Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
August 1, 2001T

Jammer is ranked as the No. 1 DB and a first team defensive All-American by Lindy's. (Texas Athletic Dept.)

Texas defensive back Quentin Jammer isn't worried about playing in one of the toughest conference in the country. If he has a year anything like last year, the Longhorns have a chance at the national title.

Texas DB Quentin Jammers stopped by to chat about his accomplishments, the upcoming season and much more.

Jammer had a spectacular junior year. He finished eighth on the team with 43 tackles (34 solo) and finished first with 20 passes broken-up. He had three interceptions for 11 yards, four fumbles caused, one sack and two tackles for losses. He is ranked as the No. 1 DB and a first team defensive All-American by Lindy's.

The Longhorns are currently ranked 3rd in the SportsLine.com/Lindy's preseason poll.

Quentin Jammer: Hello everybody! Lets get started.

Question: What was it that sold you on coming to Texas to play football?

Quentin Jammer: The tradition. It is a big tradition school. It is also close to my Mom and we're really close.

Question: Hello Quentin, Describe how it feels to be recognized as one of the top Defensive Backs in College Football Today?

Quentin Jammer: It feels great! Coming out of high school there were a lot of guys - I wasn't recognized coming from high school - more recognized than me. Now it feels good because I work hard and I know that if I work hard I can make a lot of money and keep my family happy for many years. It is a great feeling all around.

Question: What goes through your mind when you find out your team is ranked as high as Texas is in the preseason? Does this have a good or bad effect on the team?

Quentin Jammer: It has both. The first thing that goes through your mind is "Don't let it get to you and let you think you can't be beat." When that happens it takes the team out of focus and you have to focus more on the team goals. It is good because you have something to defend. You're #1 and you want to stay #1 so you can play for the Championship at the end of the year. It gives you something to shoot for, or should I say keep.

Question: How is Coach Akina going to take the secondary to the next level this year?

Quentin Jammer: I think he brings experience of playing the teams who pass a lot. He can bring the defense that will stop the Oklahoma's, coming from Arizona. And he is a real good guy. He is one of the best people I have ever met in my life. That helps a lot. If you have someone you like to play for, you will go out and play your hardest for him.

Question: How important is that 1st team All-American ranking of you by Lindy's?

Quentin Jammer: I don't really think it is important right now. I would like to get the post season honor because I don't know what they are going off of. I appreciate it and am honored by it. But I want to get out there this year and prove I am an All-American.

Question: Quentin, tell us a little about how training went this summer for yourself and the whole team.

Quentin Jammer: It went great. It was real hot. Once you get the heat out of the way it is fine, but in Texas you can't do that! More guys showed up than in the past few years. Everyone is working hard because we think we can win the National Championship. We think we have the talent to do that and it is showing in the off season in the way the people work.

Question: What made you decide to come back for your senior year?

Quentin Jammer: My teammates. I came back for them as well as for me. I need 23 hours to get my degree. I love playing with my teammates. The camaraderie is unbelievable. I stuck around to part of that for one more year.

Question: Do you feel there should be limits on when to practice in the heat?

Quentin Jammer: I think there should be a limit to the practices in the heat. But I think it is also up to the players to let the trainers know if they can't handle the heat. A player knows when they can't go anymore. It is up to them not to push themselves to pass out or something. Here at Texas we have changed our practices some to get away from the heat. But still I think it is up to the player to call it quits.

Question: Do you read any of the fan bulletin boards? Does the team pay attention to the clutter that sometimes comes from the internet?

Quentin Jammer: Not really. We don't pay too much attention to it. You have guys from different schools - rival schools - who go out there and talk trash. You can't get mad or discouraged on what some others say. We may peek at it but we don't pay much attention to it.

Question: Who are you closest with on the team? Who are the team leaders and who are team cutups?

Quentin Jammer: I am pretty close to all the guys on the team. I would say Ahmad Brooks is one. I am close to Chris Simms too. It is hard to pick one or two because you are close to all of them on this team. The leaders would be Brooks and Lewis, vocal leaders. I think I lead by example. The clowns would probably be Lewis and Babers. They are comedians!

Question: Describe what it will take for the U. of Texas to win College Football's National Championship this season?

Quentin Jammer: I think it would take a team effort and not believing the hype. We have to go out, not be uptight, and play -our- game. If we could have an injury free season, like Oklahoma last year, it would help. And we have to take it game by game and not focus on just one, like the Oklahoma game like people always talk about. We should make every game the National Championship game, up to the National Championship game itself.

Question: How bad are we going to beat OU this year?

Quentin Jammer: I couldn't answer that. They have a good program up there. But we aren't going to look ahead to that game until we are at that game. What do you do to relax when you are off the field? I like to do things with my teammates. I live with my girlfriend so we invite the guys over and cook and play Playstation 2. We like to get together as a team and do things. I like to be around those guys.

Question: If the NFL Draft was right now, where do you see yourself going?

Quentin Jammer: I would say somewhere in the top 5 picks. I am a hard worker and I feel I have a lot of potential as well as athletic ability. A team in the top 5 could invest their money in me because I will bring a lot to the team. Heck, getting paid to do this motivates you, especially when they pay you as much as they do in the NFL!

Question: How are you feeling physically and mentally right now as compared to this time last year?

Quentin Jammer: Physically I feel really good. I feel faster and stronger than in the past 4 years I have been here. I am around the ideal playing weight for me, 198-201. Mentally I feel pretty good too! I have been here all summer with my teammates. We did a lot of relaxing and now we are feeling good about the season. We know we have a good team and we just have to go out there and execute. So I am doing well physically and mentally.

Question: Do you feel UT is a program that prepares you adequately for the NFL?

Quentin Jammer: Yeah! Coach Brown coaches the way and NFL team would prepare themselves for games. Our practices are very similar to NFL practices. He prepares us well and lets us know that football is a business.

Question: Will my first year to have season tickets be a season to remember

Quentin Jammer: I sure hope so! If we go out and do what we know we can do, we will be looking forward to the National Championship game. We just have to put it all together and I think we can do that this year!

Quentin Jammer: I want to thank everyone for being interested in what I had to say. I had a good time with you. I like doing stuff like this! I hope to see you all at the games! Bye!