University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Getting To Know Your Golden Eagles
9/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Getting To Know Your Golden Eagles
Larry Thomas |
Trevis Coley |
John Eubanks |
Throughout the 2005 Golden Eagle football season, a player from the offense, defense and special teams will sit down for an interview with Southern Miss Athletics Media Relations Graduate Assistant Joe Trahan and Athletics Media Relations intern Mallory Haynes on what you need to know about Southern Miss football.
This week?s spotlight focuses on running back Larry Thomas, free safety Trevis Coley and kick returner John Eubanks.
Life in the fast lane with Larry Thomas
What ways do you feel you were able to make yourself stand out last season and earn a premiere starting position in 2005?
?Watching (former Southern Miss running back) Anthony Harris last year helped me out. He made me better; helping me out with a lot of things especially with my pass blocking. So I think I got better that way.?
Last year you had the team?s longest offensive play, a 79-yard run against
?No, I really don?t worry too much about the stats. My offensive line is doing a good job, so I just run behind them.?
Not a lot of running backs wear the number ?8.? Is there any particular reason why you chose to wear that number?
?Well actually, ?7? was my high school number, and it was taken. So I just went up a number higher than that and got ?8.?
Superstitions are quite common within athletics. Do you have any?
?No.?
You are known as the team?s fastest runner back. What does that mean to you?
?It is a great accomplishment. I worked hard in the off season to try and get faster, so I am very happy about that.?
About how fast is that?
?About a 4.4 or around that.?
What is your goal for yourself this season?
?To win a conference championship, of course. The coaches are always talking about that, so that?s what I want to do.?
Knowing Coach Nix?s football abilities and his playing career here at USM, how do you feel to be working with him this year?
?I feel honored because he played here and was about to go to the NFL when he had his kidney transplant. But he works well with us and pushes us hard.?
Do you feel like you have big shoes to fill at a school rich in running back tradition, such as Coach Nix?
?Yes, I feel like I have big shoes to fill because Coach Nix was a good running back, and a lot of good running backs have come through this school.?
If Coach Bower let you choose any other position to play which would you choose?
?Just running back.?
Hitting it big with Trevis Coley
What does it mean to you to be considered as one of the leaders on USM?s defense?
?It means a lot to me. My teammates see me as a leader in the secondary and they look to me to get them all the right calls and checks in. It feels good that they look at me as a leader.?
Earning All-Conference
?No because I don?t look too deep into receiving the honors. I just go out there and play football. There?s no pressure or anything like that at all.?
Do you and Kevis ever argue over who is the best player between the two of you?
?No, we never argue about that. We play different positions. I could play his position, but he can play it a lot better than I will and vice versa.?
What is your main source of motivation on the football field?
?My teammates?I see my teammates having great enthusiasm, and it just builds me up and motivates me too.?
Which opponent do you look forward to playing the most?
?This year I would have to say
What were your thoughts about possibly playing linebacker this season?
?I didn?t like linebacker too much; but if I had to play it, I would have done it for the team. I played it the whole spring and then moved back to free safety at the spring game. If I had to do it I would, but I feel more comfortable back there at safety.
What is your favorite USM chant or cheer that the fans yell during the game?
?I can?t really say because I can?t pay attention to the cheers and stuff like that while the game is going on. I just hear them making a lot of noise, and that motivates me and gets me excited about the game.?
John Eubanks: Championship bound!
What are your feelings about this being your last season to play for USM?
?It?s my last season and my senior year, and we want to go out like champs. I want to win a conference championship.?
When your college playing career is complete, how will you describe your days on the playing field and how do you want others to remember you?
?I would like others to remember me as hard-working and just being a football player. When they think about Southern Miss I want them to think about the season that we had my senior year.?
Do you have a nickname?
?Some people call me ?Johnny-U?; some people call me ?Eubanks?. Those are the only two.?
Which player on the team do you respect the most and why?
?I respect all of my teammates. Everyday we all come out working hard at practice in tough conditions like the heat. I respect all of them.?
It has been said that you will be counted on to provide leadership to the defense and special teams this year. How do you plan to do that?
?Like I said earlier, I like to come out and work hard. I like to lead by example, not just vocally.?
Being the 2004 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year, do you feel pressure to perform a certain way in 2005?
?Just live up to my expectations. People expect a lot out of me this year, and I have got to come out and live up to them.?
What gets you pumped up before a game?
?The crowd?Coming out and playing in front of them at home games. Even at away games we have a great group of fans.?
You have been known as a very exciting player to watch. What about your game do you think makes you so exciting?
?I don?t know. A lot people just tell me that I come out and play hard. When you do the little things, big things happen.?
