Vince Young Media Interview 12/05

LongJim · December 6, 2005

For those following the Rose Bowl:

Q: You seem pretty relaxed right now. How do you feel? Are you feeling pretty good about things?

A: I'm just relaxed, excited and happy. I don't know what to say. I'm just ready to get out there and play. It's kind of funny (because) I've been dreaming about playing those guys and now we're playing them. I'm excited and ready to go.

Q: Is USC really the team that you've been hoping to play all season in this situation?

A: Yeah, they are supposed to be the best team in the nation. They have the best athletes. Why not? All good teams want to play other good teams - just to see how we match up. They've got great speed and we've got great speed. They have a great quarterback and we have a great quarterback. They have a great running back. We can go on all down the line. We're pretty similar teams. They have a funny coach (and) we've got a funny coach. I'm looking forward to it.

Q: What things did you dream about when you dreamed about this game?

A: We're out there having fun - the life of Los Angeles again. Seeing the guys and the different things behind the scenes that y'all don't see that we were doing down there. There are a lot of things going on and we had a good time down there. To go back and do it again, the guys are older so they can get into some spots that they couldn't get into (last year). We're looking forward to all of it. Just the memories. I think USC is the same way. It's all about the memories and having fun. That's why they are playing good and that's why we are playing good.

Q: Is the Heisman Trophy in your dreams right now?

A: All the time. Winning a national championship, we got the Big 12 trophy – the Heisman is always on my mind. It's getting closer and closer. You kind of wake up now thinking that you're already in New York. It's getting closer and closer. All I can do now is keep praying about it.

Q: What do you think of your chances to win the Heisman?

A: I think my chances are real high. If (the voters) have been watching the games and how I'm a leader for my teammates – I hope they will see that the numbers I put up were basically in the first half (of games). In the second half, I've basically been on the bench. I hope they look at that. If I played a full game, I'd have some more stats, but Coach Brown doesn't like to blow out people, so he'll put all of our starters on the bench. If they basically look at that and how I love my teammates, how we play together and how big of a leader I am to those guys, I'm pretty sure I should win it. If they are just looking for the big, big highlights, then you've got (Reggie) Bush winning it. He is a great athlete though.

Q: Will that motivate you even more if you don't win?

A: Yeah, it will motivate me if I don't win it, to go out there and show the world that they made the wrong decision. You've got to do that. It's all about the game. I'm just looking forward to getting out there and getting after those guys.

Q: Do you wish the Heisman was awarded after the Rose Bowl, since the top three players are all expected to be playing in that game??

A: Not really. I want to get it out of the way. I'm tired of hearing about it.

Q: During the season you were so focused on each game at hand, but with the Rose Bowl a month away, is it kind of nice to actually be able to open up about your desire to win the award? ?

A: I just want the guys that are making the decision to look at the different things and the similarities that we don't have, with me, Bush and (Matt) Leinart – to see the different things that we bring to the table and what pushes our team to win like we're winning as leaders. I hope they look at it like that, but if they are just going off of big highlights and things like that, basically (Bush) is going to win. I had a couple of highlights, but not as many as he's had.

Q: How hard is it for you to sit around for a month and wait for the biggest game of your life?

A: It's real hard. Basically, these finals that are going on right now are getting on my nerves and then just sitting around waiting to play. It's not until January 4th. There's a lot of time between that. To me, it's like another two-a-days again. We've got practice and then we're going home and being bored. There's nobody around. Everybody's going home and we're basically just looking at each other all day. That's basically what it's going to be like, but as long as we stay focused and play hard, everything will be alright.

Q: Is it your job to keep this team loose? There's a slow build-up for this game, so is there a risk that the team will be uptight?

A: That's the biggest key. It's not just me as a leader, but all of the guys that are leaders on this team have to keep each and every one of them loose, the coaches loose – it's going to be hard looking at each there every day. Some guys are going to get tired (of looking at each other) and they'll probably get into it with each other because they want to go out and compete. As leaders on the team, we've got to keep it going every day.

Q: USC has been in this situation before and proven that they can handle it. What makes you think that the Longhorns can do the same thing and not get intimidated by everything that they have accomplished?

