University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
From the Huddle ? Senior Running Back Derrick Nix
7/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
From the Huddle ? Senior Running Back Derrick Nix
Fans are all anxiously awaiting the return of the improved and healthy Derrick Nix, a redshirt senior running back from Attalla, Ala. During his first two years, he enjoyed as good of a two-year start as any player in the school?s history, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each season. He helped lead the Golden Eagles to two bowl appearances, including the 1999 Conference USA championship and Liberty Bowl championship.
In the fourth game of his senior season, he suffered a high ankle sprain, which sidelined him for several games. He then suffered from a kidney ailment triggered by medication he was taking to keep the swelling down in his ankle. The ailment sidelined him for the remainder of the 2000 season and the entire 2001 season.
Derrick Nix is back and says he is better than ever and really excited to get back on the field. The ?Baby Bull? has 2,390 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns in his career. He is looking to finish his career as the top runner in school history.
SM.com: Derrick Nix is back, a mean, lean, running machine ? Your thoughts on the improved and healthy No. 43.
DN: Your right, Derrick Nix is back ? I feel real good about my coming back this year ? I believe I am a better running back than I was during my first two years ? I am excited and I am chomping at the bit for the opportunity of getting back on the field ? I?ve been out for a year and a half and it has seemed like an eternity for me ? It?s time for me to get on with it.
SM.com: Your prediction to the Golden Eagle nation
DN: Expect to see the same guy you did before plus more than I did in the past ? Bigger, faster and stronger ? I am more than ready to meet the challenge and prove I am back.
SM.com: Why No. 43?
DN: I started out in high school wearing No. 8 ? I had a bad year my sophomore year ? My brother wore No. 43 in high school ? I wanted to make a change and represent a new me ? I worked hard in the offseason and wanted to show a new me ? My junior and senior years went well and I received a scholarship to play here at Southern Miss, so I kept it ? It?s my number and I plan on keeping it.
SM.com: Favorite Stadium?
DN: My favorite stadium is Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ? Just coming out, their fans make the stadium and atmosphere even better ? All their fans are wearing red and white and they all know the same cheers ? Its not just because I am from the state of Alabama but the noise the fans make when they score is deafening ? That is best college atmosphere I have been in.
SM.com: The noise from the Alabama elephant or the roar of the Lion at Penn State?
DN: Penn State?s Lion roar ? I really like how the fans respond from hearing the lion roar in the stadium ? It is very loud and gets your attention ? That was the first game I ever played in as a freshman ? They had great defensive players LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown ? I had to block LaVar Arrington on the first couple of plays ? It was a great atmosphere in which to play football.
SM.com: Grass or Turf?
DN: Grass! ? I never played on turf until college ? Turf is okay but you get carpet burns and I see all the injuries that take place on turf ? I would rather play on grass anyday.
SM.com: Between the tackles or around the ends?
DN: Between the tackles ? I love to get in between the tackles and get hit and bounce out and make a big run.
SM.com: A long run or running over a linebacker as you run through the line?
DN: Running over a linebacker is more of a statement run ? I like to do that early in the game and let them know it is going to be a long afternoon.
SM.com: Do you talk on the field or does your play talk for you?
DN: Mostly I let my running do my talking ? But, I will say something once in a while ? I let them start it and then I make a big run and then I say a little something special to them ? But I make sure and back it up first.
SM.com: Do you prefer to run or lift weights?
DN: I enjoy lifting more ? With the problems my body has went through over the past couple of years, it has gone through changes, and I can see a big difference when I lift because it gets my body back into shape.
SM.com: Which do you prefer two-a-day practices or going to class?
DN: Going to class! ? Most people think that two-a-days are the worst ? Two-a-days aren?t really that bad but you?re always pushed for time ? You?re always doing something ? You?re always on the field, watching tape or in a meeting ? There is always something going on and not much time for sleep.
SM.com: What about Coach Jeff Bower makes him unique?
