Cox named Top Aggie again
Utah Statesman: This is the second-straight week you were named Athlete of the Week. Do you ever set a goal to win the award?
Travis Cox: No. I just go out and play hard and whatever happens, happens. I don’t really think about it.
US: You were named Sun Belt offensive player of the week as well. How does it feel to be recognized by the conference?
TC: It’s nice to get recognized by the conference and know that we’re playing well as an offense. When a quarterback gets an award, it means that the whole offense is playing good. That’s a credit to our team.
US: Do you set any personal goals for your performance?
TC: Each week I just go in to the game wanting to play good. I don’t really go in saying I want to throw for 300 yards. I just want to make the right checks that I’m supposed to make. If we have to hand the ball off 40 times, then I better make the right run checks. If we’ve got to throw it, I better complete the pass.
US: You lead the league in total offense. What do you credit your success to?
TC: To the whole team. Like I said earlier, for a quarterback to do well the whole team’s got to be playing good. You have to have a running game to help your pass game out. The offensive line has to protect you while you’re throwing and the receivers have to catch.
US: Earlier in the season the team struggled a lot, but in the last few weeks you’ve had a lot of success. What caused the turnaround?
TC: Keeping up on the game plans, studying harder. Practicing and experience allow you to get better.
US: How much time each week do you spend studying the playbook?
TC: The playbook changes each week, so I spend a lot of time studying the game plan for that week and watching tons of film. I spend probably an hour each night watching film and studying each day in addition to our meetings.
US: What is your major and what are your plans after college?
TC: Physical education with a minor in business. I want to be a coach when I get older. I’m not sure if I’m going to coach college or high school.
US: Do you have any hope of making it to the NFL?
TC: If that happens it would be great, but I’m not really planning on it. I’m just playing college ball and enjoying it.
US: What has been your toughest game?
TC: Probably Nebraska. They hit us pretty hard, they got to me a couple of times. The first quarter was probably one of the easiest, but after that they beat us up pretty good.
US: If you could give the Athlete of the Week award to someone else on your team, who would it be?
TC: I’d probably give it to one of the O-line because they all played well. [Trevor] Hutton I know played really well. Donald Penn played well, so probably one of those two guys.
-royburton@cc.usu.edu