October 23, 2002
| Senior defensive lineman Ty Warren talked with AggieAthletics.com about developing as a player and a person during his time at Texas A&M, how offenses combat his abilities, having a family of his own, and what he does to relax.
"It has been a real enjoyment for me coming from Bryan, being able to play in my own backyard. All the games here are electric, with all the fans standing and cheering for you from the beginning to the end of the game. I think it has been a real good experience for me being here in my backyard." Over the four years, what coach has helped you the most to get you where you are today? "Coach Slocum has been here ever since I have been here, so he has always given me pointers, and always been straight up with me about what I need to do to be a better player and a better person. Coach [Bill] Johnson, my first defensive line coach, had a lot of impact on me before he left to go to Arkansas. Now he is in Atlanta, with the Falcons. Now I've got Coach [Buddy] Wyatt and Coach [Mike] Hankwitz. Those guys right there have good pointers for me if I need anything, if I need any advice. They have been real instrumental in my progression here at A&M." How do you want to be remembered when you leave A&M, both as a football player and a person? "I'd like to be remembered as a good person. At the same time, I want to be remembered as one of the better defensive linemen that came through here." You're recently married, and with your own family now. Talk about the new work you do when you leave campus for the evening. "It is a different deal. With myself and my wife and my child, it puts a lot of things in perspective. When I am here at school and I had a rough day or something like that, I can go home to them, and it makes it all worthwhile. It makes me feel like things can be worse than what they are, so it puts a lot of things in perspective." What have the other teams been throwing at you this year...same as last year, a lot of double teams? "I have definitely been seeing a lot of double teams, and a lot of running backs coming down and trying to tip on me off the edge, so there has definitely been a lot of triple and double teams going on. But when that is going on, there is always someone else there to make the play. If there are two on me, then someone is free. It ends up helping us in the long run." What is your best asset as a d-lineman? "Probably people would say I am good at defending the run and the pass." And that comes from good size and quickness. "Yeah, size, quickness, and being in the weight room with Coach Clark, enhancing my strength and my speed." Which would you rather do--get a big sack, a fumble recovery, or an interception? "Interception, because I haven't had one of those yet. I'm still waiting for one of those, I've got five more regular season games." If you get a pick, are you going to take it back? "I plan on it. It depends on how tired I am." What if Kiel is right behind you and wants you to pitch it back to him? "Yeah. If I know I am not going to make it, I would pitch it back to him." With your busy life, what does Ty do to unwind? "Sit back and watch TV or a movie or something like that. Nothing too different than what I had been doing [before I got married]." |