March 30, 2004
Amanda Burke, an all-conference and all-region midfielder on the nationally-ranked Texas A&M soccer team, will spend some time visiting this spring with fellow student-athletes in a regular feature here on AggieAthletics.com. Amanda sat down this week with Stephen McGee, a freshman quarterback on the Texas A&M football team. Stephen graduated from Burnet High School early and entered A&M in January, and is expected to compete for the quarteback position this fall.
Tell me about your hometown of Burnet and the high school that you attended...
"We [Burnet High School] have over 900 [students] now actually. We've always been a 3A school, but now we just went 4A. It's a really small town of about 4,700 people."
Was it a big change coming here with so many more people?
"It was. I mean it's a lot different. There's so much more that goes on here than in the town of Burnet, but [the change] wasn't that bad. It's definitely different, but it wasn't incredible."
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In making such a big decision, what did you see as some of the benefits of graduating early to come to A&M?
"First of all, I kind of get my feet wet with the whole college life and getting classes out of the way...especially like some of the mandatory freshmen classes we have to take, so I don't have to take those during the fall. But the big thing and main reason that I came is of course spring ball, getting extra practices and having to go through everything earlier."
What kinds of things do you feel like you have given up to do this?
"Definitely just being with my buddies back home...with all my friends, and just being with my family and stuff. Not too much goes on in spring, so there's not a certain event. I mean everyone talks about prom, but that really wasn't a big deal as much as being able to be with my friends."
So are you still going to attend your high school prom?
"(Smiling) No, I don't think so."
What was it like coming into a team that has already been together for a semester?
"I had to come in and show my respect for the team, and I still am. I'm the young guy. I have to start building relationships with the guys on the team, learn the new staff, the traditions and the stuff that this team finds interest in, and kind of go from there. [Mainly it's] getting to know everybody and building those new relationships that you have to have with your teammates."
Did anyone in particular take you under his wing?
"Yeah. There's a lot of guys that have helped me. Of course the other quarterbacks, Ty Branyon and T.J. Sanders, my roommate, have been a huge help to me getting me through everything. T-Murph (Terrence Murphy), when we're on the football field, has helped me out a lot. So those three guys have probably been the biggest help."
I understand that the bond between quarterbacks and wide receivers is crucial for success. What kinds of things have you and Terrence done to build on that?
"We'll go throw and stuff on our own, and try to build our timing and stuff like that on the football field. Trying just to get that 1-2 combination on the football field. Also, just trying to get to know each other and see what we're like and get a feel for our personalities and try to help each other become better on and off the field."
How do receivers in college compare to those in high school?
"Well, I was blessed to have some pretty good ones in high school, and so the biggest thing I've noticed is just the physical size. They're a lot bigger, and they're all fast and talented."
How is the speed of the college game different?
"The speed of the game isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The biggest thing for me right now is adjusting mentally. I think the mental play is so much quicker. I mean you have to make a lot quicker decisions and so forth. So the mental part has been the biggest part of the adjustment."
What is it that brought you to A&M?
"It was a lot of things. I don't know if there is just one certain thing that made me come to A&M. It just kind of felt like this is where I was supposed to be. There's a lot of things. It was between here and Georgia. They're two very similar schools with a lot of tradition, and I felt like the upside here at A&M is...I think the future can have a lot of success if we're willing to work hard and come together as a team."
What is your favorite thing about A&M so far?
"I'd say the friendship, and the people here are just incredibly nice and giving and have helped out so much with the early transition."
It's still early, but have you declared your major yet?
"Yeah, business. I don't know exactly what field in business, but I know that I've decided business."