July 24, 2002
Sophomore tailback Ryan Grant sat down and talked about his summer workouts, the new offense and Tyrone Willingham.
Grant saw action as the 2001 season progressed, getting his first carry against Boston College. The tailback finished the season with 29 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown.
Q: Talk about what you have been through during this past off-season.
A: I think that everything that happened to me and the team, is experience. A lot of teams have not been through that; losing a coach, getting a coach, losing that coach and going through that type of season. A lot of people do not go through that in their entire college career. We went through it in one season. What I try to do is go out there everyday and do what I have control over. The only thing that I have control over is how I work. Everyday, I go out there trying to get better and trying to learn the new system.
Q: Have you worked on increasing your stamina and stability during the off-season?
A: I am trying to bulk up so that I can take more of a pounding. Also, I have worked on more explosion and stamina. Stamina is important. You have to have stamina after you have been hit. Also, I have been working on my thighs extra hard. I have just been focusing on the little things.
Q: You will have just three weeks between the start of camp and the Kickoff Classic. Do you think camp will be hectic?
A: I have heard a lot of rumors about how camp will be, everything from it will be crazy or that it won’t be that bad. I have the upmost trust in Coach Willingham and how he will prepare us for the Kickoff Classic. Another thing I heard is that Coach is going to do some conditioning during the camp. I do not think that he will overwork us because we do still have to learn the new offense and the defensive scheme.
Q: Do you think that fans will be shocked by the new offense?
A: Absolutely. They will be 100 percent shocked because it is a West-Coast offense. Offensively, I feel really good about what Coach Willingham and Coach Diedrick are doing. I think the fans will be really excited.
Q: What are your impressions have Tyrone Willingham, now that he has been with the program for seven months?
A: I am impressed with Coach Willingham’s discipline. He is all business. Also, he is a player’s coach. He does what is best for the team and not what is best for individual players. He just wants to win and will do whatever it takes to get that “w.”