University of Minnesota Athletics

Gopher football vs Fresno State at TCF Bank Stadium, Sept. 4, 2018.  (Photo/Craig Lassig)

Under the Helmet: Phillip Howard

11/7/2018 3:40:00 PM | Football

Phillip Howard is as local as it gets hailing out of Minneapolis after an exciting high school career at Robbinsdale Cooper. The sophomore receiver has 19 games of experience under his belt and is next up in our Under the Helmet series: 

Gopher Sports: How do you motivate your teammates?

Phillip Howard: I pretty much just let them know why they are here, they came here to be a baller. You can make plays at any moment. I let them know that big time players make big time plays and that they are all big time players and that they can change the game at any moment.

GS: How do you balance school and football?

PH: Time management. School always gets priority, the coaches stress that almost every day. Ultimately you need to put aside time for homework with practice and things like that. I also use the Land O'Lakes Excellence Center almost daily. I go in use the computers for homework, ask for help. I'm in there all the time.  

GS: What led you to majoring in sports management?

PH: I like sports, but also I always wanted to work at a high school as an athletic director when my playing days are over. You can't play forever, you can't play 100 years of football, your body will break down on you. Also iId like to maybe coach at a high school level. 

GS: What is your pregame routine like?

PH: I have a five song game playlist, just the same five songs on repeat. I can't tell you my secret, I can't tell you what those are. I'll listen to that and visualize myself making plays during the game, my job and what I need to do in certain situations. I go over the game plan and the assignment sheet. I pretty much get in my own little world.

GS: Does that playlist change every season?

PH: It changes. I'll pick five. Sometimes I'll change it up every game. Ultimately it's just five songs.

GS: What is your dream job?

PH: My dream job would be to have a career in the NFL. It doesn't hurt to say that you want to play your favorite sport for a living. 

GS: What team would you want to play for?

PH: You know what team I'd love to play for? Any team that would take me.

GS: If you could play any other sport here what would it be and why?

PH: Baseball. That was my favorite sport growing up. I played it in high school and through my childhood. I was coached in it by my dad.

GS: What position were you?

PH: I was in the outfield because I was the fastest kid out there.

GS: If you were trapped on an elevator all day, which teammate would you choose to be stuck with?

PH: I would say Malcolm Robinson. Malcolm will talk your ears off, even if he has nothing to talk about, he'll find something to talk about. He would keep me entertained for a day until I fell asleep on him.

GS: What is the best show to binge watch on Netflix?

PH: I always binge watch Last Chance U when it comes out, I'll watch it in a day. I always bounce around, but I've watched 13 Reasons Why, Orange is the New Black, American Horror Story. I've seen a few episodes of Riverdale, but I can't catch on with it. 

GS: Have you watched The Office?

PH: Yeah, I forgot about The Office. If you are ever bored, this is my advice to everybody, if you are bored and have nothing to do, just watch a few episodes of The Office.

GS: What do you like to do when you aren't playing football or in class?

PH: I like to sleep in. I'm not a big video game guy, but I might play a few. Maybe go out on an adventure.

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