NC State Wolfpack

The term 'team chemistry' is somewhat elusive. We all have our own interpretations of its meaning, but coming up with an exact explanation of what it is, what it means and what it does is almost impossible.

'Team chemistry' is that special intangible that most winning teams seem to have. Togetherness, cohesiveness, commitment, unselfishness and sacrifice are just some of the buzz words that are associated with a team that has 'chemistry.'

I started to think of all of those things as I listened to NC State linebacker Sheldon Kee speak to members of the media earlier this week.

As a fifth year senior, Kee had every reason to believe that he would be a major impact player for the Pack this season. The Columbus, Ohio native started the first three games of last year. As a sophomore, he made nine starts. If college football were like society, Kee would be entitled to a start every Saturday. But that's the difference-college football and society are not the same.

The emergence of young linebacker's Edrick Smith and Dantonio Burnette has translated into fewer minutes for Kee. But if you're expecting to see a pout on his face, you'll be in for a dissapointment.

"Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do," Kee said. "Every good team has people who play role's. If your role is to snap the ball, you've got to snap the ball as best you can. If your role is to help a freshman come along and develop into a great player, then that's what you should do."

And that's exactly what he has done. When Edrick Smith went down with a season ending knee injury in week one at Texas, Kee was the obvious choice to back him up. Little did anyone know at that time that Burnette would turn into a rising star as a freshman. Now, Burnette's number one fan happens to be the man he's replaced.

"I like watching him (Burnette) play," said Kee. "He's like a fireplug out there and when he hits someone, you know it's him. That's why we've named him Thunder Dan. I try to help him as much as I can. He'll pick my brain sometimes and I try to make it as real for him as I can. I want him to do the best he can do to help us win."

Kee says linebacker's coach Joe Pate deserves a lot of the credit for his development as a player and as a man.

"People might think he's crazy, but some of the stuff he says really sticks," Kee said of Pate. "He likes to say, 'do what you're supposed to do, be where you're supposed to be, and be on time.' If you look at it, you could apply that to just about anything."

Dantonio Burnette has learned from Sheldon Kee just as Kee has learned from Joe Pate. I've learned something as well. I now have a better understanding of team chemistry than I did before.