A: Intimidated for what? They are the same team as we are. I don't know why people think they are going to scare us, for one thing. We as a team have been doing the same thing. We've been to the granddaddy of them all. We've been in the big games as well. We've got a 19 (game) winning streak going on. All of that (being) scared stuff, no, we're not going to be scared. We're going to be pumped and excited to go out and play. All of that nervousness, that's not a part of the University of Texas.

Q: Do you think USC has played anyone like you guys?

A: They haven't seen a team like us, no. They haven't seen the different guys on our team that's gangster. (Laughs) We've got some guys that are going to talk some trash. We're not just going to let you talk in our face. When I watch them, they do a lot of different things and the people they are playing are just looking like – say something back to them. Guys on our team, when you say something wrong to them, we're going to say something back and we're going to talk trash the whole game. That's just us. It makes the game fun and it's competition but when I see that they are playing a team like Notre Dame, (the Irish) talked back to them guys. That's what I liked about Notre Dame. So, when you go out there and just ignore them because they are USC, they are going to beat you because you are going off their hype. You are going to lose the game. But, if you go out there and play like Fresno and don't care about what their name is and just play, then you've got a very good chance of winning the game.

Q: USC has been a team that has fallen behind in some of their games this season. If that happens in this game, how important is it for you guys to seize the moment and put them away?

A: As an offense I just think that we have to protect the ball, take it play by play and not do anything big – just do what we've been doing all season. We've got an explosive offense and we've got a great coach – Coach Davis. He gets us prepared and I'm pretty sure he's in the office right now getting some things going, right now. If we just stay poised and keep having fun and just keep being us, we can come out with a victory as well. We've got to stay focused and not let USC beat us.

Q: USC is going to have a lot of celebs at the game like Snoop Dogg. Who are you guys going to have on your sideline to compete with that?

A: We'll have (Justin) Blalock, Kasey (Studdard), Rod Wright (and) Aaron Harris. That's the guys. Snoop Dogg and all of those guys are great, but if you get to know the guys that I know, they are a little better than those guys.

Q: Michael Griffin was saying that you might be able to make a few phone calls and get some celebrities like Jay-Z on the sideline. Are you going to make that happen?

A: I can. We can get some guys down there as well. We can get Beyonce, Jay-Z – we've got a lot of people as well.

Q: When you see Bush and Leinart at the Heisman ceremony on Saturday are you going to give them a big hug?

A: I don't know them guys like that. I don't know about that. I'm going to give them guys their respect and that's it. I'm not going to hug two guys that I don't know. I'm just going to be me. I'll give them guys their props and congratulate them on a great season, and we'll see y'all on the 4th.

Eagle1855 · December 6, 2005

Like this quote, what a great reply... classy team player

Q: USC is going to have a lot of celebs at the game like Snoop Dogg. Who are you guys going to have on your sideline to compete with that?
A: We'll have (Justin) Blalock, Kasey (Studdard), Rod Wright (and) Aaron Harris. That's the guys. Snoop Dogg and all of those guys are great, but if you get to know the guys that I know, they are a little better than those guys.

Michael Scott · December 6, 2005

Like this quote, what a great reply... classy team player
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Too bad he contradicts himself in the next line:

"

Q: Michael Griffin was saying that you might be able to make a few phone calls and get some celebrities like Jay-Z on the sideline. Are you going to make that happen?

A: I can. We can get some guys down there as well. We can get Beyonce, Jay-Z – we've got a lot of people as well."

I didn't see much team in this article - in fact, it kind of changed my opinion of VY. He has gone out of his way to be a jerk and talk trash the last few weeks seemigly out of nowhere. I wonder if the Texas media relations department finally took the kid gloves off him.

Heck of a player though- but lets not imagine him as some kind of saint.

Also, how come only four guys on the team are better people than Snoop? What the hell goes on in that locker room?

Wish the game was next week....

Eagle1855 · December 6, 2005

I dont really see it as a contradiction. He avoids the question by talking about his teammates instead and then the interviewer basically asked the same question again more directly.

