Fresno Famous

Editor's Note: We'll admit, we're not normally sports people. But in advance of Fresno State's game against Davis this weekend, we have a treat for those who are. Here is an in-depth interview with possible quaterback and seeming freshman wunderkind, Derek Carr. The interview was written by Lisa Houk and an edited version originally ran in The Fresno Bee's Bulldog Football Preview Section last weekend.

If you’re a fan of Fresno State football, you know the name Carr.
David Carr was the starting quarterback at Fresno State during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, taking Fresno State as high as No. 8 in the polls, and garnering a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 2002, Carr was the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick of the newly formed Houston Texans. In 2007, Fresno State retired jersey No. 8 in honor of
Carr.

And now, his little brother — 12 years his junior — is one of three in contention for the team’s coveted quarterback position. Here’s what Derek Carr has to say about filling some pretty big shoes — and doing it while the whole nation watches.

Q: why did you decide to pursue football? Your name carries a lot of recognition — and pressure.
A: When we were kids, my dad loved football. We always wanted to go play football with him. I grew up watching him take David out. My dad taught me and David everything we know, as far as how to throw a football, how to move our feet and all that stuff.
I grew up and thought, ‘I want to go do that, and I want to be like that. So I’d go out there and do my own little quarterback stuff while David was doing his and it started since then.

Q: Did you ever imagine playing for Fresno State?
A: While David was here, it wasn’t too serious because I hadn’t really played any competitive football yet. But everybody joked around, ‘Derek you’re gonna be here next.’
And I say, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m gonna do this.’ I remember I was actually sitting on the ramp watching David come down the ramp into the stadium, and I looked to the guy next to me and said, ‘I’m gonna come down the ramp someday just like he did.’ God had a plan and look where it is now.

Q: You’ve moved around a lot the last few years. Tell us about that.
A: Right before my sixth-grade year, we moved to Houston when David got drafted by the Texans, and we were there almost seven years. I believe so.
I came back right before my senior year because my grandpa had gotten sick so we wanted to be here for him.
When we moved back here, I played my senior year at Bakersfield Christian [just one year]. David had gone to Carolina [Panthers], and we tried it for a year. I had a good team my junior year so I really couldn’t leave them like that and most of my friends were seniors while I was a junior anyway. So when they left I was kind of torn so I had to go back home.
I was way glad I did.

Q: How was your senior season at Bakersfield Christian High?
A:I was blessed beyond anything I could imagine. I came from a school that probably threw 13 times a game, and I went to a school my senior year that threw it 35-40 times a game. I was fired up, and we set records. I got all these cool awards, National Player of the Year for private schools, California Player of the Year and these All-American awards. I didn’t know what to do with myself. It was so overwhelming.
I’m always going to say: God had the plan. He knew why we went to Houston. He knew why I came back and it’s working out so far.
When we moved to Houston, we mostly did it because we knew David was going to be busy, and so my parents were going to help watch his kid. And he ended up having two more kids out there. So they were going to help baby-sit and stuff.
David has three boys, and the oldest is Austin, middle is Tyler and youngest is Cooper (age 3).
We all went there (Houston) and I lived with my parents. It was our decision. They always wanted to come back home. David left and they wanted to be back with the family. And me, I just wanted to stay with my team. And they understood and were supportive. When I came home I remember getting out of my car and I said to my dad, ‘It’s time to go back home.’ I saw the biggest smile, and I could just feel it was the right choice.

Q: What other colleges recruited you?
A:After my sophomore year, I got offered by Utah. At the time, Andy Ludwig was there, and he was David’s offensive coordinator. And I saw the numbers they put up, and you know that would be a good idea and that would be fun.
So there was that option. Coach Jeff Tedford at Cal was calling me and showed up at a couple of my games my sophomore year. He’s a great guy.
USC showed up at my school and showed up at Bakersfield Christian before I even got there. I mean they knew I was coming there and they showed up. To be honest, it was one of the most fun times, just getting all these letters and all these scholarship offers.
I saw my brother go through it, and recruiting wasn’t as big with him. It was crazy, it was cool because I saw one coach every year show up. And I was getting coaches knocking at my door and showing up to practice. There was one day I’ll never forget when I went out to practice, there were six coaches from six different schools out there and I got to talk to all of them. They wanted to see me throw. This was in Houston.

