There were two popular fishing shows I used to watch years ago while growing up – "Bill Dance Outdoors" and Jerry McKinnis' "The Fishing Hole."
 
For an angler like me who caught more tree branches than fish, these two seemed like the most relatable to someone uncomfortable handling a fishing rod – Bill Dance with his Little League-style Tennessee hat and McKinnis because of how he gently placed each fish back into the water.
 
The way those two respected the outdoors has always stuck with me for some reason.
 
The same goes for West Virginia native Curtis Fleming, whose Fly Rod Chronicles on YouTube today perfectly blend our great Mountain State heritage with the outdoors.
 
But now there is another guy I'd probably watch if he ever gives up this football thing and wants to do a fishing show: Colton McKivitz.
 
Our producer Sean Merinar did some pond hopping with Colton and his father, Matt, over in Northeastern Ohio this summer to give Mountaineer football fans a little better insight into what makes West Virginia's outstanding senior left tackle tick.
 
What you are about to learn is that time stands still whenever Colton goes outdoors.
 
"For me, fishing is pretty relaxing really," he said. "You're just outside casting all of the time and when you catch a fish it's pretty cool. Just being outside and doing something, it's got a rhythm to it."
 
Colton says nothing tops being outdoors with his father. That's about as good as it gets.
 
"It was really my dad that got me into it. He's got me into everything in the outdoors, really. That's me and dad's time, the outdoor time," McKivitz explained. "It's just kind of our little getaway where we talk and just enjoy father-son time. Just having somebody as your closest friend being your dad … I'm just lucky to have that type of figure to learn from and that's kind of what I love most about the outdoors."
 
It did take Colton a little while and a switch of ponds before he finally began to reel some in for us.
 
"Patience is a big one, but patience goes out the door when you've got to put it on TV," he said. "That's why when I'm done with football I won't have a TV career because apparently when the camera comes out the fish don't and the ducks don't.
 
"There are at least 18 ponds here and one of them has to have at least one fish that likes to eat a Mr. Twister black lure," he said moments later.
 
Eventually, he found a pond where the fish were hungry and ended up catching about eight to 10 in a couple of hours. 
 
Not too shabby!
 
But more importantly, Colton got to spend some more time outdoors with his father, which makes catching a lot of fish secondary to catching up with his pops.
 
Life as a Mountaineer is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.