When Butler quarterback Nick Davenport takes the first snap of the game on Sunday, AJ Vang will be the one delivering him the ball. With that first snap, Vang will set a new program record with 25 consecutive starts in a Grizzly uniform, the most starts by any player at any position.
"It means a lot. It is pretty special because this place is so special," said sophomore center AJ Vang. "To think of all the greats that have come out of here, it is kind of crazy to think that I have had more starts than anyone at Butler. It means the world to me."
Vang, the 6-2, 306-pound center from Goddard, KS will be making his 25th start as a Butler Grizzly on Sunday, December 8 when Butler plays Trinity Valley (TX) in the Midwest Classic Bowl game. A feat that has never been accomplished by any Grizzly in program history.
"AJ brought stability to our team at the center position for two years," said head coach Tim Schaffner. "Obviously, he is a really good player who can deal with a lot of different people behind him. This year, he has been through three different quarterbacks and never batted an eye. The stability he has given us in that position is just remarkable."
Vang stands alongside three former high school teammates on the offensive line where Scott, AJ Vang's dad was the head coach. AJ was a decorated four-year starter at center while acquiring All-state accolades his final two seasons with a trip to the Shrine Bowl at the end of his senior year.
"AJ played for his dad in high school and was taught well with a good upbringing and skill set," commented Schaffner. "He has improved a lot in his two year's here and he is going to keep getting better when he leaves."
At the start of his freshman season, projected starter Will Valentas suffered a preseason injury elevating AJ into the starting role.
"I was not expecting to start game one of my freshman year," said Vang. "I was really excited, I was really nervous, I loved it and I was so scared. The nerves are still there at times, but I have grown into the role and I can't believe now that I have accomplished this."
Coach Nate Haremza, offensive line coach at Butler has a keen eye for evaluating talent and he found everything he could ever want in AJ Vang.
"He has an unbelievably high IQ," noted Haremza. "He's one of the best guys in the room and has a natural ability in leading others and does an amazing job of it."
AJ credits much of his success to the things coach Haremza has taught him over the last two seasons at Butler. "I love him," said AJ. "We get along really well. He has taught me a lot. I thought I knew a lot coming in but I have learned a lot more from coach. Things like the techniques he taught us and how to execute blocks differently. He always pushes us and knows when to give us love or when to get on us to keep us going."
AJ has played in twenty-four games thus far in the purple and gold and said there are a few moments that stick out above the rest.
"I would say last year's bowl game or this year's Garden game are the most memorable games of my career here," said Vang. "A lot of people had written us off saying we couldn't' beat Garden and we were playing with our third string quarterback and he came in a just dominated. But who knows, I might make the best memory this weekend."
With all of his accomplishments during his tenure at Butler, AJ Vang's name will be mentioned with the likes of Butler offensive lineman greats Howard Duncan, A.J. Blazek, Ryan Schraeder, Ben Powers, and a number of other offensive lineman that have made Butler football what it is today.
"He is the ironman of junior college football," stated Schaffner. "For AJ to do what he did is rare. To be a two-year starter in this conference is rare with as much turnover as there is. You can't replace AJ. We will get another center and he will come in a do a good job, but you don't replace kids like AJ, it is just next man up. You hold onto the fond memories you have of them and cherish them and then it is next man up, next man in line."
When AJ Vang takes the field on Sunday, and makes his 25th career start, it will set a bar that coach Schaffner hopes his players will strive for.
"The one thing that stands out to me with AJ is his consistency. He embodies what you want in an offensive lineman. Those guys don't complain, they show up for work, they are the pack mules, the work horses of a football team and we have been proud to have AJ as a leader of this team for two years and I couldn't be more proud of him," finished Schaffner.
Vang and the Grizzlies will look to win back-to-back bowl games for the first time since the 2007-2008 seasons. They take on the Trinity Valley (TX) Cardinals on Sunday, December 8th at 2:00 pm in the Midwest Classic Bowl in Miami, Oklahoma.
