Q: If you could bring something from Texas to Illinois, what would it be?

A: I think the mentality you have when you come from Texas. You know, you don’t mess with Texas. If I had to bring one thing I think that would be it.

Q: You’re an engineer. Would you like to dispel any of the rumors you’ve heard about engineering students?

A: You know, I know a lot of engineering guys that get girls. So the rumor that engineers don’t get girls would have to be one of the things that aren’t as bad as people say it is.

Q: Are you superstitious at all?

A: Not really superstitious, but I have some routines. I like to take a nap after we eat. I like to get to the gym about a half hour to 45 minutes before the game. And I usually do something stupid like I have to eat two pieces of gum during shoot around. Usually Big Red.

Q: What would you say is your biggest regret in life?

A: I try not to live with regret. Every time that I have been faced with a situation to where I have been challenged with something or faced with a decision, I like to think that I made the best decision possible and know that at the given time I made the best decision possible.

Q: What has been your favorite Illinois game so far this season?

A: Probably the Wisconsin game. It was so much fun going up there and winning and playing in an environment where it was just us against the world. I love playing at home but sometimes there is just something a little extra that gets you going on the road, when the crowd is yelling at you. You don’t just have the fear of losing, but the fear of embarrassment in front of all of those people.

Q: What is something that you don’t think most people know about you?

A: I’m missing a tooth, my front tooth. I have a retainer with a fake tooth on it. It got knocked out a couple years ago and had to get it taken out. I play without it so I don’t have to worry about it. The guys give me a hard time all the time. Coach Price calls me “toothless” and just stuff like that.

Q: What is the best thing about being a part of this team?

A: It’s really just when we will be at a restaurant or whatever and when all the guys are together that we will just be making fun of each other. Just little habits and little mannerisms that everyone has, and when we just get going and when everyone gets made fun of. Everyone gets it. Those times are probably the best.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Coach Weber?

Yeah, Coach Weber’s look. You can tell that he is thinking and that the wheels are turning upstairs, and that he is into some deep thoughts. It’s pretty funny sometimes.

Q: You lost a lot of weight going into this season, right? How did you do it?

A: Yeah, I lost about 20 pounds. I really tried to change my eating habits. I tried to eat less fast-food and I worked on a bike and treadmill and a stairmaster. I tried to do it almost everyday over the summer and during the offseason.

Q: In the media guide it says that you worked at Six Flags. What did you do there?

A: I was a roller coaster ride operator. I had the lovely job of getting everyone on and off the roller coaster and then pressing the start button. There were a couple different roller coasters. I had a couple little kid rides where I had to clean up when kids had accidents.

Q: If you could be on any reality TV show, which would you chose?

A: I would have to go with the Real World/Road Rules Challenge when its guys versus girls because the guys always dominate the girls, and I would go home with a lot of prizes.