Oct. 13, 2004
If you could open and run any kind of restaurant, what kind of food would you serve and where?
I would probably open up a game restaurant and serve big game and small game. Fish, venison, elk, buffalo, whatever. I would probably open it up in the west, like Colorado or something.
Do you go hunting a lot?
My family does. I fish a lot. I haven’t been able to hunt as much as they do because it’s during football season. I have been quail hunting and dove hunting. I have been elk hunting once. I got a cow elk. We didn’t see any shootable bulls, so one of our buddies had a cow elk tag so he said I could shoot it for him so I did.
If you were elected to be the President of the U.S. tomorrow, what would be your first act?
My first act I would try to get everyone to relax and calm down a little bit. I think that’s the main reason people are so stressed out all the time, because they need to relax. Maybe make three-day weekends year round.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
They don’t know that I want to get my pilots license. That’s what I want to do no matter what happens with football. I was just going to wait until I graduate this semester. I don’t want to do commercial; I want to do the private or corporate.
What would be your ultimate Sports Center highlight?
It would have to on a punt. I would run down there against Georgia, make the hit on the guy. He fumbles, pick up the fumble and score a touchdown to win the game.
If you could communicate with any type of animal, which would you pick?
I would probably say either monkeys or fish. I have a fish tank, so probably fish. Monkeys are so close to being like us I just want to know what they are thinking about us.
If you had to exchange wardrobes with someone on the team, whose clothes would you want?
I would definitely not say punter Andy Thomson because he wears silk shorts and stuff like that. If I could change clothes with anybody I think it would be cool to dress like [George] Cooper does for one day. He tries to wear crazy weird colors all the time and match them up. Just to dress like him for one day would be pretty cool.
Tell about one visible scar…
I got this scar on my elbow. Me and my brother and a buddy were driving down to Gulf Shores after finals one year. It was raining real badly and we got into a car wreck. Flipped the car four times and landed upside down. Nothing happened really, but I was the only one with any real damage. I got the scar on my elbow because of it. All three of us shouldn’t have made it out of that wreck, but I was the only one with that injury, so that was good.
If you could relive any single family outing in your life what would it be?
I think maybe when we went to Arizona for one of my dad’s business trips. The hotel we stayed in was incredible. The name of the hotel was the Camel Back and it was incredible. We got to visit the Grand Canyon and fly over it and stuff. We went to Flag Staff. Definitely that one.
If you could have season tickets for any team, sitting in any place in the stadium, which team would it be and where would you sit?
I would have to say Tampa Bay Bucs. I have a friend Will Heller that plays down there and is doing well. Tampa Bay’s stadium is incredible now. Box seats, fifty-yard line. It’s too hot to sit down there.
What is the nicest compliment that you have received?
That I work hard at what I do. I played three sports throughout my life until I got to college, and I pretty much always got that compliment. That was always important to me that no matter what I did, I worked hard at it. Especially here, where I just play a small position and people notice it.
What other sports did you play?
Baseball and basketball. Third base in baseball and played shooting guard in basketball. The two guard. I made all-county my senior year. We lost in the state championship. My senior year in basketball we won the state championship. I know I shot close to 50-percent in three-pointers. That’s all I cared about, shooting three-pointers.
Ever play with anyone on the team?
We have had an intramural team ever since I have been here. We have won it a couple of times. Usually we will just play together.
Ever take on anyone one on one?
No, not really. I don’t get over there as much as some of those other guys do during the season. I just play intramurals. If I had to play someone one on one, I think it would be Calvin Johnson, just to see how he plays. I don’t even know if he used to play basketball. He looks like he could play really well. He looks just like a basketball player. He has the build of Michael Jordan. Same body I think.
When your Tech days are over, how would you like to be remembered?
Someone who came to practice and worked hard everyday. Didn’t take my position for granted. Took pride in my position. Did whatever to help the team out. Team player who got the job done, anyway I could.
Who has had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
I would have to say, my dad and my mom. I have three brothers and we are all about eighteen months apart. We were all playing sports at the same time. They made it a point to have at least one of them at every game. Just the support that they have given me, even in that year I decided not to play in college, they still support me in whatever I did. They gave me the strength and perseverance to get through life. Just me and my little brother are the only ones who play sports now, so it’s a little easier. He plays baseball for Georgia Southern.
If you could teach any subject/thing, what would it be?
