Nate Triplett honored to be playing football for the Gophers

Last week at this time Gopher linebacker Nate Triplett was just another obscure Gopher linebacker to many, but his huge performance against Air Force and subsequent National Defensive Player of the Week award suddenly thrust him into the national spotlight. GopherHole caught up with Triplett this week where he talked about how he’s handling his new-found fame, the challenges of facing Cal on Saturday, and what it means to him to be playing football for the Gophers.

On his thoughts on his way to the end-zone after picking up the fumble in Saturday’s game vs. Air Force”¦

NT: I was thinking I might have a chance to take this to the house! Also, to run with all the energy that I have left in the tank. I got a few text messages after the game saying I looked fast; I still don’t believe them, since I didn’t feel very fast, but it was a great feeling running into the end-zone.

On whether he’d like to run some offensive plays, after his fumble return for a touchdown last week vs. Air Force”¦

NT: I like to joke around with them a little bit, and I talk to the wide receivers coach too, since I had that interception (vs. Syracuse) too, so you can throw me in with the wide receiving corps too, anytime.

On their next opponent, the University of California Golden Bears”¦

NT: The’re fast, they’re strong, and they’re a tough offense”¦they’re definitely going to be a challenge for us. Slowing them down is going to be a team defensive effort, everyone doing their part. It’s an 11 = 1 type mentality.

On how he can use the Air Force game as a learning experience for Cal”¦

NT: Just to rely on each other on defense. Their offense is a lot different from Air Force, so it’s just going to be playing hard and making the plays that we need to.

On how frustrating a team like Air Force is to play”¦

NT: It’s pretty frustrating, they’re always getting small chunks of yards, and the cut-blocks are pretty frustrating. But at the same time, it was good for us to have to fight through that.

On what it was like to play a home game on campus for the first time, and the sound of the fans as he scored his touchdown”¦

NT: That was unreal”¦to be honest, I couldn’t really hear anything, because I was being dog-piled on after the touchdown, but it was a great feeling to get in front of the crowd and get everybody excited. I’m looking forward to doing it again on Saturday.

On how much credit Weber and Decker get for taking him under their wing (they all live together)”¦

NT: (laughs) I’ll give them a little bit of credit, it’s nice living with those guys”¦all the moms pull together with cookies and food. It’s fun living with those guys, definitely.

On whether he let Decker know that he had scored the game-changing touchdown instead of Decker”¦

NT: Yeah, I poked a little fun with him at the house, and said “˜you know, I have more touchdowns than you this year.’ He looked a little disheartened at that, but you know he’ll get his, I promise you that.

On being from Minnesota, and being able to make the play that he did on the opening night of the new football stadium”¦

NT: When it happened, I didn’t really think about it, but now it’s really sinking in how big it was for me. I didn’t expect it to happen, but it did; I mean, how do you prepare for a ball hitting off a guy’s foot and bounce right to you? I’m excited about it and happy I was able to make the play.

On crediting his other linebackers, Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence”¦

NT: They have been definitely stepping up their game just as much as I have, and they’ve been making plays. They deserve just as much of the credit, just like the D-line and the defensive backfield. Our whole defense has really been playing well.

On winning a national honor, rather than just a conference honor”¦

NT: It’s a great honor, Just glad to get it and produce for my team. I didn’t hear about it until I got back here on Sunday for our team meeting. At first I didn’t believe it until Coach came up to me and said that I had won the National Player of the Week honors. I believed it then, because if Coach said it, it must be true. I am glad to have won it, but at the same time I’m looking forward to Cal and playing well there.

On what it means to him to play for the Gophers, being originally from Minnesota”¦

NT: I’ve been watching Gopher football since I was just a young guy, and to be able to come here was an honor. When they offered me a scholarship, I was overjoyed, just to be able to come to this school. But to be able to play for this team right now, it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I dreamed about coming here, and I always wanted to come here. It’s definitely an honor to be here.

““ Previous article: Eric Decker is Living the Dream at the University of Minnesota
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