Succop takes on queen

ANAHEIM — Five summers ago, Ryan Succop was an hour’s drive from Disneyland. Traffic didn’t keep him away, kicking did.

In the morning, Succop kicked, followed up by more kicking in the afternoon.

Sometimes at night, Succop kicked.

Back then at a high school camp for kickers, Succop pictured kicking in the NFL. He’s getting closer.

Disneyland somehow worked its way into Succop’s plan. In his second visit to California, Succop arrived at the so-called “Happiest Place on Earth.”

Better to go as a future millionaire in your first visit than with your parents as a teenager.

Succop still invited his parents, David and Kathy, Tuesday. Fame hasn’t changed the 22-year-old from Hickory, N.C.

Kickers really aren’t well known. The last player chosen in the NFL Draft usually isn’t. That’s why there’s Irrelevant Week.

Mr. Irrelevant XXXIV is Succop. The title reads so much better than his last name, which is pronounced, “suck-up.”

Somehow, Succop got people at Disneyland to suck up to him before he was part of the grounds crew later that day at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball game.

Having a camera follow Succop’s every move helped raise his status at Disneyland.

People noticed the Kansas City Chiefs logo on the front of Succop’s red shirt, not the No. 256 on the back. Luckily, Raider fans at the theme park left Succop alone.

The No. 256 represents the odds Succop is up against in making the Chiefs. Not many seventh-round picks sign a contract.

Succop believes he belongs in the NFL.

The kicker from the University of South Carolina said he signed a three-year deal worth $1.2 million last week. That’s enough for a place near the beach.

The way David has seen Orange County welcome his son, buying property here might not be such a bad idea.

“You’re just treated like kings,” David said.

The Queen of Hearts gave Succop royal treatment for a second.

After riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Succop and his new friend tossed an inflatable football. Then the Queen of Hearts walked away with the football.

She must have known Succop was a kicker by the way he threw.

Don’t get Kathy started on whether her son is really a football player. Tonight at 6 at the All-Star Lowsman Banquet at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, expect former NFL players to roast Succop for being a kicker.

“Oh, he really does” have some athletic ability, Kathy said. “In high school, he had to [use his athleticism] a lot, because the blocking wasn’t there. He threw 50-yard passes. He would run.

“The football team wanted to put him in another position, but his soccer coach wouldn’t allow it because he didn’t want him to get hurt.”

Kathy is relieved Succop’s contact on the field is limited to striking a football.

The fact Succop won’t tackle anyone, or run with the ball, unless he’s trying to trip up a kick returner or punt returner, or if there’s a bad snap on a field goal or punt, lets Kathy sleep at night.

“That helps a lot,” Kathy said. “That’s really why we got him started in soccer, because we thought it was a safer sport. His high school coach said, ‘With that leg, he really ought to play football.’”

During his college career, Succop made a handful worthy plays earning him praise from the Southeastern Conference.

The game standing out as the most memorable to Succop and his mom was the one was against Mississippi State. As a sophomore, Succop converted three field goals and punted six times for a 48.7-yard average, giving him the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

The biggest play, displaying Succop’s agility came on a broken play.

“It was his first game as a kicker and the punter,” said Kathy, and if you read further, probably the first time Succop’s teammates believed he was a football player. “The most exciting thing was when he went to punt, he saw that it was going to be blocked, and he just tucked the ball under his arm and ran [16 yards] for a first down. It was awesome.”