DN: Coach Bower is more of a players? coach ? He doesn?t complain or get after you much, especially if you do what you?re suppose to do ? He likes to go out and joke with some of the players who take care of business on the field as well as in the classroom ? The only people he really gets on are the ones who don?t do what they are suppose to do ? He always wants to know what we are thinking ? He gives us a chance to give our input, especially the seniors and class representatives ? He always tries to do things to make us better.
SM.com: Do you prefer to play golf with Coach Bower or basketball with your girlfriend Allison Story?
DN: Play basketball with Allison for sure.
SM.com: I?m sure your favorite song is Sweet Home Alabama
DN: No ? My favorite song is ?The Eye of the Tiger? off of Rocky 3 ? Watching the movie and seeing everything he goes through, the song fits him ? He built a great life style for himself and his family that he never had before ? And then he lost the edge and through hard work, he was able to get back in the ring and was able to win it back.
SM.com: Your favorite musical group or type of music?
DN: I am a fan of rap music and Master P is my favorite
SM.com: What are the thoughts that go through your mind as you cross the goal line scoring another touchdown?
DN: I am just happy to sit down because I am probably tired from a long run or if it is a long drive it is good to just sit down ? But it is a great feeling knowing that you are crossing the goal line, scoring another touchdown for the team.
SM.com: When you cut and leave a guy in the dust, how does that make you feel?
DN: That is the best feeling you can have as a running back ? The defenders always think you are going to run them over but then you cut and leave them standing there while you are running toward the end zone, it makes me want to laugh.
SM.com: The best offensive player ever at Southern Miss
DN: Sherrod Gideon ? I played with him my first two years and he did things with the ball that receivers in the NFL do ? He was an outstanding player and one that I enjoyed playing with and watching play.
SM.com: The Hardest Hitter at Southern Miss
DN: T.J. Slaughter ? Bar none ? My true freshman year he hit me in practice so hard he knocked my jaw loose ? My jaw still pops back and forth because of him.
SM.com: The Best Defensive Player at Southern Miss
DN: T.J. Slaughter ? He plays with so much intensity ? He is tough and can cover well ? He just brings so much, it was great being on the same team with him.
SM.com: Favorite NFL Player
DN: Fred Taylor, the running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars ? He has a good combination of size, speed and power ? I like to watch him run between the tackles and around the end and then with a burst of speed runs by the defender.
SM.com: Favorite Southern Miss Player
DN: Harold Shaw ? I like the way he ran and how easy he made it look ? He ran really hard and was fast ? I remember the visor on his helmet where you couldn?t see his eyes, I thought that was cool ? I really liked to watch him run.
SM.com: What?s like having your older brother, Tyrone, on your coaching staff at Southern Miss?
DN: I think it is good ? At first, people said it might not be a good idea because your brother is always around ? It has been nothing but a help to me especially with all the things that I went through over the past year or so ? Before that even happened, he and I would go back and forth in a good way ? He would say the defense was going to shut me down, and I would laugh at him ? He has been nothing but a help for me ? When he is watching the defensive film after practice, he might come back and say you?re running the ball a little too high or something to give me pointers on how to become better.
SM.com: Describe Tyrone Nix as a defensive coordinator
DN: He might be one of the loosest coordinators during the week but during the game he is intense ? It is hard to talk to him because of his level of intensity, until the clock hits zero, he is focused on nothing but the game ? He was like that when he played.
SM.com: Which Southern Miss player has had the greatest leadership skills during your career?
DN: T.J. Slaughter ? He spoke up all the time, whether it was during practice, in a meeting, or during the game ? He always spoke his mind and then backed it up on the field ? He is the most complete player I have ever seen, on or off the field.
SM.com: Which player on the team did/do you enjoy spending time with to prepare and get you emotionally and mentally ready for games?
DN: Dawayne Woods ? We would be getting ready for a game and he would bring up something totally different to take the tension off the game ? That would take the nervous edge off the game for me ? It would be a great way to relax and get ready for the game.
SM.com: Your brother Tyrone or Nephew, Tyvari?
