Q:
Tony, overall I thought the Lions had a great year. What are your
thoughts?
A:
We got off to a great start, but you have to remember we played many
of those games at home. We just couldn’t win on the road. That
turned a potentially great season sour. I wish our schedule could
have been reversed. If we had played some of those early games on
the road and then come home to play those same teams we probably
would have been better off. Of course we have no control over that.
We were 6-2 at one time and then all of a sudden, it just fell
apart. I really can’t explain it. I tell you what, anybody can
beat anybody on any given Sunday; and this year, that has been
proven. Teams are so evenly matched that it’s unbelievable. There
is no dominant team out there. Playing and winning at home plays a
major factor in a team’s overall success.
Q:
Now the Lions were of course, without All-Pro running back Barry
Sanders this year. Did that help bring the team together in some
kind of cohesive way?
A:
I think it took some of the pressure off of us, first of all. On the
other hand, it put a different kind of pressure on us. We had to
find a running game. When we lost Barry, we didn’t have that, and
we became too one-dimensional. The offensive linemen took a lot of
heat for not having a running game, but we really never had a back
in there who could consistently get the job done.
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Q:
I thought your offense did an admirable job considering the fact
that you lost an All-World performer like Sanders.
A:
I thought we did a pretty good job with the hand we were dealt, but
the statistics showed when we could only rush for fifty or sixty
yards per game it was hard for us to win. They would force us into a
passing game and in order for that to work it must be balanced with
a solid running game. You’re not going to go very far in the
National Football League if you can’t run the football.
Q:
How did that change your role as an offensive lineman this season?
A:
Well, I thought it was very difficult because a lot of times we
found ourselves, especially in the second half of the season,
getting behind. It’s another level when you’ve got nothing but
pro bowl guys flying up field pass rushing. I mean, you’ve got
your hands full.
Q:
Like many NFL teams this year, you had an interesting quarterback
situation.
A:
Gus (Ferotte) did a heck of a job coming in. Charlie (Batch) is
going to be a good quarterback. He needs to experience what life is
like in the NFL. He needs to learn to play through adversity. He’s
going to have to find a way to do that.
Q:
It sounds like you feel pretty confident with either one of those
guys at the helm.
A:
I did feel real confident. Everybody knows at this level you have to
play through pain and adversity. Just like in my circumstance when I
dislocated my elbow. They were expecting me to play in a couple of
weeks. I had to sit out for three weeks and was fortunate to have a
fourth week due to the bye week. That gave my injury time to heal
properly, so that I could be the most productive. I had to play
through pain, everybody does. It’s just something that young
players have to learn.
Q:
Tony, the few games I did get to see you play in on TV showed that
you really stepped up and when you were healthy you really played
extremely well.
A:
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Q:
What made the difference for you this year?
A:
I felt very confident in myself and in my ability this season. I
enjoy starting and I look forward to many more years of it, whether
it be with the Lions or with somebody else. You know I’m going to
go play where I can be a starter and where I can stay a starter. I
feel very confident.
Q:
I know most of us here in the Lincoln area have no idea what it took
to raise yourself to the professional level. Enlighten us.
A:
One thing is consistency and believing in yourself. A lot of people
give up on themselves because of what they hear from other people
and I think you determine your own outcome in life. You’re given a
certain portion, but it’s what you do with that portion. I’ve
seen a lot of great athletes in high school and college who were a
lot more athletic than I am, physically better than I am...they just
had better skills. They didn’t make it to the next level. I think
perseverance is a big key. It’s not just in football it’s in
anything. If you want to be the best writer or the best car salesman
you’ve got to persevere. It doesn’t matter, if you want to be
the best doctor that you can be, you’ve got to persevere. It’s
not going to be given to you, no matter what you do.
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Q:
I want to take you back in time to your days as a Lincoln Railer.
What are your memories of that time in your life?
A:
What I remember most about my time at Lincoln High School are the
great people. I remember having great teachers...Mr. Overby, Coach
Plese, Cal Hubbard, Coach Ross, Craig Patton, Coach Spears, there
are just so many special people I can’t even name them all, but
they were all great to me. I remember wearing the green jersey on
game day and the great games on Friday nights and how during the
season those games were the talk of the town. That carried over to
basketball as well. There was nothing better than a packed house in
Lincoln on a Friday night. I enjoyed it and I’m glad that I played
both sports. I know there are people out there that think kids
should just concentrate on one sport, but I don’t believe that at
all. I think you should let your kid play as many sports as they
can, because it helps you develop so many skills that you may not
even know you had. In high school, who ever knew I was going to play
professional football? In basketball, who ever knows if you’re
going to get past the high school or the college level? Let’s just
let the kids be kids. I’m glad my parents were so supportive of
me. They said if you want to do it, we will support you.
Q:
What about your teammates at LCHS?
A:
I remember Tate Jones our quarterback. Tater always had a smirk on
his face. I remember chasing Charlie and Chad Cicci all over the
field, since they were a couple of guys with speed. Big Brian
Aeilts...a great lineman and a brute, I mean a true hacker on the
basketball court.
Matt
Vlahovich was a hard worker and a good friend. Matt was the kind of
guy that showed up every day to get better, whether it was
basketball, lifting or at football practice. I remember Blake
Shelton being a speed guy. Eddie Ingram was a strong, tough kid who
was a great possession back. Potts was a kid in a man’s body...I
liked it that he was just a big kid. He had a lot of talent and he
also was a good friend. Aaron Donsbach was pretty good also. Our
linebackers Jeff Cosgrove and Richie Singleton were as good as
anybody. I could go on and on, but that would take all night! Jerome
Bernardes and Mike McLaughlin were also two pretty cool guys. What I
remember most was that it was a great bunch of guys and we all had a
great time.
Q:
What about your time at Memphis State University?
A:
Coach Flowers was like my savior down there. He was almost like a
dad away from home to me. I wouldn’t be here today playing pro
football if it were not for him.
Q:
What made him so special?
A:
Off the field, if I had a problem or wasn’t doing well or if I was
struggling, I could always go and talk to him. He would put the
coach-player relationship aside and just be my friend. I also had
the unique opportunity to bond with him on a spiritual level through
the church there. He really helped me on my football skills. He’d
take me aside and say you need to work on this or that... I’m
telling you, he was a blessing. If I had to do it all over again and
get recruited to several places, I probably wouldn’t have changed
a thing! Coach Flowers really helped me get where I am today!
Q:
What kind of advice do you have for the kids of Lincoln and the
Logan County area?
A:
First of all, follow your heart. Make sure what you’re doing is
positive and productive. Find something that you like to do and do
it well. Be balanced. I have so many things that I like to do. I
like to hunt, golf and shoot at targets or clay pigeons. I think the
more things you can do to keep yourself interested, the more
productive you’re going to be in life. Getting active in positive
things will take you a long way in anything you pursue. Whether your
parents enjoy it or not, if you like it, work hard at it. I think it’s
important to get involved in something and give it your best shot, I
really do.
[Jeff
Mayfield]
Editor's
note: If you would like to
join or show your support for Tony, write to the Tony Semple
Fan Club, P.O. Box 116, Lincoln, IL 62656
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