University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Post-Spring Football Q&A with Austin Quattrochi
7/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 5, 2012
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - As the regular season draws closer, Southern Miss Athletics will present a weekly question and answer session with a Golden Eagle football player.
In the opening installment, we sit down with Golden Eagle center Austin Quattrochi. The Marietta, Ga., native has appeared in 36 games over his career and will be the team's most experienced lineman on a unit that lost just one starter from their 2011 Conference USA championship lineup. Q: What have you learned from Coach Ellis Johnson after one spring?
A: Probably things outside of the game of football. He really stresses treating people well and going to class. I feel like he stresses a lot of things on the field, but stresses a lot of aspects off as well, which I think our team really needs.
Q: What has been one of the highlights of your football career?
A: I'd have to say last season as a whole - being able to start all 14 games, then going on to win the conference championship and going to Hawaii for the bowl. Definitely last season had to be one big huge highlight for me.
Q: What made you decide to play football?
A: I've always been one of the bigger kids out of my friends, and not until my eighth grade year did I start playing football. I always thought that football would always be my extra sport and that I would always be playing baseball. But, not until my junior year of high school, I started getting recruited and I kind of just fell in love with football and I stuck with it ever since. I knew about Southern Miss and they gave me a good scholarship offer so I chose to play here.
Q: Who do you look up to as a mentor?
A: I would have to say (former Golden Eagle center) Cameron Zipp. He kind of taught me a lot about the game of football and really brought me along into learning the game, and also how to be a college athlete and a college student.
Q: In your childhood, what were some of the greatest experiences?
A: Everything in my life has revolved around sports, but aside from that, probably just getting accepted into college. I graduated in May, so that's also got to be one of my greatest experiences.
Q: Who's your favorite football player?
A: Again, Cameron Zipp taught me most of the stuff I know. So I would have to say as a mentor I choose him.
Q: If you could tell fans one thing, what would it be?
A: Come out and show your support. We have an exciting new team and new coaches. I feel like we need people to come out and support us because that would be a big step in the right direction for us as players.