Saint? I never said the guy could walk on water nor have I tried to start a religion based on the teachings of Vince. Most of the article is about his heisman chances. I kinda look at the heisman as an award to an idividual, so I imagine its not easy to talk about your chances without using the word "I". However I guess he could take the Karl Malone approach and use third person:

"Vince Young would love to win the Heisman"

"Vince Young thinks about the Heisman alot"

"Vince Young is looking forward to going to the Rose Bowl again because Vince was the MVP last year"

That would be entertaining if nothing else

Michael Scott · December 6, 2005

That would be entertaining if nothing else
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Yes!!! I want that to happen too. The fake Karl Malone character needs to be enshrined somewhere.

I am just surprised by how VY has been lately. It just seems like the dude changed personas out of nowhere.

I did enjoy one thing the DMN pointed out in their blog today (from Gerry Fraley):

Odd word choice

In our piece today, Texas quarterback Vince Young said of Rose Bowl opponent Southern California "they haven't seen the different guys on our team who are gangster."

In light of that observation, one wonders:

+ Is the university proud to know it has "student-athletes" who are "gangster?"

+ Should someone whose father has served time in jail be boasting about teammates being "gangster?"

It is also believed Young set an NCAA record by using forms of the first-person pronoun 15 times in the piece.

His first bullet is stupid but the second one was kind of interesting...

Eagle1855 · December 6, 2005

I agree, he has started to be more vocal, and in some ways sounds more arrogant lately than the seemingly more quiet keep to himself QB of last year. I think his team feeds off that confidence though.

As far as the gangsta comment, I can only point to the fact that he is from Houston to illustrate my point. Having grown up here I can tell you Houston is known (in the hip hop world) for creating their own type of ghetto language. You will find examples of it in all of Houston rap songs and now branching out into mainstream rap... there was an article in the Houston Press (which is the same thing as the Dallas Observer) that was written that explained what all the terms meant, which was actually quite amusing. I dont have a "street dictionary" that defines alternate meanings for 'gangsta', but I have heard the term used before to imply something was 'cool' or 'tough'. I dont think it was meant in a literal sense to say that players are actually in any way affiliated with gangs, violence, or etc... more so to say that your teammates dont take to people talking trash to them, kind of a stupid slang for 'toughness' or 'being cool like that'.

Im not defending the use of the term or even agreeing with its implications, as I think it was in rather poor judgement for a guy who knows everything he says will be in papers all over the nation. I just wouldnt make too much out of it.

+ Should someone whose father has served time in jail be boasting about teammates being "gangster?"

I disagree. I dont think this is a good point.

I think that it is more of a cheap shot.

Michael Scott · December 6, 2005

I agree, he has started to be more vocal, and in some ways sounds more arrogant lately than the seemingly more quiet keep to himself QB of last year. I think his team feeds off that confidence though.
As far as the gangsta comment, I can only point to the fact that he is from Houston to illustrate my point. Having grown up here I can tell you Houston is known (in the hip hop world) for creating their own type of ghetto language. You will find examples of it in all of Houston rap songs and now branching out into mainstream rap... there was an article in the Houston Press (which is the same thing as the Dallas Observer) that was written that explained what all the terms meant, which was actually quite amusing. I dont have a "street dictionary" that defines alternate meanings for 'gangsta', but I have heard the term used before to imply something was 'cool' or 'tough'. I dont think it was meant in a literal sense to say that players are actually in any way affiliated with gangs, violence, or etc... more so to say that your teammates dont take to people talking trash to them, kind of a stupid slang for 'toughness' or 'being cool like that'.
Im not defending the use of the term or even agreeing with its implications, as I think it was in rather poor judgement for a guy who knows everything he says will be in papers all over the nation. I just wouldnt make too much out of it.
I disagree. I dont think this is a good point.
I think that it is more of a cheap shot.
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I guess I was amused by the cheap shot - I never said it wasn't. I'm a bad person.

What's the new thing down there - chop and screw or whatever? All I know is Mike Jones (Who?) provided much basketball entertainment last season. I doubt VY meant real street gansta, but it seemed during the whole interview he was conflicted on whether to be honest or tow the company line.

I hope he goes off WWE style for the next 4 weeks to make it more fun. I also realize I have never even read a quote from Reggie Bush or seen him talk at any point in time.

Stupid waiting until January....

Eagle1855 · December 6, 2005

Now, now, you're not a bad person!

