University of North Carolina Athletics
One-on-One With Alge Crumpler
August 25, 2000 | Football
Aug. 25, 2000
Earlier this week, TarHeelBlue asked all interested Carolina fans to submit questions for UNC's preseason All-America tight end Alge Crumpler. You've emailed in your questions, and now here is what he had to say.
Question from Tega Moore: My question to Alge is "what is the one thing you think is this teams biggest strength?" Is it attitude, dedication, pride?
Alge Crumpler: Definitely attitude. We're excited about being able to turn things around this season and putting people in the stands at Kenan Stadium. We want to show them what this new era of Carolina football is all about. It's going to be great.
Question from Steve Wyatt in Reidsville, N.C.: Hey Alge, just wanted to know how you get pumped for a big game like Florida State? Also, what NFL team would you prefer playing with next year? Great luck this year!!!
A.C.: I think every game is a big game, but Florida State is a little different. We haven't beaten them since they've been in the league and it will be a critical game. I tend to take every game the same way. Before the game, I sit down, listen to music and maybe even read a (John) Grisham book. If I had my choice, it would be Tampa Bay, but it really doesn't matter. I'd love to play anywhere on the East coast, but when you are dealing with a business like the NFL, you just take what you get and go with it.
Question from Kevin Travis in Wilson: I'm new to N.C., after living in Ohio since I was born (35 years ago). I'm now working for the Wilson Daily Times newspaper and we cover N.C., N.C. State, Duke and East Carolina football. I'm curious as to what I can expect from the four schools. Who is the best football team in the state? What are the team's goals this season? What are your personal goals this season? Any aspirations to enter the NFL Draft next year? Does N.C. football get the respect it deserves, or is it basketball-or-nothing there? Good luck this season. Go Heels!
A.C.: I definitely think we are the best team in the state of North Carolina. Each year it is one of our goals to beat the other Big Four schools, Wake Forest, NC State and Duke. Growing up in Greenville, it's going to be nice to put ECU in that category as another in-state school we'd like to beat.
The team's goal is to win the opener and then go from there. We'd like to win the Big Four, contend for the ACC championships and then see where we are.
My goal is to better myself from last year. I thought I had a great season last year blocking, but this year I hope I'm more involved in the passing scheme. That way I will make myself more marketable to an NFL team.
I definitely think North Carolina football gets the respect it deserves. We have a great relationship with the basketball team. We're there to support them and they come to Kenan to support us.
Question from Matthew Burdick in New Haven, Conn.: What do you think your chances of winning the Big Four are this year? WFU won it last year (including beating you on your own turf). What are some of the worst State jokes you have used on O'Cain?
A.C.: I'm glad that we're able to play Wake Forest early in the season, because that's a loss we took really hard last year. We have a great chance to win the Big Four. As far as Coach O'Cain is concerned, we're anxious to see if he sings the final words to our fight song...the politically incorrect version.
Question from Tim in Winston-Salem: We often hear that UNC has one of the best athletic training programs in America. It is consistently rated in the top 3 graduate programs in the nation. There was even an article on TarHeelBlue.com recently about Ronald Curry's rehab with Dan Hooker. With this said, is the training staff/doctor staff there exceptional?
A.C.: Just being able to sit here today and to be able to play last year is a testament to what our training staff has done for me. They've helped me get back on the field and a lot of guys don't make it back from the injury that I've had. I think I've had a great comeback and I owe a lot to those guys.
Question from Billy Allen in Nashville: Hey Alge, glad to see you guys are getting ready for the upcoming season. Being a preseason All-American, you have to be a top choice among tight ends in next year's NFL draft. How excited are you knowing that a life long dream is just one year away from reality?
A.C.: You have to take things one day at a time, but that's definitely been a dream of mine. Especially coming from a family that played in the NFL - my father and my older brother - it is important to me.
Question from Terry Suther in Wilmington, N.C.: Hello from Wilmington! Do you expect to get more receptions under Mike O'Cain's offensive system? And can anyone challenge FSU for the conference title? What will it take? Good luck and go Heels!
A.C.: If any team brings its `A' game, then FSU can be beat and they can be challenged for the ACC title. They've had the title too long. Hopefully I can get more receptions in Coach O'Cain's offense, but blocking is my No. 1 priority.
Question from John Carter in Bloomfield Hills, Mich: Can you talk about the influence your father and brother have had on your career.
A.C.: My father and brother have influenced me more in life than anything else. They've never pressured me into any football-related activities. That is something I took upon myself. That's also true of my younger brother, who has never played a down of football in his life. He's a Morehead Scholar and my father comes to visit him just as much as he does me. He'll come see him at musical concerts and then come see me at football games.
Question from Kyle York in Chapel Hill: What differences can fans expect to see in this year's offense compared to last year? What did you learn from last year's season or can you call it a learning experience?
A.C.: It's complicated enough, so if you can follow the ball, you'll be doing well. Don't pick out one particular guy because there's no telling where we'll be on the field. It's going to be fun and unpredictable.
Last year was a learning experience. Each year I've had a stronger passion for winning, because you see how hard everyone works. It's tough to work that hard and not have everything work out for the team. Hopefully that will just help us become better people and work even harder.
Question from Andy Thomas in Mint Hill, N.C.: With your family ties being so strong to East Carolina, what made you decide to become a Tar Heel?
A.C.: That would have been a real tough decision had I stayed in Greenville my entire life, but when I moved away to Wilmington, I became more open to other colleges. I visited North Carolina and fell in love with it. I'm on pace to graduate in December and when I consider where I am in my football career, I think the decision to be a Tar Heel was the best one I've ever made.
Thanks fans for your great questions from Alge. We're sorry he wasn't able to respond to all of you. Next Friday, defensive tackle Ryan Sims will be here to answer your questions for "One-on-One." Email your questions today to tarheelblue@uncaa.unc.edu and check back next week to see what he has to say!
