Roder's favorite teacher is his dad

When it came time to choose a teacher to honor on this Friday?s Teacher Recognition Night, Washington senior Kyle Roder decided to pick someone who?s taught him on the football field and at home ? his father, Mike.

?He?s not only a teacher at our school, but he?s a teacher at home, too,? Kyle said. ?I just thought he needed to be recognized for that.?

While Kyle has not taken one of his father?s high school industrial arts classes, Mike was Kyle?s seventh-grade football coach. Kyle was the team?s quarterback that year.

?He helped me with the reads and stuff, just like any head coach would do,? Kyle said.

Mike, who still coaches Washington?s seventh-grade football team, said that coaching Kyle was no different from coaching any other player, other than what Kyle addressed him as.

?He wondered what he should call me, and I said, ?Everybody knows I?m your dad, so just call me dad,? Mike said. ?That was a hurdle we had to get over.?

But once they got over that small bump, Mike enjoyed coaching Kyle.

?It was exciting to watch him grow as an athlete and get better and better,? Mike said. ?He became a leader and helped the other kids. To see where he is now, it was neat to be a part of that.?

Now Kyle is a starting fullback and defensive end for the Demons. He was Washington?s leading rusher with 199 yards and three touchdowns before missing the last two games after bruising his kidney and cracking some ribs in Washington?s Homecoming game against Marion. He?s also made 29 tackles this season, including 12 for a loss.

Kyle was cleared to practice just 20 minutes before Wednesday?s practice, and is expected to play in Friday?s game against rival Mt. Pleasant.

?It feels really good to be back,? said Kyle, who hopes to help the Demons win their final three regular-season games and make a push deep into the Class 3A state playoffs.

Kyle is one of 12 seniors who will be recognizing teachers who have made an impact on their education this Friday night.

?Teaching is kind of a thankless profession, and it?s kind of an opportunity to say, ?Hey, we really appreciate what you do,?? said Washington head coach Randy Schrader, who started Teacher Recognition Night three years ago.

Mike, who will have Kyle in a video production class and a woods class later in the school year, was flattered to be recognized.

?I think it?s an honor for any of those kids to pick anybody,? he said. ?Just to be picked by a student, let alone my son, means a lot to me.?