The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Camping out with Jamaal Charles
06.22.2009 | Football
June 22, 2009
How do you feel coming out to help with Aaron Ross' camp? I don't have a camp, so coming to other people's camps, I really have fun with it. I get to know the kids, have fun with them, and it's my way of giving back to the community. I like to help A-Ross, and I don't mind doing a camp, because I love the kids and I know they have fun with us.
How special is it that you and the other guys can come together and it's like you're still teammates? Every game we play in the NFL, we always go the other side and say what's up. We love UT, and that's how we first met, so we're always going to bleed burnt orange. Coming together at A-Ross' event, it's just giving back. We like to show love, because we don't just come to one camp, everybody goes to everybody else's camp, so it's just giving back to each other.
Does that go back to the family atmosphere at Texas? The UT family is big. Everybody who goes to UT isn't going to ever forget the other guys. We all come back together and get together to have fun. That's why we came back here today. We're having fun like a big family. Most of the guys here won a National Championship in my freshman year, and now we're just coming back and having fun.
Are you surprised how almost every week there's another Longhorn on the other team in the NFL? Yeah, almost every time on the field, a coach will say, 'There goes your teammate.' Playing against somebody from UT every week is fun. You used to play with them and now you're playing against them, so you really want to win, especially if you get somebody on defense and they start talking noise to you. It's really fun.
Who was someone you were really excited to see? I played against Ricky (Williams) one time, but I was also excited to see Mike (Griffin). He was standing on the other side of the ball and was talking noise the whole game. When I got to see Ricky, it was the first time I got to meet him. It was really nice.
How do you feel looking back knowing you're part of the great tradition of Texas running backs? It's just awesome. We've got four running backs in the league, and now five with Chris (Ogbonnaya), so it's really fun to see each other make it and be successful. When I see another running back, it makes me happy to know we went through the same thing, and I hope it makes kids want to go to UT. They see we have five, and think we must put running backs in the NFL. It's really good.
How prepared did you feel entering the NFL as a running back out of Texas? I felt prepared. I worked hard, and I was hungry, and I wanted it. This year, I came back because I know what to do, and I'm ready to go again. I'm going to take care of my body, I'm eating right and I gained a lot of good weight. I'm in shape, I want it and I'm ready to go out there and do my best.
How has your experience in the NFL been so far? I've experienced a lot. Every week you play against the best. Somebody's always a great player, or bigger, faster, stronger, so you're playing against the best every week and it makes you bring your best. I like playing and competing and getting better against the best. That's what the NFL's all about.
How much has it helped to have former Longhorns Derrick Johnson and Derek Lokey there? Just having family around from UT, we all know each other and what we can do. It was a hard season last year, because we had always come from a winning team and we lost most of our games last year, but this year, we have a new coach and we know what we want.
How have you adjusted to life off the field in Kansas City? It's hot right now in the summer, but when it gets cold, I've to adjust to it and wear coats everywhere. It's a change, but it's an experience. I'm young and happy and wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now.
