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Q&A with Antonio Appleby
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By Carlos Valle, Athletics Media Relations
What are your personal goals you are striving toward for the rest of the season?
Appleby: I just want to go out there and play the best that I can, to the best of my ability. I want to help my team win and get the most wins we can.
How about off the field?
Appleby: I just want to keep working toward graduation. I’m trying to graduate a semester early. I’m ahead of the track right now so I’m just trying to stay ahead and graduate in three and a half years.
Tell us a little bit about the team’s 36 and 36 motto and what you guys work on to accomplish that.
Appleby: We want 36 sacks and 36 turnovers by the end of the season. So every day we stress getting the ball out. If it’s on the ground, pick it up. We try and make a play on the ball if it’s in the air. We just try and do everything possible to get 36 turnovers and 36 sacks.
Has there been anything different about the start of this season than your previous ones?
Appleby: At the start of this season I had a lot more experience. I was able to see a lot more plays in the games. I was just more prepared to play in a game than I was last year.
What is your favorite part of the football season?
Appleby: The games. You practice every day, but you practice for a purpose. When you get to game days, you enjoy every game you play because it’s something you practice all year for and work all year for.
How about you least favorite part?
Appleby: I really don’t have a least favorite part. Everything you do is for a goal that you want to achieve. If it’s going to class, you’re going to class to improve yourself academically and graduate. If it’s going to practice, you’re going to practice to play better in games.
Over the past two years your playing time has increased tremendously. What has that transition been like for you?
Appleby: For me, with playing more plays you have to get used to more wear and tear on your body. You play a lot more during the game but you also get a lot more reps in practice. You have to take care of your body. You have to eat right. You have to do all the little things to perform on Saturdays.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Appleby: A lot of people probably don’t know that I’m kind of a clown. The guys on the team know that I joke around a lot. I sing in the locker room and do things that are pretty funny. Most people outside of football think I’m a serious guy but I’m really not.
What do you do to get pumped up before a game?
Appleby: I just listen to my music and if there are guys in the locker room talking I feel the energy in the locker room. I look around and see my teammates are ready for the game, and I’m ready for the game.
What do you like to do with your time off the field, either between games or in the off-season?
Appleby: I like to relax. I watch television or watch tape. I do anything to get off my feet and help me to not worry about anything too strenuous or too serious during the week.