Smith said it's a joy to block for Eamon.
“He'll get right on your butt while you bulldoze people over,” Smith said. “And finally, when you pancake someone and fall on top of them, he just makes a move and goes.”
Regardless of when Dale and Eamon Mueller are on the same football field for the last time, they're likely to remember what's really important.
Family.
“There are going to be weddings and grandchildren, all that good stuff,” Dale said. “It's not a last of anything.”
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Football's a family affair at Highlands