DN: Tyvari ? He is a good kid and loves his Uncle Derrick ? He is a character and is a lot of fun to be around ? I am sure he is going to be a good athlete when he grows up.
SM.com: What do you do to relax?
DN: I love video games ? When I have any free time and take a minute to relax, I like to play Playstation 2.
SM.com: What is your favorite game?
DN: College Football 2002
SM.com: Do you pick Southern Miss as your team?
DN: I play myself and play the teams we play on our schedule and beat them up.
SM.com: Who is the best team that you beat?
DN: I have beaten Alabama, Penn State and a lot of the teams that we play.
SM.com: Do you prefer to run or pass?
DN: I try to run a balanced attack
SM.com: Who is the person you most admire?
DN: My mother ? She is a good friend of mine as well ? I can talk with her and tell her the things I have on my mind ? She understands what I am going through and is always there to help me ? She has worked hard all her life ? She always has taken me to practice when I was too young to drive and supported me in everything I ever did.
SM.com: Is there a favorite professor on campus?
DN: He is not here anymore, but Ron Putthoff, a math professor, was my favorite ? He taught both my Algebra classes ? He made it fun and simple ? You could talk with him about anything and he would help you any way he could.
SM.com: Is there a favorite subject?
DN: Biology ? I really liked that class and it was interesting.
SM.com: What are your career goals?
DN: I want to play in the NFL ? I am hopeful that nothing goes wrong or an injury prevents me from accomplishing this ? I think about this all of the time ? A chance to play on Sundays has always been a goal of mine and time is running out.
SM.com: Edgerrin James or Marshall Faulk?
DN: Edgerrin James is my style of runner ? He is more of a complete back as a runner or blocker ? He isn?t afraid to run in between the tackles, catch out of the backfield or block on third downs ? Marshall Faulk is more of a receiving type of running back who can run or catch out of the backfield and beat the defender with his speed.
SM.com: ESPN?s Sportcenter or CBS? Survivor?
DN: Sportscenter ? Especially during football season ? My television never changes from the channel ? I can watch all news about college and pro football ? It is the best channel.
SM.com: CFL or NFL Europe?
DN: That is a tough decision because there isn?t anything as good as the NFL ? It?s the best.
SM.com: Your favorite football team?
DN: Growing up I was a San Francisco or Oakland Raiders fan ? Now with everyone moving from one team to the next, I really don?t have a favorite team, but I follow players.
SM.com: Your favorite player that you pattern your style of running after?
DN: Eddie George and Fred Taylor ? I try to pattern myself after those guys
SM.com: NFL team that you would want to play for when your collegiate career is over?
DN: Green Bay Packers ? I like their hard-nosed approach to the game and how they can play very well in the cold weather.
SM.com: Your most embarrassing moment?
DN: Against Army at home my freshman year, I was on a long run and my shoe came off ? The player from Army threw it back toward the end zone and I had to go all the way back to get it ? The referee picked it up and came back and gave it to me about half way.
SM.com: Baseball or Basketball?
DN: Basketball ? Baseball is okay ? I?ve been to a couple of major league games but it is better in person than on television, but it is a little slow.
SM.com: Favorite Bowl Game that you played in?
DN: 1999 Liberty Bowl ? We played Colorado State and it was a great experience for me ? We were ranked in the top 15, defeated them and then finished the year ranked in the top 15 ? Overall, it was a great experience and a great finish to the season.
SM.com: ESPN The Magazine or Sports Illustrated?
DN: Over the long haul, Sports Illustrated ? I really haven?t read too many issue of ESPN the Magazine but from what I have seen both are really good magazines.
SM.com: What goals have you have set for yourself
DN: My goal is come back and shock the world ? There are a lot of people who don?t think I can come back and run like I did before ? I want to come back and show everyone that I am back and be the best running back in the nation and do whatever to help the team.
SM.com: Any favorite sayings or mottos?
DN: You can?t loose with what you use ? I heard that in church about a year ago when I was down and out physically and it gave me some help ? Take whatever you have and use it to your best potential and everything will be fine.
