Florida State football’s Kirk Coker: Unsung hero

Kirk Coker etched his phonetically fierce name into FSU history as the only walk-on to start a game at QB under Coach Bobby Bowden. Along the way Kirk earned that scholarship he craved. His story reads like a Hollywood script, a plot from We are Marshall or Facing the Giants. Instead of Rudy, how about Kirk? The 6’ 180 lb. 19-year-old out of Perry, FL transferred from the University of North Alabama in 1983. It took insistent begging on Kirk’s part to persuade his parents to let him sell his truck and try out as a walk-on at FSU. Kirk’s love for the Seminoles started with his dad, Elmer Coker, a football coach himself, a man of intelligence, integrity and compassion. Elmer Coker loved the boys he coached. Growing up, Coach Coker drove the family to Doak Campbell Stadium for gridiron matches. He made it an educational time for his family. Kirk and younger brother, Travis, found their love for football in Tallahassee. Coach Coker was a high school head coach for 21 years. Hard work, great effort and character