Chambers by the Bay
by Kelly L. Martinez

My own football career lasted a total of three games in the fall of 1982.  Though very sports-minded, I lacked the essentials to go any further than I did.  My older brother, on the other hand, played offensive line in high school and college and coaches offensive linemen today.  Perhaps this is why I have such a fondness for the unheralded fellows in the trenches that are vital to the success (or failure) of any offensive unit.  Then again, maybe it’s my own offensive lineman-ish build.  Whatever the reason, I approached this article’s interview with a higher level of enthusiasm because of the kinship I feel with offensive linemen.

Kirk Chambers, a German Studies and Public Policy major, is entering his junior season at Stanford University.  As you may have surmised, he plays on the Cardinal offensive line.  In fact, he’s played there for 23 consecutive games since returning from Germany where he served a full-time mission.  It is rare that a freshman will step into a starting role on the Division I level, but even rarer for a freshman that hasn’t played football for two years.  Also impressive is the fact that Kirk has been able to escape serious injury over the past two seasons.

In 2001, Kirk – who is a member of the National Honor Society – was named Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 and Honorable Mention Academic All-Pac-10 while anchoring an offensive line that helped the Cardinal rushing game to its third best season in Stanford history.

From Provo in Love
Kirk hails from Provo High School where he started on offense and defense for three seasons and was named SuperPrep All-American, First-Team All-State and First-Team Academic All-State as a senior. 

It was at PHS that Kirk began dating an underclassman that was his brother’s friend’s sister and would eventually become his eternal companion.  Kirk and Marilyn Ord were married on June 23, 2001, in the Provo Utah Temple and currently live in the San Francisco bay area where Marilyn teaches at a private school.

Photo credit: Brent Chambers

Chasing Marilyn around was not all that Kirk did in the football off-season in Provo; he also played three seasons of varsity basketball, made the state meet in the shot put and sang in the school choir.  He was also a member of an AAU all-star basketball team where his skills were put to good use.  “Basically, I was good for five fouls, a few rebounds and a garbage basket here and there,” Kirk remembered.  “But fouling was my specialty.”

Kirk practices his roundball skills nowadays on the Young Men in his ward where he serves as the priest quorum advisor.  “I only play when the young men get a pickup game going,” he said.  “I actually spend more time playing tennis.  My wife is teaching me how to play.  She doesn’t let me win either.  But once I get my serve down, watch out.”

Marilyn and Kirk maintained their relationship through the two years of Kirk’s mission (1998-2000) and for 18 months after the mission while Kirk was in Palo Alto and Marilyn finished her degree in early childhood education at BYU

David Gonzales Photography, gonzalesphoto.com

Pro Hopeful
Playing professional football is a dream of Kirk’s.  “I think that for anyone to be an outstanding collegiate player,” he said, “there has to be a striving for the next highest level.  Playing in the NFL is what I am striving for.”

Photo credit: Jed Wells

Family Chambers
Brent and Carolyn Chambers have five sons: Cory, 28, Kelly, 27, Kevin, 25, Kirk, 23, Craig, 21, and a daughter: Kristin, 14.  All five boys have been on missions and interestingly, Kirk and Kevin were companions for two months while serving in Germany.

It was a difficult decision for Kirk to choose Stanford over BYU – especially since most of the Chambers family has attended BYU. 

“Kirk made an argument for choosing Stanford that I couldn’t refute,” said Brent.  “He told me that at BYU he would be just another Mormon kid, but at Stanford, he could be a missionary every day.”

“I had the opportunity to share information about the Church with my roommates before I was married,” Kirk said.  “Now, I’ll go with my wife, who is a ward missionary, on her assignments.  I really enjoy doing that.”

A Special Knowledge
Serving a mission is something Kirk always knew he would do.  “There wasn’t any one defining moment where I made the decision,” Kirk recalled.  “It’s just something there was never any question about for me.  I knew once I was done with high school, I would go and serve.  A lot of credit has to be given to my parents who taught all of us the importance of serving a full time mission.”

Ether 12:4 is Kirk’s favorite scriptural passage and Be Still My Soul is one of his favorite hymns.

Kirk’s list of awards is lengthy, including that of Eagle Scout, but the one accomplishment he is most pleased with is his honorable release from his mission.

“Stay firmly founded in your faith,” Kirk advises the youth-aged LDS athletes.  “Prepare for a mission and keep a good balance in your life.  Put your mission ahead of sports, it’s just the best thing to do.”

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Kelly L. Martinez is a freelance writer who has been a part of the Meridian family since 2001. In addition to Meridian, Kelly's work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Deseret Morning News, the Long Beach Press-Telegram, and several other newspapers.