Niceville's Lampert continues a legacy

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Florida Freedom Newspapers
(850) 315-4476 | travisd@nwfdailynews.com

NICEVILLE - For some, a number on a jersey is just that, a number given to help distinguish one player from another.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But for Niceville's Travis Lampert, the senior's number 64 jersey is more than that - it's a family crest.

Both of Lampert's older brothers, Tyler and Tanner, played defensive line for the Eagles and each did so wearing the same number 64 that Travis now wears on game night.

"It means a lot," Lampert said. "There's a lot of pride involved in wearing (the jersey).

"It means everything to me, really."

Lampert and the Eagles open the 5A playoffs when Niceville (8-1) travels to Fletcher (10-0) on Friday.

For the latest Lampert defensive lineman, Friday's contest could be his last in a Niceville jersey, a harsh bit of reality that he would like to postpone for as long as possible.

"It's definitely sunk in," Lampert said. "I just have to play my hardest. I don't want to have any regrets."

So far, so good for Lampert, who Niceville coach John Hicks said entered the 2008 campaign dead set on making the most of his final opportunity to don the maroon and white.

"He really came back this year and over the summer committed to doing well and having a great senior year," Hicks said.

It's not over, yet.

With his middle brother, Tanner, in the stands Friday night, Lampert will try to do his part in prolonging the Eagles' season for another week, and give his oldest brother, Tyler - who is a junior linebacker at Division III Southwestern (Kan.) College - a chance to see him in action.

"Hopefully we can win on Friday so that (Tyler) can come watch me in the second round,' Lampert said.

If all goes well, the two could be reunited at Southwestern, where the youngest Lampert would like to follow in his older brother's footsteps and become part of the Moundbuilder's football program.

"I think at the level he's been playing at, he's got a real chance," Hicks said.

Fellow senior and defensive lineman Luke Sager called Lampert a player that embodies "everything a coach could ask for."

"He's a great player and a great teammate," Sager said.