April 8, 2009
Written/compiled by Cat Park
Redshirt freshman quarterback Tevin Washington is looking forward to the 2009 season. Washington is a speedy, elusive quarterback who joins junior Josh Nesbitt and sophomore Jaybo Shaw to give the Yellow Jackets depth at the QB position. We recently caught up with the Montgomery, Ala., native to chat about the Georgia Tech/UGA rivalry, transition from high school to college, and pressures of being a quarterback.
Q: What made you choose Georgia Tech over all the other possible colleges?
A: I wanted to play for Coach Johnson because I looked at his track record. I knew we would win as a team. First of all, I wanted to come because of academics — a chance to better myself academically and athletically.
Q: Since you are from Alabama, you did not really grow up with the intense Tech/UGA rivalry. How do you feel about the rivalry now that you’ve been at Tech for a year?
A: I feel like it’s a big rival – Georgia Tech/Georgia. It’s like back at home – Alabama/Auburn. For everybody over here it’s Georgia Tech/Georgia. So you’re either a Georgia or Georgia Tech fan.
Q: I hear that your father played basketball. What made you choose football as your sport of choice?
A: I chose it in 8th grade when I quit playing basketball because I wanted to get better at football going into high school. Ever since then I just put more time into football than basketball. It just worked. It’s been working for me – playing football over basketball.
Q: You redshirted as a true freshman. How has that helped you and what did you learn from that experience?
A: It helped me a lot, in terms of learning the offense. It’s a lot different than what I did in high school. I got more familiar with the school and how college works. Redshirting gave me a chance to get used to my environment and what I’m going to have to be used to for the next few years.
Q: What do you consider to be your strengths on the field? What areas do you think you need to improve on?
A: I think I have room to improve on everything. I don’t think I have any strengths right now. I think I have weaknesses.
Q: If you could play any other position on the field, what would it be and why?
A: I wouldn’t trade playing quarterback for anything. I like playing quarterback a lot. Just being in control and being the person that everybody else on the team looks up to in all situations, when we are wining and when we’re losing. I like to be that person they look up to.
Q: Playing quarterback is a lot of pressure, how do you handle that?
A: You try not to think about the pressure part. Just go out there, be cool, calm, and collected. Be yourself. Strive under pressure. Think about, in every situation, making the best out of whatever comes. Just let the game come to you.
Q: The transition from high school to college football must be hard. What or who helped you the most in learning all the plays and getting a hand on playing football in college?
A: I would probably say two people – my dad and one member of the staff, Lamar Owens. He [Lamar] really helped me learn the offense this off-season, going over and looking at film. My dad helped me by just always being in my ear. He tells me to stay humble, stay with it, and do your best at whatever you do. Keep everything in perspective in what you’re trying to do in life and your goals.
Q: What is your pre-game meal?
A: This past year we had the same pre-game meal most of the time. It was lasagna, baked chicken, and some vegetables – broccoli and cheese and string beans.
Q: What, in your opinion, is the hardest thing about being a D-1 quarterback?
A: The hardest thing, I would probably have to say, is the learning curve. The learning curve from high school and learning defense and all these things from high school to college to be a D-1 quarterback.
Q: What is one thing you miss the most about Alabama?
A: My family. Over here I’m by myself, so every time I go home I try to spend as much time with my family as I can. I like being at home and being around everybody I grew up with and know.
