FORMER COYOTE READY TO MAN THE BLINDSIDE FOR THE CORNHUSKERS

 

 



 

For all you readers that are itching for something other than hockey, we're switching to the gridiron! If you're from North Dakota, you probably know this week's feature. Brent Qvale dominated high school athletics as a Williston Coyote. He was a 3-time all-state selection in football, 2-time all-state selection in basketball, 3 time state champion in the shot put, and was the Gatorade North Dakota Player of the Year his senior year in football.

Last week, the Lincoln Press published a must-read article about Brent. It illustrates how big of an adjustment D1 football is and how he is on the right track by normal development standards. He is a Junior this season and he will be protecting quarterback Taylor Martinez as he looks to be the starting left tackle. For more on the season outlook and Qvale finding his place in the line-up, check out the article here.

Brent graciously agreed to do a Q & A with me during his busy schedule of two-a-days. So without further ado, here is more about Brent!

Beyond the Pond:

Who were your role models growing up?

Brent:

My role models growing up were definitely my parents. Both of them played at the collegiate level and it was an inspiration to me along with following in my brother Brian's footsteps to college athletics.

Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

The only superstition I have is that I have to be able to listen to my headphones before we go out on the field.

What is something the average fan doesn't know about you?

I am set to graduate in May with an Exercise Science, Nutrition and Health Science degree and plan to continue on to pursue a Master's degree.

Who is your favorite opponent/rival?

Everyone we play in the Big 10 is a huge game so I can't pick just one rival.

What is your favorite part about the University?

Even though it's a big campus, you really get to know a lot of people fairly close and build relationships.

Obviously at a school like Nebraska the football players are very well known. What is it like to be a Cornhusker football player and what is game day at Memorial Stadium like?

It's a lot of pressure to be a football player here because you are watched with a lot of eyes so it is important to always be thinking about the decisions you make. Game days here are like a holiday; everyone comes out and celebrates. I cannot put into words the atmosphere here in Lincoln on Saturdays.

What is an average day like for you?

A typical schedule for me during the fall is lifting a couple times a week in the morning, classes throughout the morning, and then meetings and practice throughout the afternoon so you definitely put in some full days.

There's a lot of pressure playing on such a high-profile team. What do you do when you want/need to get your mind off of football?

One thing I love to do to get my mind off of football is to go golfing. A lot of my teammates enjoy golfing so we try to go when we can.

Coming from the town where all the attention was on you, it was obviously a change when you're on a team of high profile players. Was that easier because it's less pressure or was it hard to adjust to?

It's hard when you first come into a high profile team because you're coming from a school where you were the best player, now everyone is the best player from their school. It just takes hard work, being able to adjust, and knowing your role on the team.

What parts of your game do you feel you've improved the most since your freshman year?

Staying healthy, taking care of my body, and just getting better with technique and knowing the game plan.

Being at a school with such a great development reputation, many players have aspirations of a pro career. Is playing professionally after school a goal of yours?

Playing professionally would be a great dream. I look forward to seeing if that dream will come true or not. All I can do is play my best every day.

You mentioned your degree(s) and you have a reputation of being a strong student. Do you plan to use that to translate into a coaching career someday?

I would love to be a college level strength coach and be around a college sports team.

What are your goals/expectations for this season, both individually and as a team?

My goal this year is to go out and help my team win and we want to be able to play our best football this year.

Do you have any advice for our readers?

Always stay focused on your goals and work as hard as you possibly can to get there.

 

We'd like to thank Brent for his time and wish him the best of luck this season! I encourage everybody to read the article in the Lincoln paper and keep tabs on him this year. Also, here's a quick shout-out to John Heise, who is the author of "My Hometown Sports" blog.  Check this out for information, interviews, and more about former Williston athletes!

o