Kendall James (Ken) Kremer, a four-year starter for Ball State's football team, was half of the premier defensive tackle tandem in MAC history before playing six seasons in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Along with Rush Brown, who also went from Ball State's defensive line to the NFL, Kremer anchored the best defense in Ball State history, as the Cardinals enjoyed their winningest football season in 1978.  Kremer was selected to The Associated Press All-America Third Team and was chosen as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, as Ball State set a then-school record with 10 victories.

In addition to posting a 10-1 overall record, the 1978 Cardinals won the MAC Championship with a perfect 8-0 league record, as Ball State led the country in scoring defense, allowing 7.5 points per game, ranked third in the nation in total defense, surrendering 212.1 yards per contest, and finished fifth in rushing defense, yielding 102.2 yards per outing.

Kremer also helped Ball State to its first MAC football crown in 1976 when the Cardinals posted a 4-1 league mark and an 8-3 overall record.  During Kremer's Ball State career, the Cardinals accumulated a 36-8 overall ledger and, in their first four years in the MAC football race, never finished lower than third place.

Following both his junior and senior seasons, Kremer was voted to the All-MAC First Team.  He was among the league leaders in tackles for loss three straight seasons, ranking fourth with 13 in 1976, second with 19 in 1977 and third with 15 in 1978.  He was named All-MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performances in both Ball State's 38-7 win at Appalachian State on Oct. 29, 1977, and the Cardinals' 31-13 MAC title clinching-win at Northern Illinois on Nov. 18, 1978.

Kremer received the John V. Magnabosco Award in 1978 as Ball State's Most Valuable Player and shared Ball State's Most Valuable Defensive Player Award with Maurice Harvey, another future NFL player, in 1977.  Kremer served as a tri-captain of the 1978 squad.

A seventh-round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kremer appeared in 87 games and started 23 from 1979 to 1984.  He had career totals of 197 tackles, 22 sacks and four fumble recoveries.  In 1981, when he played in 16 games and started eight, he led the Chiefs with eight sacks and had a career-high 61 tackles.  He started all nine games for Kansas City during the strike-shortened 1982 campaign.

Born July 16, 1957, in Lansing, Ill., Kremer graduated from Thornton Fractional Township South High School in 1975 after lettering four years in football and one season in both basketball and wrestling.

During his third season with the Kansas Chiefs, Kremer opened a popular nightspot named after his moniker Fuzzy in Westport and two years later opened Fuzzy’s South on 103^rd and State line. After selling both businesses he helped start a sports representation firm with his former teammate Tom Condon called Tom Condon and associates. After two short years Tom Condon and associates was purchased by Global sports representational firm IMG (International Management Group) founded by Mark McCormick out of Cleveland Ohio. 15 years later IMG Football was purchased by Movie and Television giant CAA (Creative Artists Agency) where he worked an additional 8 years. Over the 25 years as an agent Kremer was part of the group that represented the top draft choice in the country 8 times and averaged 5 first round draft choices every year. Kremer then worked 3 years at New York Life Insurance. Since then he has been dedicated to working with the Kansas City-St Joe Catholic Diocese assisting with the Bright Futures Fund. He raises money for two inner-city Catholic school where the average household income is 16,000 per year. Kremer has been married for 35 years to his wife Lisa and has three grown children who are all married. He enjoys his 4 granddaughters and 1 grandson.  

Todd DeMint arranged for this program.