Q&A with Terrence Kiel

Senior defensive back Terrence Kiel talked with AggieAthletics.com about classwork, preparing for a road trip and conditioning work before and during the season.

Terrence Kiel is the team's second-leading active tackler entering the 2002 season.

You've set a goal to graduate this May. That would have you graduate in four years, which is rare these days at major universities, yet alone for a varsity athlete. To what do you attribute your success in the classroom, and how much summer school have you taken?

"Well, I have been to summer school every year. Every summer session I have been in school. I basically just get the amount classes in I need a semester, and get in and take care of my schoolwork."

Rumor has it you bring the most pain on the defense. What game featured the biggest hit in your career, and how hard is it to get that big-time hit?

"It would probably have to be when we were playing in Wyoming. I like contact, but its very rare in a game where you can catch somebody coming wide open. In the past I have wanted (the big hit) too much, so this year, I am just going to let it come to me."

What A&M player is the hardest to bring down...who really puts their head down and tries to run you over? How about in the Big 12?

"To be honest with you, I can't really say. There are only a few guys that I've gone up against head-to-head that were tough, but none of them were really that hard to take down. From my standpoint, when I make contact I bring power behind me. On our team...probably a running back. Either Joe Weber or Derek Farmer."

Are you where you wanted to be physically going into the season? What did you focus on most in the off-season?

"I just lifted a lot. I worked on a whole bunch of DB drills and agility work, basically a lot of footwork and stuff like that. I like my weight now. I am running well at 210 lbs., so I am going to try to keep it there."

What kind of weightlifting will you do during the season?

"We lift once before Monday. Actually, we have an option, we can lift either Sunday or Monday. A lot of the guys will go lift on that Sunday to get that one out of the way. Then we have to lift again between Monday and Thursday before we play. So we lift twice, basically it is just to keep yourself up."

Sammy Davis at cornerback forces teams to think twice about throwing his way. How much does that affect the game plan?

"I don't think it affects the defense too much. I mean, if they want to, (offenses) are going to throw to his side, but a lot of teams are going to be wise and not to throw to his side. He is a good player so a lot of people are going to be smart and not throw to his side. I don't think it changes it up our defensive strategy, it just helps us out a lot more on defense. That's just one area that we don't have to have too much concern about."

How do you approach this season with the high expectations circling around yourself and the team?

"We came into the season knowing we were going to have high standards set for ourselves. For the past couple of months (the media) ranked our secondary one of the top five in the nation. We have even had a couple of instances where we have seen ourselves as the number one secondary in the country. We have three experienced starters back, so we have high expectations for ourselves."

What is the mindset of the defense this week going up to Pittsburgh coming off a week where the Wrecking Crew forced 10 turnovers?

"We've got to go up there and do the same thing. We made a lot of mistakes last week that a lot of people would fail to see. We can play a whole lot better than what we played on Saturday. (Pittsburgh and Louisiana-Lafayette) are two totally different teams, but we have the same expectations to go out and dominate the game. That is our mindset for every game."

Do you like airplane trips?

"Yeah, I like to fly."

After a road win, do you have time to celebrate or do you just get right back on the plane and head back to College Station?

"A road game is a business trip, like Coach (Slocum) says. We take care of our business up there, fly right back, and come home. Then you have some time to have fun to celebrate after a win. Have smart fun though."