Q: Where were the coaches from who showed up at your practice?
A: Kansas State and Texas, and Boise State had three of their coaches out at one practice talking to my coach and watching film on me. Also Texas Tech was out there, Utah and still no sign from Fresno State.
I was like, ‘What the heck, this is where I want to go?’ I get the SEC [Southeastern Conference], Big 12 and all these schools want me but Fresno State and coach Hill doesn’t want to call me?
I didn’t know what was going to happen.

Q: Did you finally get the call from Fresno State?
A: Coach Hill called my dad, and I just thought he always checks up and just wants to see how we’re doing. And he says, ‘Is Derek around?’ So I got on the phone and he said I heard that you got all these scholarship offers and we want to offer you too. I never got so excited and I said, ‘Coach, I’ve been waiting for your call.’ I asked what took so long? And he said, ‘I didn’t think we could get you.’ I asked why? He said, ‘I thought you were going to head off to LSU or go to one of those big-time schools. I said, ‘Fresno State is a big-time school.’ And I told him I’d get back to him, but I knew like right then.
I called both my brothers, David and Darren. The first place I go to is my two brothers and my dad anytime I need something. I went to them and sat down, and we had David on speaker, and I was sitting with my brother and my dad and we listed out things I love about Fresno and what I don’t like about Fresno. What I liked outweighed what I don’t like 10 times more, and I knew.
It took me two days and I tried to hold it off for as long as I could but I couldn’t. So I called Coach Hill and said, ‘Coach, I want to be a Bulldog.’ Coach Hill said he almost fell out of his chair when I told him that. (laughs) He thought I was untouchable. But I didn’t think that.
For as good as people said I was, not in a cocky way, I really didn’t think that. I was just out there trying to help my high school team out. And I was just waiting for a call. I just wanted someone to show up. And we had this good running back, and I always thought all those schools showed up for him. After practice they’d come up to me, and I’d say, ‘Our running back’s over here.’ It all worked out.
The weird thing was, the same thing happened to David. He was headed off to either Washington or UCLA, and signing day was in two days. I remember me and David would share a room when he was in high school, and he popped up out of bed and walked over to my dad’s room and said, ‘Man, I don’t know why Fresno State hasn’t called?’ He was the same way, he wanted to go to Fresno State. I think it was coach Jeff Tedford and he was on his way out of town actually. He called my dad, and my dad said, ‘What took so long?’ Tedford said he was an hour out and turned around and came back that night and offered
David and he signed the next day.

Q:Did you feel pressure during the recruiting process?
A: I loved the recruiting stuff; it was so fun to go to the mail. I’d go run out there and I couldn’t carry all of them. I’ve got a box four or five feet tall filled all the way to the top with letters.
I visited LSU and coach Les Miles, he pulled me out of his camp and I went over to another field and threw to some of his receivers. He said, ‘Yeah, I want you to throw to these guys.’ Sitting there with three camera guys, and coach Miles and his offensive coordinator watching, it was crazy. I left that day thinking I was going there by what he told me. I was so pumped and called my dad, and said, ‘It feels good but it just wasn’t it.’
The next day they [LSU] offered it to another kid who wasn’t even there and didn’t show any interest toward him, but that’s just how it works out.

Q: Did you take other visits to colleges?
A: The day coach Hill called, I was about to fly out to University of Arizona because they had offered me and I was going to check that out. Coach Hill called and I had to cancel the trip.
I called Boise State and said, ‘Coach, I’m going to Fresno.’ He actually called me and said, ‘I hear you’re going to Fresno.’ I said, ‘You heard that quick.’ He said, ‘We’re on top of their stuff. You just couldn’t walk down the ramp in blue, huh?’ I said, ‘No, I’d probably get jumped for that one.’

