Today I had the opportunity to interview Oakland Raider Rookie Defensive Tackle LaMarr Houston. By his own admission, he is a man of few words who likes to let his actions speak. Believe me when I tell you that this young Raider is passionate about playing football.
So, without further ado, the Lamarr Houston Interview:
Raymond St. Martin - Raider Nation and especially those of us at Silver and Black Pride would like to thank you for taking the time to speak to us today and also welcome you to the OAKLAND RAIDERS!!!
LaMarr Houston – Thank You
Raymond St. Martin - First off, many people do not know that you were actually born in the Bay Area. I’ll say Bay Area, so that we don’t get boos when I say the name of THAT CITY across the bay. Where were you born and how long did you stay in the Bay?
LaMarr Houston – I was born at General Hospital in San Francisco. I stayed there for a couple of years, moved to Oakland, then to Vallejo, then to Hercules and then to Sacramento up until I was 9 years old and then I moved to Colorado when I was 9.
Raymond St. Martin - So you did spend some time in the East Bay?
LaMarr Houston - Yes
RS -Your one sheet says that you first played football at 3 years old and that you quickly told your mother that you’d be a football player when you grew up. When did you first realize that you had the potential to play football for a living?
LH – I'd have to say that it was during my Junior Year of College because some of my teammates got drafted and I just compared myself to them. *
RS - What was the experience like when you were coming up as a young football player? What was your key to success?
LH – My love of the game.
RS - Who was your favorite team when you were growing up?
LH - The Dallas Cowboys
RS - You list your High School Coach Mike Sirko and Emmitt Smith as two of your inspirations. What did they do to inspire you?
LH –When I was in High School, I thought I was just gonna, you know, play high school ball, be a local football star and then go work at the hardware store after or something.
Then, my High School Coach told me that I'd have the opportunity to play in College if I just believed in myself, stuck with that and buckled down and worked HARD.
Emmitt Smith was always told that he wasn't big enough to play. He always had the odds stacked against him, so.......
RS - So, did you feel like that? Like the odds were stacked against you?
LH - I don't know about the Odds being stacked against me..... *
RS - You had an incredible Collegiate Career at UT, racking up trophies and honors as a Big 12 Champion, All-Big 12 2nd Team and also 2nd team Academic Status. Which of your accomplishments has meant the most to you?
LH – I think just going to the University of Texas, being in that Locker Room, I've got a lot of love for the football players there. I just fell in love with the State of Texas. The people here and the Southern Hospitality *
RS - Many UT fans will be reading this. Is there a message that you’d like to relay to them?
LH – I appreciate all of their love and support. Hookem' Horns!
* More to come in these sentences
In part II LaMarr goes into his discussion with Willie Brown, his desire to earn time in the rotation and even what positions he is willing to play.