Under the Helmet – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 21, 2006
By Katie Patton
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On any given day, Vail, Colo., is a hub of excitement. Ski lifts tirelessly take passengers to the top of the highest peaks, veteran skiers speed down the most difficult slopes and beginners stick close to their ski instructors; all activities one would expect on a typical day here.
On any given Saturday, “The Shoe” in Columbus, Ohio, is filled with more excitement than anywhere else in the nation. There are thousands of things Ohio State fans expect to see on game day, including perhaps, Rory Nicol going out to catch a pass or lining up to make a block.
What one may not expect to see is a combination of these two worlds, in which the 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound tight end is one of the veteran skiers speeding down a mountain in Vail. Typical or not, Nicol can and will attack a black diamond with the best of them and recounts his family’s skiing trips as some of his favorite memories.
“I’ve been skiing since I was in fifth grade” Nicol said. “Me, my two sisters (Ashley and Lisa) and my mom and dad went skiing every winter for family vacations.”
After skiing for almost 10 years, Nicol can handle the slopes almost as well as he handles the football. However, he was not always so smooth on his skis.
“When we were younger my dad always made my two sisters and I take ski lessons,” Nicol said. “My youngest sister, Lisa, and I never liked taking the lessons. We always tried to sneak off on our own. Ashley was always the one who did what she was suppose to.”
Although Nicol is a skilled skier now, there have been a few bumps and bruises on account of his desire to be self-taught.
“I remember one winter Lisa and I decided we would try to snowboard,” Nicol said. “We left our instructor and went out on our own. While we were attempting to snowboard, Lisa fell and broke her wrist. She had to go to the hospital, and we ruined the vacation because we all had to go home.”
Despite a few, Nicol’s family ski trips brought mostly good memories and have had a major impact on who he is.
“I love being outdoors,” Nicol said. “I really enjoyed our ski trips and I would love to live in Colorado someday. I just like the atmosphere there.”
Whether or not Nicol moves to Colorado when all is said and done at Ohio State is uncertain. However, resident or not, Nicol plans on continuing his family ski trips after his football career has ended.
“I haven’t been skiing with my family since I came to Ohio State,” Nicol said. “I know there is too big of a risk I could get hurt and my dad would never let me. When I am done with football I definitely plan on starting up again.”
Although Nicol had to take a hiatus from one of his favorite past times, he sees plenty of ski trips in his future, both with his immediate family and with his own family someday. There also are other places Nicol would like to ski that he hasn’t had the chance to visit.
“If I had the chance to go skiing anywhere, I would have to choose the Swiss Alps,” Nicol said. “Everyone says those are the best mountains to ski on, so I would have to say I would go there and check it out. Even if I don’t get to go there, I will definitely take my family skiing someday. I would much rather be outdoors and be skiing than going to the beach; for me Vail is a more ideal vacation than Myrtle Beach.”
Where would Nicol rather be you – speeding down the slopes in Vail or catching passes in Ohio Stadium?
“I miss skiing with my family, but there is no question where I would rather be,” Nicol said. “Being a Buckeye is worth giving up skiing for a while, and now my family and I can share my experience at Ohio State.”
