TAMPA - GoUSFBulls.com recently sat down with senior linebacker Brouce Mompremier to talk about a number of topics. Mompremier was a first-year starter in 2007 and started 12 of USF's 13 games. He recorded 83 tackles, third on the team, six tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. See what Mompremier had to say as he goes through his final preseason camp.
You were overshadowed somewhat by Tyrone (McKenzie) and Ben (Moffitt) last season, talk about your first extended playing time in the program.
It felt real good because coming from high school I had a lot of accolades, and going on three years of not playing football, it was getting stressful, but it was really good to step on the field. I was nervous at first, but it felt good.
What was it like playing with a pair of linebackers like Tyrone and Ben? How did that help you?
Playing with Tyrone made it easy because he's so aggressive and Ben had been here for a while so he knew a lot and that made my job easier.
Talk about getting that first career interception last season and how that felt.
That was the greatest because you know they always talk about linebackers not having any hands. And to get it before Tyrone got it, because I bug him about that, that was great. And Ben got his before so to follow behind him that was a good feeling.
So you got the first interception, when's the first sack coming?
This year, the first sack is coming this year, and I'm not going to say how many but I'm going to get one.
Talk about your performance that you had at Auburn (career high 12 tackles), not just you personally but the team and how that felt.
The experience of just walking out of the locker room and seeing the fans. I mean we've been to stadiums as big as that before but playing, starting, I was pretty nervous because I was like ?oh my god this is on TV and everything.' But it felt good just to go out there and get my first tackle. I think my first play was against King Dunlap, the tall O-lineman. I was pretty nervous, but it felt good to just get out there and make plays and the whole experience. I'll never forget that.
Talk about the whole ups and downs of last season and getting up to No. 2 in the nation and then dropping three games. The team rebounded and obviously it was a successful season, but not as successful as the team may have liked.
I mean those first six games we were on a high and I think we got a little complacent. Those three losses were nerve-wracking because they were all so close and you work so hard and you put so much effort into something. It breaks your heart when something like that happens. Being able to come back and win three more games, I felt good about it and I kind of felt bad because I didn't get to play the bowl game. I got injured first quarter.
Talk about that and how the team regroups from a bowl game like that.
The bowl game, I think we enjoyed El Paso too much. It was a good place, that's the best bowl trip I've ever been on. I don't think we were totally ready for that game. I believe we're ready now just to get a game under our belt. We are preparing hard for Tennessee Martin.
Talk about heading into your senior year and how that feels and what it means.
I mean I think about it all the time. I feel like sometimes just yesterday I left high school and then when I think about it I don't remember my freshman year two seasons ago. I just remember last year's and the year before that. I mean it has flown by. I feel like I've been here for more than five years, it feels like 12 or something, but its been a good experience the whole way through. Just playing behind Snake (former linebacker Stephen Nicholas) and (Pat) St Louis and Moffitt, that was one of the best things that could happen for me.
What's it like when they bring you through for a blitz and you run into your good high school buddy (Marc Dile)?
Yeah, that's the best feeling because when I win, I'm going to brag about it when I call him later on.
Talk about just your experience here at USF and your final season and what that means to you.
It means everything because it's my last shot and I feel like it's our last shot. This year should be the year because it has been three years in a row where we fell just short of a BIG EAST championship. I'm tired of being close. It's about time we get it. I feel good about this group. We have a young D-line, we have a lot of depth, we have two senior linebackers, our secondary, we have our safety's back. I'm not worried about anything on defense. And offense you know we have everybody back. The O-line and the receivers, I just feel good about this season.
