Q&A with Taylor Whitley

Senior offensive lineman Taylor Whitley talked with AggieAthletics.com about playing in the trenches in the rough Big 12, defeating No. 1 Oklahoma, grad school and his hairdo for this season.

Talk about the challenges of blocking in the Big 12.

"Blocking guys in the Big 12 is real difficult because they are so strong and so fast, and the Big 12 is such a physical league. It is really difficult to go up against guys each week that you know can dominate a football game. So, you have to prepare yourself every week and try to get your pads under theirs, and move them off the football. It's difficult and it's a challenge, but a good challenge to have."

Compare the Kyle Field excitement of the Nebraska win in 1998 to this past weekend's OU victory.

"This weekend was probably the loudest I have ever heard Kyle Field over my career. The atmosphere was kind of the same and it was real exciting. You could tell there was a little chill in the air; you could tell something exciting was going to happen. Both of them were great football games, and things I will remember for a long time."

Is there a block that stands out in your four years of playing at A&M?

"(In the) Iowa State (game) last year when we ran a reverse with Dwain Goynes, I was the lead blocker downfield and I knocked a guy off the field and into the bench. It was one to show off my speed and athleticism."

Is it every lineman's dream to be on SportsCenter, have the arrow on them and "slow mo" the big block?

"Nah, it's every lineman's dream for that ball carrier to fumble the ball, we scoop (it up) and go in for a touchdown. That's probably every lineman's dream."

Speaking of the dream, on Saturday you had an opportunity around the endzone, did picking it up ever cross your mind?

"The ball was on the 6-yard line, and I think I outran the whole OU defense to get to that football so I was pretty proud of that fact. I wasn't thinking of scooping and scoring at the time, I just basically belly-flopped on it, and tried not to let anybody get it. That was something we had to have, so I didn't want to screw it up."

Talk about blocking in the trenches. I am sure there is a lot of stuff that goes on in there that the TV cameras don't see.

"Oh, there is lots of dirty stuff that goes on but it is just part of the game. There are a lot of things the TV cameras don't pick up on. There is a lot of talking, and guys sweating all over you, which isn't much fun. It gets really hot down there. But, other than that, it's a dirty job and someone has to do it. You have to find guys that like doing that type of thing."

Are the guys on the team giving you a hard time now that you are a Graduate Student?

"Yeah. I don't know, they think it is really easy. It isn't as easy as it looks. They think I take like nine hours a semester, but it is pretty tough. There is a lot of stuff you have to do after hours, stuff not in the classroom. I don't know, it is pretty tough."

What's more difficult, offensive game and strategy preparation or grad school?

"Grad school for sure. Offense, you do the same thing every week pretty much, you have little rules, made for guys that aren't so smart, but grad school is pretty tough."

There is a rumor going around that your future career is going to be in research. Can you comment on that?

"No way. Research is not fun and that might be the worst possible career opportunity for me. It just gets too time consuming."

What do you have to say to Dr. Sagas (your research professor) when he reads this interview and sees your comments on research?

"Just give me an A, and don't make me do that last research project. I actually have to go get surveys done right now on my lunch hour."

As the hair has gotten longer over the season, have you had to change the helmet size?

"Nah, I take a little air out. I tried something a little different this year, letting the hair go, and it's getting a little out of hand, a little curly. Coach Slocum doesn't like it very much. I was going to cut it this week actually, but after we beat OU I figured I had a good thing going so I will let it keep going. The helmet size has stayed the same, but a little air has gotten taken out every week."

What does the girlfriend think about the locks?

"She likes them actually. It's getting a little long and a little thick for her but she likes it, she likes it a lot better than the corps cut I had going last year."