Too On One: Omar Bolden
August 9th, 2008, 12:10 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
At practice on Friday night, Arizona State reserve cornerback Travis Smith made a sharp read and break on an out-pattern pass by quarterback Rudy Carpenter and had an interception in his sights — but could not hold on to the ball. It was his second drop of the workout.
The next voice heard was Omar Bolden’s.
“Come on, Travis!,” the sophomore cornerback yelled from the sidelines, where the first-team defense was taking a break. “You ain’t hungry enough out here right now!”
The scene is indicative of the leadership taken on by Bolden, who came to ASU in 2007 as a highly-touted freshman and won a starting job five games into the season.
In the following “Too On One” interview that will appear on page 2 of the sports section in Sunday’s Tribune, Bolden talks about being more vocal, tells the story behind his jersey number choice and evaluates the camp competition at cornerback.
PageToo: You weren’t exactly an introvert last season, but you seem to have more of a vocal leadership role during practices. Is that something you focused on providing?
Omar Bolden: I’ve got to. I see myself as a leader on the defense. I’m only a sophomore, but I’m not a rookie anymore. I have to step up and bring energy. There are not many people that can do that, have the energy to hype up a whole defense. So, I have to bring it every day.
PT: It seems like you’re having fun while you’re chattering out there.
OB: Oh, I have to. Honestly, that’s what keeps me going at practice every day. If I come out here and be quiet, the practices drag on for me. When that happens, it’s not a productive day. I’ve got to progress every day I’m out here. If talking helps get me through practice, I’m going to do it.
PT: (Running back) Keegan (Herring) typically likes to go back and forth with guys during practice. Do you find yourself yapping with him a lot?
OB: All the time, man. I enjoy it. It’s all fun and games, but at the end of the day, we’re teammates who love each other.
PT: You wore No. 3 in high school, right?
OB: Making a long story short, I wore No. 32 my first three years as a running back and never rushed for more than 700 yards. I changed to No. 3 for my senior year and ran for more than 2,000. I always felt that No. 3 was for me. It’s a confidence thing, I guess.
PT: Did you want to wear No. 3 last year? (Since-graduated) Rudy Burgess had that number, so you went back to 32.
OB: I came in and didn’t want 32. The equipment folks told me to talk to the coaches about changing my number. But then I found out who wore No. 3. I didn’t know much about Rudy. A couple other guys wanted 3, but we were asked, ‘Do you know who wears No. 3?’ When they told me everything that Rudy had done, I decided that out of respect, I wasn’t even going to ask for his number. He was a senior. I would have been upset if I was him, and a freshman came in and wanted to wear it on defense. I decided not to do that. As the year went on and I got to know Rudy as a person and player, I knew that was the right thing to do.
PT: There’s a competition at the cornerback spot opposite you. What’s your take on it?
OB: Every cornerback out here is hungry. When one of us slips, the rest of the guys see that as an opportunity to (move up the depth chart). In the meeting rooms and on the field, we’re focused and locked in. It’s going to come down to the last week, I think, before the starters are announced. And that goes for me, too. It might look like I’m not rotating (during practice), but my spot is not safe, just like everybody else’s.
PT: Who are the guys on the team you hang out with?
OB: My roommate in the dorms last year was (receiver) T.J. (Simpson), so I’m really close to him. But I’m close with all of the guys. My roommate now is (cornerback Terell) Carr. I’m good with everybody.