TCU Feature: John Turntine
9/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 11, 2002
By Don Dowell
While it was teammate Kenneth Hilliard who received all the headlines (and thanks from Nebraska) for making the interception that saved TCU's dramatic 14-10 season-ending victory over Southern Miss, John Turntine was the one who really made the key defensive play of the year. With the Frogs trailing by three points in the third quarter, the swift defensive tackle sprinted downfield and somehow caught up to speedy receiver LeRoy Handy, who had broken loose on the sideline, making a touchdown-saving tackle an amazing 40 yards downfield.
"That is just making a play so we could go to a bowl game," said the senior from Everman. "It was second nature to me because that's what I have been doing my whole life, making plays and working hard. All my teammates believed in me and saw me run him down. I could have easily given up but I didn't."
On the field, Turntine is described as a freak of nature, someone who can both lift and outrun a Volkswagon Beetle. A fast linebacker in a 290-pound tackle's body. The Iron Frog holds all the records in the weight room for linemen, including a staggering bench press of 570 pounds, while managing to keep his blazing 4.59 speed. Turntine thinks opposing offensive linemen face a tough dilemma when trying to decide how best to slow him down.
"My strengths are my speed and my mind frame, knowing that I can finesse you with my speed, or be physical with you," Turntine said. "I have put on an extra ten pounds and am running good. That will give me a chance to make more plays this season. They have to think if I am going to come with my speed or strength."
NFL scouts are paying close attention and have compared him to the Seahawk's John Randle, who incidentally was Turntine's favorite player growing up. "I modeled myself after him. On the field, he's nasty, but in life off the field, he's a great guy and a family man. He leads by example, he doesn't talk a lot, he just does it."
The handsome gentle giant with a big friendly smile is excited about this season, and thinks the Frogs' victories over Louisville and Southern Miss late last season are a sign of better things to come.
"We have high expectations for our team with the people we have coming back," Turntine said. "Also with the maturity, as everyone has had a year under their belt with this coaching staff. Last year, we were feeling with the new coaches, but now we know what to expect. We should have a good season because everyone understands the system."
"Winning those two games last season carried over big time. We saw what we can do when we come to play. After going through spring practice and the summer, I think we will bring a nasty attitude this year, but at the same time, it's going to be a humble attitude."
Following his sports hero's example, Turntine has also become the leader of the team.
"He's a phenomenal leader and his work ethic is second-to-none," defensive coordinator David Bailiff said. "He gets here early and stays late. He won the "Total Package Award" at our banquet, which is given for taking care of business athletically, socially, and academically. He's always striving to excel wherever he is."
"I have been here for four years and done the little things that coaches have asked of me, and that I asked of myself," said the humble Turntine. "Once you get to this point, you love that leadership, because you know when the young players look in my eyes, they're looking at someone who is going to get the job done both on and off the field. Where I came from, I have had a lot of people help me. My mind frame is to help them in life, no matter what it is. I am not a selfish person. That is what life should be all about, helping others."
"He's a role model for every other player on this team with everything he does," head coach Gary Patterson added. "If a guy has a problem, he takes them aside and they are over at his house. He's someone you want everyone to be around. He's a very mature kid because in some ways, he has had to be on his own. He's probably our best recruiter and our best player to go speak to the public, because he's seen both sides of the street."
Indeed, he has. College is usually the final transition stage when children become adults. For Turntine, it was elementary school.
"I was eight years old when my mother passed away (raped and murdered by three men in a parking garage)," Turntine recalls. "My dad and I didn't see eye-to-eye and had some problems. So I moved place-to-place for a while until I was a sophomore in high school. I moved in with two of my teachers."
"And then my guardian, Valerie Dekine, took the opportunity to take me into her house because I was dating her daughter at the time. She said God came to her and said it was the right thing to do. They have kind of been my parents and one of the main reasons I am the man that I am today, and why I take responsibility and live my life like I can. They took a chance on me when they didn't have to."
Because of the help he was given, it was easy for Turntine to pick his major and select a future career.
"I've had a lot of teachers help me, especially in high school. Because I can't give back money-wise, I am trying to give back by being a good person and become a good teacher like they were. All I want to do, to be honest, is live my life and help people. I majored in secondary education with a speech communications minor and graduated this summer. I am now working on my masters in school administration. That's a blessing right there."
Turntine credits Dr. Mary Banski, a TCU Speech Communications Professor, with helping him make the tough transition to the college classroom. "She was a new teacher when I was a freshman. I am the type of person who wants to better myself in all areas of my life. When I got here my reading skills weren't where they needed to be, and she stayed after school and helped me until they were. Now she's my advisor on academics."
Though the NFL may come calling first, Turntine is looking forward to making a future impact in the education arena.
"I am hearing a lot of good things from the NFL people," Turntine said. "People work hard in life to get to places, and when you get caught up in stuff like that, you forget your real goals and purpose. I want to give myself options in life, and that's why I am working hard in the classroom and on the field. When it's all over and done, I don't want to think what I should have or could have done. If the NFL comes, it comes. But if it doesn't, I have two degrees."
"I would like to teach for a few years, and then become a superintendent or principal. I want to be around kids and give them opportunities. I am living proof of what life can do for you, if you believe in yourself and in other people."
Away from TCU, this past year has been an exciting time in Turntine's personal life.
"I have been married for 11 months now," smiles the new father. "Michelle went to LSU and we met three years ago when she was here during the summer for a program. I met her in the dorm and from being on campus. From the day I met her, I knew I was going to have her. She's special. She's my heart and the main reason why I do the things that I do, which is helping other people, and being the best man that I can be."
"We have a little daughter, Joan Marie, is two-and-a-half months old now. She's a blessing. Every day that I wake up, I have to live my life and do things so I know that they can eat, because I am the head of my household. I take pride in that. There's pride in being a family man and taking care of your responsibilities."
Despite the time demands of graduate school, playing football and having a family, Turntine still manages to volunteer and give back to the Fort Worth community.
"While at TCU, I've worked with some kids and did some volunteer work over at the Presbyterian Night Shelter. We've donated clothes, t-shirts, footballs and a Play Station. I like doing stuff like that. You go to places like that, and see kids who don't think they have a second-chance in life. I want them to never give up. To know that there are people out there who won't give up on them, and who will give them a second chance."
No one knows that better than John Turntine.
