Larry Fitzgerald Addresses the Media Before Taking Off for the College Football Awards Show

12/11/2003

The sophomore wideout is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Heisman Trophy.

Larry Fitzgerald Press Conference

December 10, 2003

 

What do these awards mean to you?

“It really hasn’t hit me yet. It’s the icing on the cake. We had a decent season, definitely not what we expected and hoped for. It’s always an honor to your team and coaching staff when individual players are honored with individual awards at the end of the season.”

 

With the break, do you know the other finalists for the Heisman?

“I’m not even sure who the finalists are. I watched the Oklahoma-Kansas State game. Usually, I’m not able to watch games because we have games at the same time, so I’m not really in touch into who’s doing what and what’s going on. I’m just looking forward to getting there and having a fun experience.”

 

What are you impressions of Oklahoma’s quarterback Jason White?

“He’s a great player. Look at his numbers; look at his team’s record. They are in the national championship. There’s not much more you can say about the guy.”

 

What do you think about the notion that sophomores aren’t mature enough to win the Heisman?

“For every voter it’s different. Everyone has their own opinion in what they think is the right age or year, statistics, position. Everyone has different opinion. I can’t really get caught up in that. I just have to go out there and play and let my plays do the talking and hopefully I can change some of the voters.”

 

If you were voting for the Heisman, what would the criteria be?

“I’d just vote for the best player.”

 

Are you getting into this now? Are you getting excited?

“You have to break down the time between the bowl game. Obviously, I’m going to different events. I’ve kind of swung my focus a little bit.”

 

Does the talk about you being able to pull off winning the Heisman inspire you?

“I try not to focus on any of that stuff. I’m just trying to get my finals out of the way. I’m looking forward to having this break without school. We just have to prepare for Virginia. That’s the most important thing.”

 

Does it worry you that someone who has seen you play all season long doesn’t vote for you?

“No, not at all. Like I said, everyone has their own opinion on the style of the player they like. They are going to choose the best player that’s on the ballot.”  

 

What does the Heisman trophy do to football players?

“It puts you in a very elite group. It’s something that can never be taken away from you regardless of your how your career is after college. It can never be tarnished. That one year you played, you were the best player in college football. It does a lot for you and a lot for your team and program with recruiting. It does a lot.”

 

What do you think should be your “Heisman moment play?”

“I really can’t name one play. I hope it’s a combination of a lot of them.”

 

If you were looking from the outside, how would you rank your season?

“I think I did a good job. I think a lot of it is my teammates, Coach Harris and this game plan every week. It’s probably Larry every week. And that’s ok. I’m fine with that. I’m glad I can do that for the coaches. My teammates constantly make an effort to do their job and make the play. It’s been real fun. At the beginning of the year, you set your goals. You always set them and you might think that it’s a lot. But as the season went on, it became more of a reality every week.”

 

What will be going through your mind right before they announce the Heisman trophy winner?

“I don’t know. That’s a question I can’t really answer right now. Ask me after Saturday and I can probably answer that better.”

 

Will there be people in the back of your mind?

“Definitely. There will be some people in my life that I will be thinking about. I can’t really go into detail because I haven’t been there yet.”

 

What would it mean for you to win the Heisman and how much disappointed would you have if you didn’t?

“I mean you can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. When you’re running too high you’re out of control and when you’re too low you aren’t in control either. So try to keep it even regardless of what might happen. I just have to stay positive.”

 

This award usually goes to a running back or a quarterback. Do you think it’s an uphill battle because of the position you play?

“No. I think the best player will be voted to win. All I can control is what I’ve done on Saturdays every week. That’s my focus.”

 

Will the bowl game be your last college game?

“I don’t know. I’m going to play that bowl game and let the pieces fall where they fall. I’m not going to say that it’s going to be my last game.”

 

Do you think it says anything about staying all four years?

“You stay all four years it definitely says something about you as a person and a player. Eli Manning could have come out last year and been a top five pick like his brother and that shows a lot about him coming back to play another year. That’s a tremendous opportunity for him to get his degree and be able to play for a championship like he is this year.”