Q: Getting back to this season, how’s the quarterback situation between you, Ryan Colburn and Ebahn Feathers?
A: At this point, I’m blessed because what I’ve heard it takes a year, year and a half or two to learn the playbook, but I’ve been blessed enough to pick it up in the spring. It took me five to six weeks to actually get it. When coach Jeff Grady’s talking, I’m writing notes, flipping the page and writing more notes.
The thing that bothers me is Tommy Brandstater was the same way, working his butt off and then to go in there ... they [fans] don’t understand how tough it is and how much work we put in.
For him to go in there and get booed in his own stadium, that’s just uncalled for. It’s not like we’re trying to go out there and make you guys look bad.
[As quarterbacks], if we win, we won the game. We lose, we lost the game. It’s not like that at all.
Most of the time when we win, we probably did 10% of it — it’s the offensive line, it’s how we’re running the ball and all that. So much goes into receiving routes, if a guy doesn’t get off the line then it messes up the timing for the whole play. That’s why it’s kind of hard for people to realize that because there are 40,000 people in there who think they coach better than coach Hill sometimes. It gets tough.

Q: Just like when David played for the Houston Texans and was sacked a record number of times because he had a weak offensive line — how was that for him?
A: That was so tough for him. Now he’s in a place in New York (Giants) where he has time to throw. He sends me his film and I love just watching him play. Even though he’s my brother, I’m his biggest fan. I’ll fight anybody for it.
With the time he has and the protection, he’s looking better than he did in college. He’s just going off. People say, ‘Well, he can’t do it, he’s a bust.’ David can run, he runs a 4.6 (40-yard dash); he’s fast. If you put a guy like Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) or
Tom Brady (New England Patriots) in Houston at that time, they’re going to look 10 times worse than David did.
They showed a stat, at one point, David had 10 touchdowns in the air and eight of them were out of the pocket. That’s not how you want to make a living. He had three or four rushing TDs. You can imagine if he couldn’t move, how many more sacks there’d be?

Q: Can you run if you need to?
A: Yes, I’m blessed with that but I’m not going to take off on a 4.2 (40-yard dash) down the field. I can get out of there and if something breaks down, I can get out side and make a throw. That’s not what I set my stuff to do.

Q: The talk is that you have a strong arm?
A: God blessed me with an arm and that’s what I’m there to use it for. But he also blessed me with somewhat speed to get out of there and use the arm.

Q: Is your style a good fit for Fresno State?
A: Personally I saw David do it. Not to compare on how good he is or I am on that level, but just how I play, it’d be just like David. If something breaks down, he can get out of there and pick up the first down and take a slide and play the next play. That’s how I play. Ryan Colburn’s more Tim Tebow (Florida quarterback), he’s going to run someone over. He’s the bull, and I’m more trying to save myself for the next play.

Q: How do you feel about the rotation of three quarterbacks?
A: Personally, I feel you need a guy. No matter what, Ebahn’s (Feathers) going to come in and change the pace and that’s perfect. You saw coach Steve Spurrier— he was rotating two guys every play, but you can’t get a rhythm and you can’t get a leader. I don’t see how you do it, you can’t get a leader on the team.
Guys want to rally around someone when something’s down, well who do you pick? You’re splitting it and it’s confusing. That makes it harder on coach Grady too, when he’s trying to call a game. Well, he’s got to call a different play for Colburn than he would for me, especially left-handed to right-handed. It’s a different look, not much but things can change.
I personally feel if we do get our fair share and if he doesn’t pick a starter by UC Davis, you gotta go in and lead and be consistent. I really feel with our running game, if we just don’t turn the ball over at quarterback position, we’ll be good.

Q: The speed on the team is a huge plus, tell us about it?
A: We’ve got playmakers everywhere, it’s crazy. We haven’t had this much speed in a long, long time. It’s gonna be exciting.

Q: Injuries have hurt the team’s chances in the past, so what’s the key to staying healthy?
A: Coach Hill’s done a great job since the last season ended, and that’s right when I got here. He’s changed a lot of things. Camp isn’t as brutal as it has been, spring ball wasn’t as brutal as it has been.
He’s trying to keep us fresh. Even tomorrow (Aug. 12), we’re doing a workout that’s not even heavy on our legs whatsoever. He’s keeping everything light. If you look back, most of the injuries are in the legs. You can’t take that much pounding. Today, we hit but we didn’t go live. And he’s done such a great job at keeping us fresh, and I really think that’s going to get us through that point. We’re getting there to a point; we’re getting beat up and we’re coming right back down. I really think keeping us fresh is going to keep us going through the season.

