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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Inside Look With Eric Decker
10/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Q: What is your favorite part during the game?
A: When we come out during warm-up and stuff, guys are having a good time. I guess when we shoot the cannon and run out of the tunnel, it’s a good time. It is an adrenaline rush and it gets the crowd pumped up, then it is game time and time to get focused.
Q: Who do you most admire in your life?
A: It would have to be my parents. They have raised me and taken care of me my whole life. From the sports aspects, my mom has always been the one that’s been there for me. My dad was the one who kind of pushed me and helped me with the sports aspect. I would also say my sister. I have always grown up wanting to be like her and she has always pushed me to be a better person then I am.
Q: If you couldn’t play football which sport would you play?
A: I think baseball. I grew up in a baseball town, have always loved the sport and still love watching it.
Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A: Not really, I go out before the game and play some catch to get warmed up and get focused other then that. I also listen to some music, get focused and go over my play book and make sure I know what I am doing.
Q: If you could be on any MTV show, what would it be?
A: Maybe Real World. Just to have the experience of going to Australia or somewhere crazy and living with six or seven different people for a couple of months at a time. To have that experience, have no obligations and just to have some fun.
Q: Do you and the football players pull any pranks on each other?
A: Yeah, we used to do it more last year more than this year. Last year in the hotels we would sneek into each others rooms and flip each others beds or pour water on each other.
Q: What would your dream job be?
A: Probably owning a sports team at any level, maybe even coaching because I love sports and hanging out with kids.
Q: Which guys in the locker room pump the team up before you take the field?
A: There are a couple of guys who are getting some chants going or getting guys riled up, but other then that it is pretty quiet. Besides a couple of guys who are chit chating, we’re pretty focused.
Q: What is your favorite football movie?
A: “Remember the Titans”, because the whole theme of the movie is two different sides of people joining together. During that time period it was hard. Just the camaraderie and all the guys came together and they were able to have a good season. Just the whole story to it was great.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: I would say heights, looking over balconys or cliffs.
Q: What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
A: In the summer I just like going home and be by the lake. I’m a relaxed guy. I listen to country music, sit on the boat and do water sports.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Minnesota football?
A: Tradition. We have six national championships and 18 Big Ten championships. I just grew up loving the Gophers and I had my cousin play here. I have always been a fan and now I am part of it and it is special.
A: When we come out during warm-up and stuff, guys are having a good time. I guess when we shoot the cannon and run out of the tunnel, it’s a good time. It is an adrenaline rush and it gets the crowd pumped up, then it is game time and time to get focused.
Q: Who do you most admire in your life?
A: It would have to be my parents. They have raised me and taken care of me my whole life. From the sports aspects, my mom has always been the one that’s been there for me. My dad was the one who kind of pushed me and helped me with the sports aspect. I would also say my sister. I have always grown up wanting to be like her and she has always pushed me to be a better person then I am.
Q: If you couldn’t play football which sport would you play?
A: I think baseball. I grew up in a baseball town, have always loved the sport and still love watching it.
Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A: Not really, I go out before the game and play some catch to get warmed up and get focused other then that. I also listen to some music, get focused and go over my play book and make sure I know what I am doing.
Q: If you could be on any MTV show, what would it be?
A: Maybe Real World. Just to have the experience of going to Australia or somewhere crazy and living with six or seven different people for a couple of months at a time. To have that experience, have no obligations and just to have some fun.
Q: Do you and the football players pull any pranks on each other?
A: Yeah, we used to do it more last year more than this year. Last year in the hotels we would sneek into each others rooms and flip each others beds or pour water on each other.
Q: What would your dream job be?
A: Probably owning a sports team at any level, maybe even coaching because I love sports and hanging out with kids.
Q: Which guys in the locker room pump the team up before you take the field?
A: There are a couple of guys who are getting some chants going or getting guys riled up, but other then that it is pretty quiet. Besides a couple of guys who are chit chating, we’re pretty focused.
Q: What is your favorite football movie?
A: “Remember the Titans”, because the whole theme of the movie is two different sides of people joining together. During that time period it was hard. Just the camaraderie and all the guys came together and they were able to have a good season. Just the whole story to it was great.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: I would say heights, looking over balconys or cliffs.
Q: What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
A: In the summer I just like going home and be by the lake. I’m a relaxed guy. I listen to country music, sit on the boat and do water sports.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Minnesota football?
A: Tradition. We have six national championships and 18 Big Ten championships. I just grew up loving the Gophers and I had my cousin play here. I have always been a fan and now I am part of it and it is special.
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