 

Was the Heisman something you followed when you were young?

“I went on spurts. I remember a few guys like Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson. I don’t remember every guy every year, but I remember some over the years.”

 

Is this a special thing for the entire team?

“I haven’t really heard them say anything about it. They joke with me about it. Nothing more than that.”

 

How does all this attention make you feel?

“It’s an honor. You can’t look at the beginning of the year and think that you would be in the position you are now. I wanted to be thought of as one of the top players in the country, but to actually have it happen is a shock to me and a tremendous honor. There’s a lot of people who have helped me get this far.”

 

Would winning the Heisman have any factor on your decision of when your last college football game would be?

“No, it wouldn’t.”

 

Has winning the Heisman multiple years crossed your mind?

“No, I just have to take it one day, one game at a time. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. To win it multiple times, you have to win it a first time.”

 

No school has ever won two Biletnikoff awards. Would that say something about Walt Harris’ system?

“Coach has a great system. He puts players in there who he knows will run the plays to the best of their abilities. Actually the system, it’s our decision making on the field. He gives us options on each route, so it’s basically what you can beat your man on. He gives us a lot of freedom and the ability to be a player and do what you want to do out there and make the best decision.”

 

Have you talked to Tony Dorsett about all of this?

“I talked to Mr. Dorsett earlier in the year. He just told me how proud he’s been of me and told me to take each game step by step and continue to be the person I am. He never said anything to me about the Heisman.”

 

Do you think you’re ready for the Pros?

“I don’t know. I’m really enjoying my time here. It’s a great place. I’ve really grown as a person and as a player. I really cherish my experience and I get to be around a great coaching staff and teammates. You couldn’t ask for more as a college player.”

 

Do you think that being a sophomore will hurt your chances at winning? Do you think the Heisman is becoming too political?

“I would say my age hasn’t really affected to me. I think anyone should be able to win it regardless of class or position. In terms of the BCS stuff, it really wouldn’t be a mess if they had a different system, but that’s the current system we have and that’s what we have to deal with. The other day I was thinking is USC better than LSU, but no one is ever really going to know. You just have to watch and see who wins.”

 

Have you thought a lot about all of the advice people are giving you about the Heisman show?

“People say wear a nice suit. Make sure you wear a white shirt with a black or navy suit.”

 

What’s going to be a factor in your decision of coming back next year?

“Finance is not really an issue for me. My father makes a little bit of money so he can help me out if I need it. I think I can be a pivotal part of attracting some big-time recruits. We already have some big commitments. I want to help this program any way I can.”

 

Would getting your degree if you leave next year be a goal for you?

“Regardless, I’m going to get my degree. It’s something I promised my mom I would do and I’m going to get it.”

 

What do you think about being a true sophomore?

“Coach LaSala tells me, I’m two years removed from high school.”

 

Are you worried about going up against one of the best players as well as the best team?

“No. You can argue that in so many different ways. You look down at Florida and you see all of the individual awards. Oklahoma pretty much has players for every individual award so saying he’s the best player on the best team is something different. They have a ton of talent. We had a ton of talent this year, but we weren’t able to get it done this year. That’s the name of the game; you have to be able to win.”

 

Could you make a case for yourself on why you should win the Heisman?

“I think so. I put up some pretty decent numbers. We have an 8-4 record and hopefully with the Bowl game, we’ll be 9-4. I think we had a good season, definitely not what we wanted to. I think there were a few games that we could have won and should have won.”

 

Do you tend to look more towards the game and shy away from the press part of all of this?

“No, it comes with the territory and people want to know what you think and what happened if you did well or if you didn’t. That’s part of the business. You have a job to do and it just comes with the territory.”

 

Have you thought about the touchdown streak at all?

“No. I just have to go out on Saturdays and do my part. If I need to catch touchdown passes, I’ll do that. Everything we do is within in the team concept and I’ve been fortunate enough to catch those touchdowns every game.”