Q: How do you feel about back-to-back games against Wisconsin and Boise State?
A: If you get a couple losses before the Boise State game, like they did last year, everybody’s kind of like, ‘What are we really playing for?’ I think with that third game with Boise coming here, Bulldog Stadium’s going to be a little bit different too this year, it’s going to be a lot more energized than it has been. Just with some changes that have happened, I think they’re (fans) going to be a lot more energized. Feeling that as a player, you get pumped yourself.
Wisconsin’s, that’s going to be loud. Camp Randall Stadium is always loud.

Q: What is it going to take to win a WAC title?
A: They won in 1999 but that was even a co-championship. Watching film on the team last year, and now being on the team and watching film, it’s like night and day. Guys are actually fired up to play football. If you watch film from last year, you see a guy break a nice run or get a nice throw, and guys on the sideline aren’t doing anything, they’re just sitting there doing whatever. Out here, Colburn makes a throw or I make a throw, guys are getting fired up. I threw a touchdown to Chastin West today, and the offensive line is all fired up and cheering and stuff. That’s what you gotta have.
What’s your character going to be like when you’re sore, when you’re tired? And guys are really showing it; you gotta have fun. If you’re on the field, you know your assignment and just have fun. You know your assignment, we score, go celebrate — go pick your running back up, slap him on the head, get in the next play and do it again.

Q: Coach Hill has a ton of energy, and how does that help with your team playing on the road for seven games?
A: Oh boy, he gets fired up. I really don’t feel like playing on the road is the difference, you’ve got to win. Plain and simple, no matter where you are, you gotta win. Just like Coach says, ‘If we play in this parking lot back here, we’re still going to beat you.’

Q: How about the defense and its aggressive play, any big hits?
A: I’ll never forget my first spring game. I’ve never been hit so much because coach Hill made the quarterbacks go live. He wanted to see if I could take a hit and how tough is this kid? He can throw and he can do this but how tough is he? Man, I’ve never been hit like that. These guys were flying in there and smacking us. We’re just standing there and I’m about to throw a ball, and I get hit straight in the face because they’re bringing more than we can block. I learned from that — you gotta throw hot. I was just sitting there trying to make too many plays.
The great thing you see is our corners [cornerbacks] out here. Our corners will come up and hit you. Most guys got corners, they’re fast and they’ll cover you but I mean everybody on that defense will hit you in a heartbeat. They’re looking to hit you.

Q:How difficult would a backup role be for you?
A: It would be tough because of all I’ve went through trying to get here and get here early. I took nine classes in one semester during the football season to get here just because coach Hill said, ‘I want you to come compete.’ People don’t understand that. Even though, I still got eight A’s and got a “B” and still got National Player of the Year and all this.
I took nine classes the same time high school started and got them done and still played football. And people don’t understand that kind of stuff. I mean everybody has their story but that’s just my story. People don’t understand how much we go through.

Q: How much discipline does it take to fit everything in?
A: Sure, you want to go out and hang out with your friends, but you know what you’re here to do. If I don’t start, I think at first, of course, there will be disappointment and what did I do wrong? Reflect on what did I do and what did he do better? What did I do wrong? That will be the toughest part because we’re both (he and Colburn) playing so good right now. We’re both itching to pass each other. I’ll get a good throw and then he’ll get one so we just keep going like that.

Q: Does the competition make you a better player?
A: Tell you the truth since I got here, I never really had competition in high school. It was always, ‘Hey you’re the guy, go ahead, it’s you.’
This has made me 10 times better because I see him (Colburn) make a throw, and me being just how I am, I say to myself, ‘I’m gonna make that, I’m gonna do that.’ He’ll throw the deep ball, and I say, ‘I’m gonna complete that.’ You can’t say he doesn’t do it either, we’re both competitive. We’re friends right now, but when we get our helmets on and go out on the field, it’s ‘Hey, I love you bro but I’m trying to get me a spot too.’
I think it would be a disappointment, but now I believe, God’s not going to put me on the field until He wants me there. If I try and force it or if I try and do something’s that not in his plan, it’s not going to go right. It’s not going to be the right time, I might get hurt or I might throw a pick and we lose the game.
Everybody says, ‘You’re 18 years old and you’re 17 in spring ball and 18 now, how do you do it?’ And I tell them, if God wants me on the field, I’m just going to go out there and do my best because I know I’m protected. That’s where He wants me, I’m going to do my best.
Especially coach Grady, he asked me when I stand in the pocket, he said, “All this is going on around you, and you let them get so close to you and you’re still just standing there, looking at your read and then you make your throw.’ He said, ‘Freshmen don’t do that.’ I pray every day before I go on the practice field. I pray every morning, every night and 10 billion times throughout the day. Even before this interview. I just feel He’s going to protect me. If I’m going to try and be timid and shy away from something, that’s when you get hurt. Just go out and do our job. He’s got a plan for you and I’m not even worried. Just chill out and go have fun.
Guys are listening to their rap music, and I listen to rap and everything, getting fired up for the game. I’m sitting there listening to my Christian music trying to relax.

