Nov. 17, 2006
#66 Derek Landri
Senior, 6-3, 277
Defensive Tackle
Concord, Calif./De La Salle
A three-year starter, fifth-year senior Derek Landri plays his final game today at Notre Dame Stadium this afternoon. He has been one of the leaders on defense this season and enters today’s game against Army having made 34 consecutive starts on the defensive line. Ranked by The Sporting News and Lindy’s as the number-eight defensive tackle in college football at the start of the 2006 campaign, Landri is having his best season in an Irish uniform. He is among the team leaders on defense with 40 tackles (17 solo, 23 assisted) and 3.5 sacks. Landri graduated in May ’06 with a degree in history and computer applications from the College of Arts and Letters and is presently enrolled in graduate studies. Gameday’s Laura Hansen gives Irish fans a chance to get to know Brian Mattes.
Hansen: What is your major and why are you interested in it?
Landri: I am double major in history and computer applications. History is interesting to me and everything else just seemed boring.
Hansen: What is your favorite class and why?
Landri: Probably my Sociology of Terrorism class. The topic is terrorism and it’s interesting to learn about all of its details.
Hansen: Do you have any nicknames? What are they?
Landri: In high school, my nickname was “Dirty.” It carried over a little bit, but not that much.
Hansen: How old were you when you started playing football?
Landri: I was 10 years old when I first played football, but then I didn’t play again until high school.
Hansen: What has been the most embarrassing moment in your athletic career?
Landri: I fell down at practice last week and my knee braces locked together.
Hansen: What other schools did you consider before coming to Notre Dame, and what made you choose Notre Dame?
Landri: I looked at USC, Nebraska, Miami, and Michigan, but I chose Notre Dame because of variety of reasons. I met with Aaron Taylor and talked with him a little bit about it, and I also talked with my high school basketball coach, who also graduated from here. When I was here on my visit, just the awe of the school made me want to come here.
Hansen: What has been the highlight of your Notre Dame career to date?
Landri: This season’s Michigan State game when we came from behind to win 40-37.
Hansen: What is one thing in your life that you cannot live without?
Landri: Pasta.
Hansen: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
Landri: I don’t own a video game.
Hansen: Where is the toughest stadium that you’ve played as a college football player?
Landri: Neyland Stadium in Tennessee.because of the overall crowd atmosphere.
Hansen: What song best describes your personality?
Landri: “Come Fly with Me” by Frank Sinatra.
Hansen: What is your favorite place on campus?
Landri: The Grotto.
Hansen: NDH or SDH? Why?
Landri: Neither. I prefer my own cooking.
Hansen: If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go and why?
Landri: Italy, because I have never been there. I am Italian and I would like to go visit some of my family who is over there.
Hansen: If you could participate in the Olympics, which sport would you play (since football is not an Olympic sport)?
Landri: Shot put or javelin.
Hansen: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Landri: I would be invisible. As a kid, I always tried to be a spy, so being invisible would have help me be a little more mischievous.
Hansen: What was your favorite TV show growing up as a kid? And nowadays?
Landri: As a kid, I watched Gilligan’s Island all the time, but now it’s a toss up between a cooking show or the History Channel.
Hansen: If you were stranded on an island and could only eat one meal, only listen to one song, and spend you time with only one person; what would you eat, what would you listen to and who would you pick?
Landri: I would eat pasta, listen to Frank Sinatra, and be with Ghandi.
Hansen: If you had a chance to play golf with anyone in history, who would be in your foursome, in addition to yourself, and why?
Landri: George Patton, Vince Lombardi, and Dick Butkus. Patton is an old-school psychopath; I grew up with Lombardi’s speech and the awe of him; and Butkus because he is nuts as well.
Hansen: When your football career is over, what do you see yourself doing?
Landri: Back in California and working in real estate.
Hansen: Describe what it feels like on gameday and playing in Notre Dame Stadium.
Landri: It’s a giant rush of adrenaline, an indescribable feeling.
Hansen: What is your favorite thing about playing for Notre Dame?
Landri: Hitting the `Play Like A Champion’ sign and running out of the tunnel with that gold helmet on.