TAMPA - GoUSFBulls.com recently sat down with junior defensive end George Selvie to discuss a number of topics. Read what George had to say about his mom, Howie Long, last season, him as a leader and more. Selvie was USF's first ever consensus All-American last year after a nation-leading 46.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks, which was second nationally. The Pensacola, Fla. native has started all 26 games in his two-year career after redshirting as a freshman.
Talk about heading into the season and the expectations the team has for the season.
Our first goal every year is to win the BIG EAST championship, so just going and working hard, taking it one day at a time. And then when we get into the season, take it one game at a time, and don't worry about Kansas. The first game we got is Tennessee-Martin, that's the game we're going to focus on when week one comes.
Talk a little bit about last season, the ups and downs, the high of getting up to No. 2, then obviously the three losses, and for the players the bowl tends to leave a sour taste in people's mouths.
At the beginning of the season we won six straight, we beat some pretty good teams in the SEC then we beat a great West Virginia team at Raymond James so that was good. Then we got to No. 2, which we were loving it up there, but then we went on a three game losing streak which really hurt. We lost by three points against Rutgers and we could have beat them easily. But you know every play counts. And then we lose to Connecticut and then Cincinnati, which really hurt. We got back on our feet won three straight against Syracuse, Louisville, and Pittsburgh. Then we went to the Bowl Game. The Bowl Game, we lost that one pretty bad. I don't even like to talk about that game.
How does the coaching staff use that bowl game to help the team this year?
They just say we've got to play at the championship level because everybody, we are not that underdog team anymore, everybody is coming after us like we used to go after people. So we've got to play every game at the championship level, on a different level. So don't get complacent, play hard every game.
Talk about the unexpected rise that you had as a player and the attention you got last year as the season went on. Did that surprise you?
Yeah, that did surprise me. Just being under the radar, just going out there and playing hard and just trying to help my team win. And then to get some recognition for that as well. The team was winning so everything was just flowing around us. It was a great ride while it lasted.
How many people did you have asking for your autograph last year at fan fest?
Um, not too many. Last year I got to get up and walk around on the field and play with some kids. This year, I was sitting at the table and was one of the last three there.
Talk a little bit about that. You are a high profile player, how do you handle that and how is that different?
It's hard sometimes, you open a magazine and you'll see your face in there and be like ?wow, that's pretty cool.' But it's just dealing with it, just humbling yourself. Nobody's better than the team. The team, that's the whole thing right there. You've got to have offense, you've got to have defense, you've got to have special teams. So everybody helps you get there. You didn't do it by yourself so that's how you deal with that.
Have you gotten any advice? I know Matt Grothe went through something similar last year. Who do you lean on, who do you look to guide you, to keep you level headed and grounded?
I have a mother that is a minister so she tells me that I'm not anything. All this is God's doing, everything comes from God so I give all thanks to God, give all glory to God. I really lean on my mom. I call her before every game and I tell her my goals for that game and she prays about it and she's like you've got to believe God will do that for you, and you're not doing it by yourself and you've got your other teammates helping you out. She really keeps my head little.
How have you taken on a leadership role?
It's pretty hard because I've never really been a vocal guy. Coaches say ?you know, they're following you, you've got to speak up a little bit, be more vocal.' I usually like to lead by example, try to encourage my teammates, and be vocal and encourage them, not yell at them, but encourage them to do better, get it going, just being more vocal I think.
Defense lost a few important people last year, what do you expect out of the players replacing them and what do you expect out of the defense this year?
It's no drop off. Everybody's going to step up, come right up to the championship level because they know what they've got to do, big shoes to fill. But they know they've got to be better than those guys before them because we trying to do better things this year so everybody's working hard trying to get everything done, trying to get everything together right now at camp one day at a time.
Talk about your transformation, from redshirt, to playing, to trying to put on weight, how has that process been for you?
That process has been pretty hard. But since I got in camp it just seems like the weight is just coming on. I don't know what's going on, the coaches say my body's maturing so maybe my metabolism is slowing down some.
What are George Selvie's goals for the season?
My first goal is always the team goal, and that's to win the BIG EAST and help my team the best way I can. I'm going to try to be the best defensive end in the nation, make my presence on the field felt every game and you know, try to get better stats tham I had last year. I'm not sure how I'm going to do that, but I'm going to try to find a way to do it.
Talk about the added attention that you got, how you dealt with being the target of opposing offenses.
It's pretty tough, just trying to go out there and do what you do best but then everybody knows what you're going to do now so you've got to change it up. They're adding other people to your side, running backs and blockers, so I've just got to learn how to deal with that. I am working on certain things in practice to help me out a little bit, so it's just adjusting to it.
What kind of film work do you do, is there a certain player you watch that you try to learn some moves from?
I like to watch Dwight Freeney a lot. He's got good explosion off the ball. He's got different moves that he does, spin moves, hump moves. We also watch old film like Howie Long. But you know it seems like ages ago, like when coach puts it up on the screen. we're like ?oh my god, are you serious.' But you know they've got good technique that actually works and is still used today.
Do you pattern yourself after Freeney because of the size similarity?
Yeah, him being a smaller defensive end really helps me. He's probably faster than me and weighs more and is a little more physical but his relentless play is just great.
Just talk about the USF transformation as a whole since you've been here.
I thought I'd never actually be here to see Raymond James get sold out. But that was a pretty good feeling right there, with all the fans coming out. And then I got to go to the first, second and third bowl games. So everything, just the rise of the program. I got the chance to be on the first ranked team in USF history. I get to be here when the history's being made, I like that. I'll hopefully be in the history books so that's pretty great.