I saw an interview with Reggie Bush on "Quite Frankly" with Steven A. and it was much of the same as this interview. You could tell he thought highly of himself but was trying to answer with a little bit of humility. I imagine its hard to do, as the kids have probably been the greatest player on each of their teams their whole lives.

I just hope the game lives up to the all the hype we are about to endure for the next four months. I dont know if there will even be enough superlatives in the english language for the impending assault from the media.

Edited December 6, 2005 by Eagle1855

Michael Scott · December 6, 2005

Now, now, you're not a bad person!
I saw an interview with Reggie Bush on "Quite Frankly" with Steven A. and it was much of the same as this interview. You could tell he thought highly of himself but was trying to answer with a little bit of humility. I imagine its hard to do, as the kids have probably been the greatest player on each of there teams there whole lives.
I just hope the game lives up to the all the hype was are about to endure for the next four months. I dont know if there will even be enough superlatives in the english language for the impending assault from the media.
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I agree the hype will be unbearable - I enjoyed Pete Carroll's quote when asked about how great the game would be. He told them to just go back and read what they wrote before last year's championship.

I guess we have our own forum here - I was hoping LongJim would jump in and some point - and maybe some of our west coast posters. I will enjoy dissecting stuff like this interview for no reason and with no agenda until the game. Oh well, whatever gets me through work.

I also have a theory that Leinart plays every game hung over and it still doesn't matter.

LongJim · December 6, 2005

I guess we have our own forum here - I was hoping LongJim would jump in and some point
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I'm collecting my thoughts...

LongJim · December 7, 2005

Well, it's going to be a great game, for sure.

Regarding VY, from what I've read from and about him all year, he's been asked questions pretty much in the "what do you think of this team/offense/etc." all year, and he's answered honestly for the most part.

I don't really view anything he's said as smack, other than the comment he made about aTm fans and how he viewed the "saw varsity's horns off" swaying at Pyle Field as "ridiculous". But honestly, that game has a history of rivalry and off-the-wall stuff being said, such as a UT player when asked whether he wanted heads or tails during the coin flip against aTm answering "It don't make a shit." And now that I think of it, maybe it was OU, but I digress

UT is damned either way, though. If they don't have at least some kind of attitude that "hey, we're as good as those guys" then they're soft--which is a criticism this team has faced for the last 15 years. If they answer with basically "we have a pretty good team too" attitude, then they're talking smack, particularly since the national media already has UT getting dismantled on 1/4.

If you've watched Young closely during the last couple of years, you've seen him getting up and congratulating opposing players on their efforts, as well as pumping his own team up. There's a story that before spring practices this year, Young wrote on a marker board something like "Those that want to beat Ohio State, be here after practice...etc." to get extra time working with his receivers. I think it paid off.

He also supposedly came to two-a-days and the first thing out of his mouth was "Rose Bowl's over, y'all." I think Young's point lately is that he and his team aren't going to be intimidated by anybody, and I respect that. As UT took the field against Ohio State, Mack Brown was asked basically if the crowd/atmosphere was going to affect them. He replied diplomatically: "This is a nice place. But we've been in nice places before." IMO, that's the frame of mind you have to have in any ballgame.

It's similar to Pete Carroll's attitude, btw. Here's what Pete Carroll said at another interview this week:

Carroll was asked what it would be like to take on the nation's No. 1 offense.

"You mean in practice every day?"

Young is just echoing the attitude of his coach and coaching staff.

Regarding the game: USC is a great team. They have great offensive players, and will be difficult for UT to stop. I do believe that UT has the toughest defense USC will face this year, though, and I believe the UT secondary and d-line will give Leinart trouble. I'm not as confident in UT's linebackers, and they are going to have to play lights out, or Bush and White will eat them alive off tackle. To win, UT will have to do 2 things, as I see it.

1. Stop the run. (Easier said than done.) Rotate DL's like they have all year.

2. UT will have to get pressure on Leinart from the middle of the d-line, and occasionally outside, in order to throw his passing game off. The linebackers have got to contain USC's backs off-tackle, or UT will get killed w/play action. I think USC will have difficulty running on UT up the middle. I think UT's secondary will do well against USC's receivers, and they need to be punished on every play, which is something that I believe UT will do.

