Q&A With Florida Gators Linebacker Graham Stewart

Former Xavier High School football standout and current University of Florida linebacker Graham Stewart recently returned home to Durham. We caught up with the Gators freshman to talk Div. I football, moving to Florida and his  in this year's Gator Bowl.

Patch: Why did you choose to play football for the University of Florida?

Graham Stewart: For me, the whole college decision-making process was always about finding a college where I could become the best overall athlete, but more importantly a student athlete. I knew Florida would be challenging, and I knew if I were to challenge myself that it would bring out the best of me. I really just wanted to be pushed to my own limits as a student athlete and become the best I could be.

P: What specifically about Florida did you like the best? 

GS: Gainesville has an overall atmosphere to it that is hard for other college campuses to capture, especially places up north. Having such a rich tradition, history and fan base, who are die hard for the sport, really makes it easy to fall in love with the sport you love so much down there.

P: When did you start your football career as a Gator?

GS: I left early, in June, for summer workouts where the whole team ran and lifted together with our strength coach.

P: Your thoughts on moving down south?

GS: It was really hard at first because I missed the little things back at home, but it was also fun to meet new people and be around a different group of people. The first week was the orientation and welcoming week, where you meet all of your teammates and players from other sports and then the rest of the summer I took two classes and trained.

When I first went down it felt like a vacation then it hit me that I was living there. It's obviously warmer and the people are very nice. The Town of Gainesville is very alive, which makes it so there is always something to do.

P: The Xavier fans are great, but talk about Florida Gators fan appreciation day.

GS: It was a bit weird at first because it happened before the season started and I had not yet proved myself to anyone, but it was super cool to have people coming up to you and wanting your autograph and knowing who you are.

P: What are the facilities like?

GS: The facilities are top of the line. The fields are well taken care of, the weight room has the newest stuff and our practice fields are all turf.

P: Before the season started, what was the two weeks of camp like?

GS: Hot. It was really hard. Everyone is faster and stronger then you so it was a lot to take in at first but it got easier as time went on.

P: Describe the coaching staff.

GS: They are intense.

P: What’s an average day like during football season?

GS: Depending on what time I have football related things, I get up between five and six [a.m.], go to meetings or lift, then we usually have a mandatory breakfast. After that I eat, attend class, go back to the training room and either get a massage or get stretched out. I get my ankles and wrists taped, attend more meetings with the defense and the whole team, then practice which is for about three hours. Afterwards I go and get ice and treatment on anything that’s hurting me. I eat quick, go to my tutor for a few hours or any other secondary classes I might have that night then call it a night.

P: How's traveling with the team?

GS: We leave the day before and normally fly. We stay in the nicest hotels and get police escorts everywhere, even to movies.

P: Take us through gameday.

GS: There’s a lot of tension, and anticipation, and everyone’s really excited to get it on and play. The night before we stay in a hotel and if it’s a night game we go out as a team to see a movie. That morning we have meetings and a walk through. We eat together, get dressed up for Gator walk, and then take a bus to the stadium. There, we get taped, dressed, we stretch and warm up, put on our pads, then we all go out and do our team routine and play.

P: Your homefield is a place they call "The Swamp", what's that like?

GS: It feels like you’re a gladiator walking out into the coliseum. It’s awesome running out and having 90,000 people going crazy. It’s a dream to be on the field and be out there and make yourself be your own big name.

P: Div. I is very competitive, did you get any playing time this season?

GS: Yes, I played on special teams, specifically kick return, punt block, and kick off.

P: What’s it like playing in the SEC?

GS: Everybody knows that the SEC is one of the best conferences in football so when you play in the SEC you know that every time you go out and play you’re playing up against stars and people who will be going to the NFL. They are all fast, big and strong.

P: How do you mentally prepare yourself for those big games?

GS: I play it like any other game, just as hard and fast and physical as the game before.

P: How did you feel after you returned the blocked punt for a touchdown in the Gator Bowl?

GS: It was an overall great feeling and huge rush, especially in the final game of the season with a new head coach and in a bowl game. To go out there and score was a great feeling and its something you dream about doing as a little kid. The coolest part was seeing myself on ESPN’s Top Ten plays.

P: What did you learn as a freshman? 

GS: The hardest thing was to be a student of the game and having to learn the game, watch film, and makes defensive calls, but I’d like to say I got better at that as the season progressed.

P: Overall, are you satisfied with your play?

GS: I’m never fully satisfied with anything and I am my hardest critic. There is always something I feel like I wish I could have done better, but I look forward to setting and breaking higher goals in the future.

P: Looking back, what helped you move on to the next level? 

GS: I believe Xavier football prepared me because it had a staff of coaches whose first concern was to make us better student athletes and made sure we did well in the classroom as well as on the field. They were guys who cared about winning, cared about kids going on and doing better things in their lives, and a coaching staff who was intelligent, knew the game of football, and just wanted to see kids succeed and win.

P: What your favorite part about being a Florida Gator?

GS: My favorite part about being a Florida Gator is the fact that I get to play football at the highest level in front of so many different fans and make my family proud.

P: If there was one thing you could tell people about your passion for the game of football, what would it be?

GS: Football for me has opened up so many doors and opportunities for me that I wouldn’t have any other way. It’s allowed me to make my family happy and proud. I’ve made life long friends and its allowed me grow up and mature which has carried into the real world.

P: What advice would you give others who are following their dreams as you did yours?

GS: I would tell them to always follow their dreams and never let anyone say you cannot do something. Work hard because what you put into it is what you get out of it.  t’s just a measure of how bad someone wants something and what they’re willing to do and sacrifice to make it happen. Always have a positive attitude and a hard work ethic, also stay out of bad things that can bring you down. The biggest thing I want to stress is to be you and not care about what other people are doing. Yes its good to look up to players, but the most important thing is to be the first you.

P: What are your hopes for the future?

GS: For me, I grew up watching football and wanting to be like the big names I saw on TV. I would want to mimic and be like them and do what they do.  Now as time’s gone on, I want kids to eventually watch me and want to be like me.