Interview with #6 Ryan Ross – McNeese State University

#6 Ryan Ross

Position: Running Back

Age: 21

Height: 5’ 9”

Weight: 200

Class: Junior

Hometown: Richwood, TX

High School: Brazowood High School

 

PM: I’m Patrick Mehaffey with Louisiana Gridiron Football.  The purpose of the article is not to talk about the game next week, but rather to give the readers an opportunity to know a little bit more about you personally.  So let’s first get the stats squared away. So the stats say 5’ 9”, 200 pounds.  Is that still accurate?

RR: Yeas, it’s still accurate.

PM: And how old are you, Ryan?

RR: I just turned 21 last week actually.

PM: Oh well Happy Birthday!

RR: Appreciate it. Appreciate it.

PM: Did you do anything special for your Birthday?

RR: Yep, I did. I practiced. That’s what I did. We had practice.

PM: That’s always good.

RR: We had an away game too, so…

PM: I see you are from Richwood, TX and Brazowood High School. Is that correct?

RR: Yes sir. I’m originally from Texas. It’s actually pronounced Brazowood. Yeah most people mess it up like that. (laughs)

PM: Same thing happens when people come into Louisiana. They mispronounce a lot of names in Louisiana, as well.

RR: Right. Right. Right. (Laughs)

PM: How many years have you played sports, of any kind?

RR: Oh I’ve been playing sports for at least 10, 11 plus years. I started football, actually a year earlier at age 6. I was supposed to start at 7, but my parents thought it was fun so I just jumped into the game at 6 years old. That’s when I started playing. I actually started baseball and basketball too.

PM: Are you playing those collegiately as well, or did you drop out of those in high school?

RR: I stopped playing baseball in high school. I stopped playing basketball my sophomore year of high school. I’ve been playing football until now.

PM: So I’m guessing that [football] is your favorite?

RR: Yeah, it is my favorite, but actually, if I could go back I would play baseball, to be honest with you.

PM: Really? So if you could trade all of your football success for another sport, it would be baseball.

RR: Yeah, It would probably be baseball.

PM: And why is that?

RR: You know the risk of injury is slighter in baseball. And to be honest I think that’s where most of the money is at. To be honest.  I like playing shortstop more than playing running back.

PM: Up to this point, what would you say is your biggest accomplishment in sports?

RR: My biggest accomplishment? Probably getting the opportunity to play college football, where everybody doesn’t have that opportunity… to do what we do every day. I’m just glad to have that opportunity. Beside that I don’t think I’ve really accomplished too much in my career but I know it’s coming. It’s coming real soon.

PM: Well you are definitely climbing up the yardage chart for McNeese. I think you’re one yard shy of 14th all-time rushing so far.

RR: I didn’t even know that.

PM: Yeah, after last week’s game, I think you’ve got 1968 yards.

RR: Oh wow.

PM: The player right above you has got 1969 yards. So you’ll definitely break that this week.

RR: That’s good. That’s good.

PM: What are the things you’ve be focusing on in your training?

RR: I’ve actually gotten most of the things, when it comes to running the ball. I’ve gotten most of that down. This year I’ve been focusing on pass blocking and running routes out of the back field, trying to get open to help my QB out when he gets in trouble. Mostly just pass blocking though.

PM: Do you have a moment or perhaps a person that really influenced you to drive and reach for being able to play in collegiate sports?

RR: I have two people actually that kind of keeps me going every day when I feel like… when somethings going hard in practice or taking a play off in a game. I have a son. He turned two, three days before I turned 21. The other person is my Mom. My Mom drives me to be better.

PM: Do you find that it’s hard to juggle school and practice with your son and family?

RR: I mean, yeah it’s hard, but I’ve been doing it for what… a couple… I’ve been doing it for years now and I’m not the only one that goes through it. Every college athlete has to deal with actually the same thing. It’s hard, but we find a way to get it done. That’s pretty much it. You find a way to get it done.

PM: What was the best advice you were ever given?

RR: I’ve got to think about that one. I get advice every day at practice. Probably the best advice I ever got was just staying humble with everything I do. You know, God gives you everything you’re doing today. The day that you feel like you’ve got it all, you know. You can lose it as quick as you got it, so just staying humble in everything you do is probably the best advice I’ve gotten.

PM: What would you say is your biggest challenge [on and off the field]? And what do you do to manage that challenge?

RR: My biggest challenge in football would be… I don’t want to sound selfish.  My biggest challenge in football would be finishing out my career on the highest level than I’ve ever had at McNeese. You know, being able to take it to the next level. That’s my goal actually. I can look at it like a challenge, because coming from a small school; we don’t get looked at first. We get the second look, the third look. So that’ll probably be my biggest challenge in football. My biggest challenge in life is paving the way for my son and showing my son right from wrong. Make sure he’s good. Make sure he gets taken care of. So he doesn’t have to ask for anything.

PM: One final question for you. What advice would you give to those that come after you?

RR: Stay humble and grind every single day. Whatever you’re doing, you don’t want to leave any regrets. You don’t want to look back at it and say, “I should have done this, I should have done that.” You definitely don’t want to look back and say, I should have worked harder. So, make sure you work hard every day and put everything into your craft. Keep God first and everything takes care of itself.

PM: Good Luck to you. Thank you for your time today.

RR: You’re welcome.

 

Interview By: Patrick J. Mehaffey