I also believe that UT will have success offensively, and will be able to put 35-40 points up, while holding USC to no more than 30-35. I expect at least 7 UT points to come from a turnover or special teams.

Young needs to have no turnovers. Robison, Bobino, Killebrew, and Aaron Harris have to play lights-out. Secondary has to bring their A game. OL/DL have to dominate. Simple!!

I expect a game with a final score of about 41-31, with UT winning.

I will now put down my orange-tinted glasses.

Edited December 7, 2005 by LongJim

Michael Scott · December 7, 2005

Good post Jim - enjoy the perspective.

I have 2 concerns/comments for Texas against USC.

1) I think White is the key to this game, not Bush. In my watching of Texas, which I doubt has been the same intensity as yours, it seems big backs can go up the middle against them. Ohio St, Ok. St., TAMU, and OU found ways to run the ball early. The thing that happens is they get up quickly and teams go away from running the ball as much. It seems like if a team can hang with them and not need to play catch up, they can move the ball on the ground. If White pounds the middle effectively, then Bush becomes even scarier offtackle to the outside (like Courtney Lewis of TAMU before he got hurt.)

2) I don't trust Greg Davis in this game. Against Ohio St. and TAMU he seemed to go back to old Greg Davis mode and this is their biggest game ever. It seems like he finally got comfortable in the Big XII, but this is the biggest game he's gameplanned for. I hope Texas lets it all hang out this game.

I think there is an overall talent edge to USC and their defense can handle what Texas throws better than people think, but I think the Texas defense can match up better as well. If I had to pick with a gun to my head, I'd go USC by 10, but could easily handle being wrong.

CMJ · December 7, 2005

I think the key to the game will be USC's defense. People know that SC's D has been suspect, but they've come up with big turnovers all year. If they continue to do this, the Trojans will win. Let's face it UT's offense can't really be stopped and will will run through SC all day. But Carrol's squad has a knack for getting the key TO and the key time. If that continues look for the Men of Troy to play "Conquest" once again.

USC 34

Texas 30

Texas to have more yards...Young has a unreal day

USC +3 in the turnover differential

UNTLifer · December 7, 2005

USC's defense costs them the game. No score prediction, but UT wins.

LongJim · December 7, 2005

1) I think White is the key to this game, not Bush.

I totally agree with you about White being the key.

Ohio State had decent success rushing, but they didn't exactly dominate, and Pittman was probably the best back they faced all year. I believe he had about 70-75 yards that game. Mike Hamilton of Ok St had probably the best game up the middle against Texas, but he was pretty much shut down after halftime. That's the thing--UT (at least this year) basically came out in a base defense to determine what the offense was trying to do, and then made adjustments to their defense based on that. The glaring exception to these adjustments being the NON-adjustment to the option run by aTm.

If White pounds the middle effectively, then Bush becomes even scarier offtackle to the outside (like Courtney Lewis of TAMU before he got hurt.)

Agree. No doubt about it.

2) I don't trust Greg Davis in this game. Against Ohio St. and TAMU he seemed to go back to old Greg Davis mode and this is their biggest game ever. It seems like he finally got comfortable in the Big XII, but this is the biggest game he's gameplanned for. I hope Texas lets it all hang out this game.

I don't agree with OSU. I do agree to an extent about the aTm game. I believe he had VY under wraps for that game, and wanted to see if they could win without too much "fuss". I personally think you'll see VY totally turned loose by Davis and Brown, much as you saw in last year's RB. They've (IMO) kept Young from running too much the last few games of the year in order to save him for this game, because I believe they felt that they could win without his legs and didn't want to get him hurt.

I think there is an overall talent edge to USC and their defense can handle what Texas throws better than people think, but I think the Texas defense can match up better as well. If I had to pick with a gun to my head, I'd go USC by 10, but could easily handle being wrong.
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You may well be right, and CMJ may be as well.

I believe USC holds a slight edge over our defense. I believe UT holds a bigger edge over their defense, and I believe UT has a significant advantage special-teams wise. If UT can avoid TO's, and get some 3 and outs, I believe they will beat USC.

Just seeing UT make a MNC game is a big thrill for me.

Edited December 8, 2005 by LongJim