I would teach oceanography would be really cool. I have always had a fascination with underwater life. I think that would be really cool. I wouldn’t mind taking some classes on that.
When I was a youth growing up, I pretended to be like…
The Karate Kid. Me and my brothers all had karate outfits. That was one of the things we always pretended to be like. I have home video of me crane kicking my little brother.
If you were forced to give up all of your possessions but one, what would it be?
I would say fishing pole so I could always get food.
What one thing makes you smile?
Other people smiling, definitely. Anyone I see that is happy always makes me smile. If I am ever having a bad day, I can see some one smile and realize that it’s not that bad. I just like to see other people smile.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from being a college athlete?
Don’t take your opportunities for granted. Try to realize what type of opportunity you have.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I like to get a feel for what we are going to be like out on the field by watching other people. I will go out on the field early and catch punts that may be a ritual. I have done that for the past three years. Then I will go in and stretch. I try to look at everyone and try to get a feel for how we are going to play just by watching everyone else. It kind of relaxes me and takes my mind off of what I have to do.
What is the best thing about being a college athlete at Tech?
For me it’s just playing here at Tech. I grew up watching every home football and basketball game since I can remember. I used to ball boy here for the basketball team. I grew up on Tech sports. Just having a chance to play here has always been special to me. That’s the best thing. When were you a ball boy? I was a ball boy when `Lethal Weapon 3′ was here all the way through Marbury and Harpring. Well I guess not Marbury and Harpring, right before them though. I was in high school by then. I went to a few of the home basketball games last year, but my dad and I don’t go down there as much as we used to. I still love to go and watch though. I love to watch games, with the exception of maybe Duke, games at our stadium. It’s hard to beat a game in our stadium. I love our basketball dome.
What has been the most memorable game that you have been a part of?
Since I have been here, NC State when they were undefeated up there. They were like eighth in the country. It was the best game I have played in since I have been here. I remember each snap in that game. I couldn’t hear anything. That was the loudest game I have ever played in. When I am out there and it’s not real loud I just try to block everything out, but when it’s loud like that, it kind of blocks it out for you. The volume was just incredible. I have never experienced anything like that. I couldn’t talk to someone two inches from my face. It was amazing.
If you could have the largest collection of one thing, what would it be?
Islands. I’m sure you have never heard that one before. I love tropical places. I would love to have my own island.
What is your all-time favorite meal?
It’s hard to pick. My granddad on my dad’s side is Greek and my mom can cook pretty good too. All-time favorite meal I would have to say either my mom and my granddad’s Thanksgiving dinner together or my granddad’s leg of lamb. They are incredible, you can’t choose between those two.
If you were a pro wrestler what would your name be?
Flounder. My special move would be the `Flounder Flop’ from off the high rope.
What is your best non-athletic talent?
Probably drawing. Ever since I was a little kid I thought I wanted to be a cartoonist. I always wanted to get into animated movies or something like that. I draw a lot.
What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?
I would have to say when I dressed up as the Joker from Batman. I had the purple zoot suit with the green stripes on it. The purple hat with the green band. I had everything down to the tee. My face was painted white. That had to be the best one I ever had.
If you could make one thing come true for a friend what would it be and for whom?
Coach Brooks has been a guy that has really looked out for me since I have been here. I would give Coach Brooks a raise so he could finally retire. He has been talking about wanting to retire ever since I have gotten here. That’s the one thing I would do. He is the one who called me and knew what my situation was with me leaving. I told him how I really felt. He called me and tried to warm me up to coming back. He asked me to come in and meet the new coaches. He told me to talk to any of the new coaches and see that they want me back. He let me make a decision after that. I thought that was really cool.
What team would you add to the schedule?
I would really want to add Florida State back to the schedule. I have watched Tech sports. I have seen every game we have played against Florida State and we have lost all of them. We have had some good chances dating back to when Charlie Ward brought them back from two touchdowns down in the fourth quarter. Last year, I think, was the best chance we have ever had to beat them. I definitely want them back on the schedule big time.
Name a professor that has had an impact on you here at Tech:
I would say Professor Burgess. He is teaching me Service Operations right now. He teaches Operations Management. He taught me Management of Technology. The best thing about him is he doesn’t teach like it’s a classroom. He teaches like you’re in a business. I have taken more things from his classes than any other. Things that will actually help me in the real world.