Q: How do you relax?
A: Once I get off the field, I just want to go see my fiancé Bri. She’s in Bakersfield. Once she comes up to see me, I don’t want to talk about football, it hurts my head already. I don’t want to talk about it, I’m done with that. I’ll just go sit down, talk to her and go play a video game.
When she’s not around, I go listen to my music and I have my Bible in my locker always. Whenever we get some down time, I’m always in it. It’s actually contagious. Guys are like, ‘Hey, what’s he doing?’ To be honest, if I do anything while I’m here, if it’s not win a WAC championship, not even play a game, if I can change at least one person’s life, then I’ve done my job.
I take that to heart and I really mean that — if I go out here and throw 20 picks, you’re going to see the happiest dude walk off that field and you’re going to say, ‘What is wrong with this guy?’ I’m blessed to even be here. I wear an ‘I Pray’ shirt at least once a week, and guys say, ‘Ah Man, that’s a sweet shirt.’ Guys you would never think.
Even one little thing. I was reading my Bible one time and a guy sits next to me and starts asking me questions. He says, ‘I’ve been doing this, what’s it say, what am I doing wrong?’ I mean I get more excited about that than throwing a touchdown.
I said to him, ‘Am Man, well let me tell you.’ If that’s why I’m here, then that’s it. Anytime I can minister out to them, I do it.
David was the same way, especially his junior and senior years. He says I’m weird because I do it as a freshman, like he was just messing with me. He was so quiet and shy, just ask coach Hill, David would always keep his hat way down below his eyes so no one would talk to him.
My grandpa was a minister until we moved out here, and I told you he passed away. I dedicated my senior season to him. From now on when I play football, not a day goes by I don’t think about him. He’s watching me. He was a minister for 35-40 years.
I grew up and not only did David inspire me but so did my grandpa, just by what he did to people lives every day. If that’s my calling, then that’s it and that’s why I’m here.
If I’m not out there, then I’ll be the best backup in the nation. You’ve got to prepare like you’re the starter every day.

Q:What are your plans after college?
A: I definitely want to keep playing. My brother who was the first NFL pick said, ‘You can’t get much better than that.’ He and I always joke around, and I joke with him and say, ‘If they had one before that, I’m sure I’d get it.’
I definitely want to try and be the first pick, that would be a huge blessing. Ever since he did it, I said, ‘I’m doing that.’ And hopefully it follows through just like when I said I was going to be a Bulldog and walk down that ramp.

Q: Do you follow any other pro teams?
A: I’m definitely a Dallas Cowboy fan. I was mad they let T.O. (Terrell Owens) go. My dad named me Dallas. My middle name is Dallas because he was trying out for the Cowboys at the time. I love the Cowboys and I love Brett Favre and love how he plays. He has fun, that’s my guy. He’ll go out there, he doesn’t care if a guy’s running deep with two guys on him because he trusts his receivers. He’s just out there having fun. But it’s Brett Favre after David Carr though.

Q: What else do you do for fun and to get away from football?
A: I go surfing. I learned to surf at Santa Cruz where my dad grew up. He put me on a board, I think I was six. He pushed it out and said, ‘Stand up.’ I stood up and rode it all the way in and walked right off onto the beach. He said, ‘Come do it again.’ I said, ‘No, sharks, I’m not doing it.’

Q: What’s your personal goal this season?
A: Just go out and win and take it one game at a time. Go 1-0 every game. Win a WAC championship, it’s something we’ve always dreamed of, me and my brother. He couldn’t do it, not in a bad way, but he didn’t get to do it. So he said it’s on me now and I need to bring one home for the family.