July 18, 2006
GR: If you could put together a perfect meal, from appetizer to desert, what would it be?
IW: I would start with buffalo wings as an appetizer. Then, I have to have steak as the main coarse with a loaded baked potato and asparagus. I'm not really a big desert guy, but if I had some it would be hot apple crisp with ice cream.
GR: What is one thing that Redbird fans may not know about you?
IW: Really where I came from. People know I am from Chicago but a lot of people only see the downtown area with the tall buildings and the lake front. I grew up in a rough part of town that is very different from the Miracle Mile, and that is something that has really shaped me in life.
GR: Who is the biggest jokester on the team?
IW: Pierre Jackson is the by far the biggest jokester. When we are working out early in the morning, he's always the one trying to keep everyone laughing and the mood light in the weight room.
GR: What is one think that head coach Denver Johnson has taught you in your time here that you will use later in life?
IW: He always tells us that whatever we do, work as hard as you can while doing it. When I first got here, I was a walk-on. He told me that if you want to play, I had to work for it and a couple years later I have a scholarship and have started games on the offensive line. I think that attitude can be used throughout your life in anything you do, so I will use that attitude throughout life.
GR: What team do you feel has become your biggest rival since you've been here?
IW: It would have to be Western Illinois. No matter what we do, we just can't seem to beat those guys. Hopefully, we'll end that streak this season, but they have been a pain.
GR: A lot of people have been talking about the offensive line in the off season as a possible point of concern, specifically about a lack of depth and also about the loss of four-year starters Stafford Davis and Mike Stegeman. As one of the veteran offensive lineman on this squad, how do you react to those concerns?
IW: Mike and Stafford were great players and were the heart of our offensive line for a long time, so losing them definitely hurts. But, most of the offensive line has been here this summer working out together on our own and studying our playbooks. We are making sure that we know exactly what we are going to have to do and are comfortable in each one of our positions. I'm sure there may be some rust at the start of camp in August, but we'll work that off quickly and come together before our game with Kansas State.
GR: You play offense in college, but in high school you once collected 4 ½ sacks in a game in high school. So, in your opinion what wins championships: offense or defense?
IW: The best answer I have for that is offense will win you games, but defense will win you championships. No matter how many points you score, if you can't stop the other team you are not going to win very often.
GR: You wear No. 66. Is there any significance behind that number?
IW: Not at the beginning of my time here. That was the number that was given to me when I got here. I've thought about switching to 67, which was my high school number, but I decided to stay with 66 because its like turning over a new leaf and separating my game from high school to college.
GR: Buona Italian Beef or Portillo's?
IW: Buona Beef
GR: What TV shows do you watch on a regular basis?
IW: Honestly, I watch ESPN all the time. "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith" is one of my favorite shows, and I watch it a lot. Besides that, I watch BET but that's about it.
GR: What has been your greatest academic achievement at ISU?
IW: Making the AFNI Honor Roll last spring for the second time. I had a lot of things going on last spring dealing with an injury and had some other things going on at the same time in my personal life. So, being able to deal with all that stuff and still being able to do well in the classroom was a big accomplishment for me.
GR: Has the Scholar BallerTM program helped you and the rest of the team out?
IW: I think it brings the team together and puts a strong emphasis on academics. I see my teammates striving to get more points for their teams, which you do by going to class and getting good grades, and as a result our team GPA has risen each semester.
GR: Was it hard for you to become acclimated to Bloomington-Normal after living in Chicago for your whole life?
IW: When I first got here, I just kept asking myself "Where's everybody at?" In Chicago, it's so busy all the time and here it's much more laid back. It gets busy here at times, especially during the school year, but nothing like Chicago. I've gotten used to living here though and like it a lot.
GR: You've played some big Division I schools (Minnesota in 2004 and Iowa State in 2005) in your time here. You have another tough test in Kansas State this season. What are your feelings about starting the season in Manhattan, Kan. this year?
IW: I think those games are great because they put the Illinois State football program on the map. Personally, I look forward to those games because they are usually one of the first games we play and probably some of the best competition we will see all year. Plus, as the underdog it's always fun to go up against the big schools and see what you're made of and see you can compete. We've shown the past two years that we can hang with anyone in the country, and we will all be pumped up for the Kansas State game when it comes around.
GR: If you were making the schedule in the future, what Division I program would you like to play?
IW: Oklahoma. When I first got here, there was a buzz that we might be trying to schedule them and I think some people were scared to play them. I think playing someone big like them would be tough, but I would get so hyped and pumped up for a game like that and to play in front of that many fans would be awesome.
GR: If you could switch lives with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
IW: Probably my uncle Lawrence. He is a very spiritual man and was very dedicated to his work. He recently retired after I think 48 years at the Chicago Police Department and achieved so much in that time. I just hope that I can be as successful in life as he has been and I think it would be cool to walk in his shoes for a day.
GR: What about the 2006 squad excites you heading into training camp?
IW: Almost everyone has been here this summer working out and trying to get better on the field, and that dedication has really made us come together as a team and family. The unity that we have developed is something that will help us on the field and the individual work we all put in should help us be better than we were last year. It will be really interesting to see how the work will pay off and how we have matured as a team from last season.
GR: What are your favorite sports to watch or play, other than football?
IW: I grew up playing basketball and still try to play a lot. Amazingly, though, I like to bowl in my spare time. I enjoy bowling and am pretty good at it.
GR: How did you get interested in bowling?
IW: When I was younger, I used to go out with older friends and it was something we all liked to do to keep out of trouble. I just kept bowling throughout high school and still try to get out when I can to blow off some steam and have fun.
Wiggins Bird Blitz Part I
