Having immigrated to Arizona from Germany, senior offensive guard Chris Putton said football helped him east into U.S. culture.
At the age of 7, senior offensive guard Chris Putton immigrated to Arizona from Germany. For anyone around that age, adapting to a new environment can be difficult, as it was for Putton, who moved right before his 8th birthday. "I didn't really speak English. I knew a few words but that was about it," Putton said. Seeking a way to grasp the language, Putton used sports as a bridge to help him blend into American culture. His mother signed him up for flag football and, later, Putton played basketball, baseball and full-contact football.
Today, the 22-year-old University of Arizona student-athlete, who is studying regional development and German studies, has come a long way since his early days of flag and Pop Warner football. Saturday’s game against Washington State marks his 28th start on the Arizona offensive line, and it will be the third season where Putton has started in nine or more games.
In those three seasons, Arizona's offense has compiled a total of 16,553 yards, ranking them among the best in the nation and second in the Pac-12. There are only two other current players that have started as many games on offense as Putton – junior left tackle Fabbians Ebbele and junior right tackle Mickey Baucus. Together, these three players have been key figures in Arizona’s offensive success in recent years.
Picking up blitzes and opening running lanes weren’t the only responsibilities that Putton faced. In his time at Arizona, Putton has experienced three coaching changes for his position – from Bill Bedenbaugh in 2009 to Robert Anae in 2010 to current offensive line coach Jim Michalczik – along with a complete offensive makeover in 2012.
Putton’s consistent playing time reflects his willingness to welcome new opportunities and take advantage of the resources provided. "You have to go with the flow," said Putton, who wears No. 62. "Whatever that coach needs you to do, you have to do it because you also need to help him since he’s transitioning, too. I’ve had three offensive line coaches since I have been here, and all of them have been unbelievable."
As a result of his positive outlook, Putton has become one of the key offensive leaders on the team and, following in the footsteps of his previous mentors, Putton has stepped up to the pressure. "The offensive line as a whole is just a close group of guys," Putton said. "We do a good job helping the new players learn what they need to do. And by teaching them, it helps us remember what we were going through at that time."
Putton's selfless approach for his teammates can be found in other areas of his life, and one is his relationship with his father, who still lives in Germany. "I don't get to see him a lot. He doesn't really speak any English. And since German was my first language, I didn’t want to lose it because of not being able to speak to him." He also wants to hang onto the language for himself, which is why he chose to pursue German studies at the UA.
And much in the same way that football opened doors for Putton when he was younger, he is doing the same on the line and off the field. His unselfish personality speaks through his desire for his team to win, even if that means moving over to play tackle or center. So, the next time that the Wildcats score a touchdown, look for Putton jogging towards the end zone and looking to lift the scorer because, to him, when Arizona scores, No. 62 scores, too.
Original Article available at here
(c) Arizona Athletics
